[Commemoration]Confessor and Doctor of the Church
DOUBLE / PURPLE
Today
we worship Jesus as the Prince of Light, the "stronger" One, who casts
out a devil, defends His authority over the whole kingdom of devils, and
demands that we declare our allegiance to Him. Loyalty is in our very
blood because God put it there; it is meant to hold us firm when truant
desires tempt us. Loyalties reveal where we have put our securities.
False loyalties can be given to lofty ideals as well as to earthly
pleasures. As "children of the light," be wise. "Hear the word of God
and keep it." Above everything, be loyal as love. "Walk in love."
INTROIT Ps. 24:15-16My
eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall free my feet from the
snare. Look upon me, and have pity on me, for I am alone and wretched.
Ps. 24:1-2. I have lifted up my soul to You, O my God; in You I place my trust. Let me not be put to shame.
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
O Almighty God, fulfill the petitions of the humble; and defend us with Your right hand of power. Through Our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
Thomas
Aquinas (1226-74), a child of noble lineage, was educated at the Abbey
of Monte Cassino and as a youth entered the new Dominican Order at the
University of Naples, to become one of the greatest philosophers and
theologians of all times, and in his day one of Europe's most popular
preachers and teachers. To extraordinary gifts of mind he added a
prodigious capacity for work, complete singleness of purpose, and a
profoundly mystical holiness of life. His Summa Theologica and Summa contra Gentiles constitute
the most reasonable and comprehensive defense of Christian doctrine
ever produced, and his Eucharistic prayers and poetry are enshrined in
the Church's liturgy. He is the patron of Catholic education.
O
God, the wondrous learning of Your blessed confessor Thomas enlightened
Your Church and still makes her fruitful because of his holy efforts.
Grant that we may understand his teachings and put them into practice.
Through Our Lord . . .
EPISTLE Eph. 5:1-9
Brethren:
Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children: And walk in
love, as Christ also hath loved us and hath delivered himself for us, an
oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness.
But
fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not so much as
be named among you, as becometh saints: Or obscenity or foolish talking
or scurrility, which is to no purpose: but rather giving of thanks. For
know you this and understand: That no fornicator or unclean or covetous
person (which is a serving of idols) hath inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because
of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief.
Be ye not therefore partakers with them. For you were heretofore
darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light.
For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth.
GRADUAL Ps. 9:20, 4
Arise,
O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your
presence. V. When my enemies shall be turned back, they shall be
weakened and destroyed before you.
TRACT Ps. 122:1-3
To You who are enthroned in heaven, have I lifted up my eyes.
V. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters.
V. And as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord, our God, until He have pity on us.
V. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy.
GOSPEL Luke 11:14-28
At
that time, Jesus was casting out a devil: and the same was dumb. And
when he had cast out the devil, the dumb spoke: and the multitudes, were
in admiration at it. But some of them said: "He casteth out devils by
Beelzebub, the prince of devils." And others tempting, asked of him a
sign from heaven. But he seeing their thoughts, said to them: "Every
kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation; and
house upon house shall fall. And if Satan also be divided against
himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Because you say that through
Beelzebub I cast out devils. Now if I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by
whom do your children cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your
judges. But if I by the finger of God cast out devils, doubtless the
kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his
court, those things are in peace which he possesseth. But if a stronger
than he come upon him and overcome him, he will take away all his armour
wherein he trusted and will distribute his spoils. He that is not with
me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the
unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places without
water, seeking rest: and not finding, he saith: I will return into my
house whence I came out. And when he is come, he findeth it swept and
garnished. Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more
wicked than himself: and entering in they dwell there. And the last
state of that man becomes worse than the first."
And
it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the
crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: "Blessed is the womb that bore
thee and the paps that gave thee suck." But he said: "Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it."
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 18:9, 10, 11, 12The
precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart, and His judgments
are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb; for Your servant observes
them.
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 THOMAS AQUINAS
O
Lord, let Your blessed Confessor and Doctor Thomas always help us, and
through his intercession accept our offering and pardon our sins.
Through our Lord . . .
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 83:4-5
The
sparrow has found herself a home, and the turtledove a nest in which to
lay her young -- Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God!
Blessed are they who dwell in Your house; they shall praise You forever
and ever.
POSTCOMMUNION
O
God, You have allowed us to share in this great Sacrament. In Your
mercy free us also from all guilt and danger of sin. Through Our Lord . .
.
Commemoration of SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
O
Lord, may this sacrifice bring us closer to our salvation through the
intercession of Your blessed Confessor and illustrious Doctor Thomas.
Through our Lord . . .
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