QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY
[Commemoration]
[Commemoration]
SAINT VALENTINE
Priest and Martyr
Excitement
and tension are in the prayers and lessons of today's Mass. There is
an appreciation of what Christ our Leader must endure for mankind's
redemption, and a joy at the sure outcome of His warfare with Satan.
We are confident that love will triumph.
Baptism
commits everyone to carry a cross, especially the cross of
consistent, unobtrusive charity. As Jesus commanded the blind man of
Jericho to be brought to Him, so He commands His members to bring to
Him those who need Him as their light and their love. We fulfill our
own baptismal promises by helping others to renounce Satan and to put
on Christ.
INTROIT (Ps. 30:3-4)
Be
a God of protection to me, a place of shelter to give me safety. For
You are my strength and my refuge; for Your name's sake You will
lead me and nourish me.
Ps. 30:2. In You, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never to be put to shame. In Your justice rescue me and set me free.
V. Glory be . . .
Ps. 30:2. In You, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never to be put to shame. In Your justice rescue me and set me free.
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
Hear our prayers, we beg You, O Lord. Free us from the slavery of our sins, and protect us against all adversity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
Commemoration of SAINT VALENTINE
Commemoration of SAINT VALENTINE
During the persecution under Emperor Claudius II, Valentine,
a zealous priest in Rome, ministered boldly to the martyr. He was
arrested and taken before the prefect, who made tempting offers to
induce him to apostatize. Finding that he was wasting his breath, the
prefect condemned Valentine to death. The beheading took place on
February 14, about the year 270. The true follower of Christ ignores
worldly caution when he is called upon to bear witness to Jesus. "The
inclination of the flesh is death, but the inclination of the spirit,
life and peace" (Rom. 8:6)
O Almighty God, today we are celebrating the birthday of Your
blessed martyr Valentine. Hear his prayers and rescue us from all the
dangers that threaten us. Through Our Lord . . .
EPISTLE (I Cor. 13:1-13)
Brethren:
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And if I
should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my
goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be
burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up, Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void or tongues shall cease or knowledge shall be destroyed. For we know in part: and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. We see now through a glass in a dark manner: but then face to face. Now I know in part: but then I shall know even as I am known. And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.
Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up, Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void or tongues shall cease or knowledge shall be destroyed. For we know in part: and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. We see now through a glass in a dark manner: but then face to face. Now I know in part: but then I shall know even as I am known. And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.
GRADUAL (Ps. 76:15, 16)
You are the God who alone works wonders; You have made known Your power among the nations. V. With Your strong are You have freed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
TRACT (Ps. 99:1-2)
Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness. V. Come before Him with joyful song. Know that the Lord is God. V. He made us, not we ourselves; and we are His people, the flock He tends.
GOSPEL (Luke 18:31-43)
At that time, Jesus took unto him the twelve and said to them: "Behold,
we go up to Jerusalem; and all things shall be accomplished which
were written by the prophets concerning the Son of man. For he shall
be delivered to the Gentiles and shall be mocked and scourged and spit
upon. And after they have scourged him, they will put him to death.
And the third day he shall rise again."
And they understood none of these things, and this word was hid from them: and they understood not the things that were said.
Now it came to pass, when he drew nigh to Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the way side, begging. And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this meant. And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."
And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out much more: "Son of David, have mercy on me."
And Jesus standing, commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him, Saying; "What wilt thou that I do to thee?" But he said: "Lord, that I may see." And Jesus said to him: "Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole." And immediately he saw and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Now it came to pass, when he drew nigh to Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the way side, begging. And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this meant. And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."
And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out much more: "Son of David, have mercy on me."
And Jesus standing, commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him, Saying; "What wilt thou that I do to thee?" But he said: "Lord, that I may see." And Jesus said to him: "Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole." And immediately he saw and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 118:12-13)
Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your commandments. With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of your mouth.
SECRET
May
this offering cleanse us from our sins, O Lord, and may it sanctify
Your servants in body and soul for the celebration of this sacrifice.
Through Our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT VALENTINE
Commemoration of SAINT VALENTINE
O
Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer You, and let them help us in
our salvation through the merits of Your blessed martyr Valentine.
Through Our Lord . . .
COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Ps. 77:29-30)
They ate, and were well filled, and the Lord gave them what they craved. They were not cheated of their desires.
POSTCOMMUNION
Almighty
God, we pray that the reception of this Bread of Heaven may
strengthen us against all adversity. Through Our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT VALENTINE
May this heavenly Sacrament bring us health of soul and body, O Lord, and may the intercession of the blessed martyr Valentine make us feel the power of the Sacred Rite which we have celebrated. Through Our Lord . . .
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