SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST; OUR LADY OF REFUGE; ALL HOLY POPES

 

SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Our Lady of Refuge

[Commemoration]

[Commemoration]

All Holy Popes

DOUBLE/GREEN
Baptism and the Eucharist are the great sources of all Christian life. As the priest makes a thanksgiving after each Mass, and as the communicant makes a thanksgiving after each reception of Christ's Body, so every day of living as a Christian ought to include a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of Baptism. A baptismal day is more important than a birthday; for the Sacrament of  Baptism gives a share in the divine life, as well as membership in Christ and a pledge of eternal life.

INTROIT Ps. 27:8-9
The Lord is the strength of His people, and the assurance of the salvation of His anointed. Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance, and guide them forever.
Ps. 27:1. I cry to You, O Lord my God; do not be deaf to me, lest if You heed me not, I become like those who go down into the pit.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Mighty God, author of every good thing, implant in our hearts a deep love of Your name. Increase in us the true spirit of devotion and sincere virtue so that we may be supported by You and protected by Your loving care. Through our Lord . . .

  Commemoration of OUR LADY OF REFUGE

Our Lady of Refuge, Nuestra Señora del Refugio, is Patroness of California  and parts of Mexico.

This painting is from the hands of the artist, Joseph de Paez, 1750, Mexico.

      The Franciscan missionary Francisco Diego Garcia y Moreno was the first Bishop of Baja, California. He proclaimed Nuestra Señora del Refugio, as Patron on January 4, 1843, at Mission Santa Clara in Alta California. 

His proclamation included the following:

      The entire text of Bishop Garcia Diego's declaration is recorded in Mission Santa Clara's Libro de Patentes. After citing the early Fathers of the Church on the practice and spiritual benefits of naming patron Saints, the first bishop of the Californias stated: "We make known to you that we hereby name the great Mother of God in her most precious title, 'del Refugio, ' the principal patroness of our diocese . . . With so great a patroness and protectress, what can we not promise ourselves? What can be wanting and whom need we fear?"

 The Liturgical Feast

       In 1981 the California Catholic Conference of Bishops petitioned the Vatican Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship for authorization to observe the Feast of Our Lady of Refuge on July 5 as an obligatory memorial. This was approved by official document dated January 15, 1982, and signed by Archbishop Giuseppe Casoria.

    The diocese of Baja California celebrate this patronal Feast on July 4.

O Almighty and merciful God, who hast made the blessed Mary ever Virgin the refuge and the help of sinners, grant unto us that by her protection, all our sins having been forgiven, we may obtain the happy fulfillment of the purposes of Thy mercy. Through our Lord . . .

COMMEMORATION OF ALL HOLY POPES
O God, Who bountifully providest for Thy people, and lovingly rulest over them, do Thou, through the interceding merits of the Chief Bishops of Thy Church, give the Spirit of Wisdom to those unto whom Thou hast given the control of its discipline, that the good advance of their holy flocks may be to the Shepherds a source of everlasting joy. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Rom. 6:3-11
Brethren: Know you not that all we who are baptized in Christ Jesus are baptized in his death? For we are buried together with him by baptism into death: that, as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, to the end that we may serve sin no longer. For he that is dead is justified from sin. Now, if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall live also together with Christ. Knowing that Christ, rising again from the dead, dieth now no more. Death shall no more have dominion over him. For in that he died to sin, he died once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GRADUAL Ps. 89:13, 1
Turn a little, O Lord, and be moved by the entreaties for Your servants.
V. O Lord, You have been our refuge through all generations.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 30:2-3
I have hoped in You, let me never be put to shame. In Your justice rescue me and set me free. Incline Your ear to me; make haste to deliver me. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Mark 8:1-9
In those days again, when there was great multitude and they had nothing to eat; calling his disciples together, he saith to them: "I have compassion on the multitude, for behold they have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I shall send them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way: for some of them came from afar off." And his disciples answered him: "From whence can any one fill them here with bread in the wilderness?" And he asked them: "How many loaves have ye?" Who said: "Seven."
And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground. And taking the seven loaves, giving thanks, he broke and gave to his disciples for to set before them. And they set them before the people. And they had a few little fishes: and he blessed them and commanded them to be set before them. And they did eat and were filled: and they took up that which was left of the fragments, seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand. And he sent them away.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 16:5, 6-7
Keep my steps steadfast in Your paths, that my feet may not falter. Incline Your ear and hear my words. Show Your wondrous kindness, O Saviour of those who trust in You, O Lord.

SECRET
Let our prayers win peace for Your people, O Lord, so that their offerings may be pleasing in Your sight. Grant us the requests we confidently make of You, so that it cannot be said that anyone hopes or calls upon You in vain. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of OUR LADY OF REFUGE
Strengthen in our minds, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the mysteries of the true faith, that we who believe Him that was conceived of a Virgin to be true God and true Man, may by the power of His saving Resurrection, deserve to possess eternal joy.

Commemoration of ALL HOLY POPES
May the spotless sacrifice of Thine only-begotten Son which we offer unto Thee, O God, the Father Almighty, in honor of the holy Pontiffs, help us to obtain the spiritual remedy. Through our Lord . . 

 
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 26:6
I will draw near and joyfully offer a sacrifice in His tabernacle; I will sing and chant a psalm to the Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION
We have been filled with Your gifts, O Lord; grant, we beseech You, that we may be cleansed and strengthened by their effect.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Commemoration of OUR LADY OF REFUGE
O Lord, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who have received these aids unto salvation, may be always and everywhere, protected by the intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, in whose honor we offered this sacrifice to Thy Majesty.

 Commemoration of ALL HOLY POPES
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that Thy faithful people may ever find joy in the veneration of Thy holy Pontiffs, and be protected by their unceasing prayer. Through our Lord . . .