TUESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN LENT; SAINT OSWALD (992 A.D.)

 

 

TUESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK
IN LENT

 

[Wikimedia.org image]

Commemoration

SAINT OSWALD
Bishop, Confessor

 

SIMPLE / PURPLE
INTROIT Ps. 89:1, 2

O Lord, You have been our refuge through all generations; You are from eternity to eternity.
Ps. 89:2. Before the mountains were made, or the earth was formed, from eternity to eternity You are God. 
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

Look kindly upon Your household, O Lord. May the mortification of our bodies purify our minds also and make us desire You. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT OSWALD 
St. Oswald, Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of York, England, seconded to St. Dunstan in his efforts to reform monastic discipline and to restore the Christian religion to England. He fell asleep in the peace of Christ on February 29, A.D. 992.

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the solemn feast of blessed Oswald, Thy Confessor and Bishop, may both increase our devotion and advance our salvation. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Isa. 55:6-11
In those days, the prophet Isaias spoke, saying:
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

GRADUAL Ps. 140:2
Let my prayer come like incense before Your sight, O Lord.
V. The lifting up of my hands, like an evening sacrifice.

GOSPEL Matt. 21:10-17

At that time, when Jesus was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the multitudes said, "This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee." 
And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money–changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; and he saith unto them, "It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers." 
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple: and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the son of David;" they were moved with indignation, and said unto him, "Hearest thou what these are saying?" And Jesus saith unto them, "Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there. 

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 30:15-16

I have placed my trust in You, O Lord; I said, "You are my God, my life is in Your hands."

SECRET

O Lord, be moved to compassion by our offerings and shield us from all danger. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT OSWALD

May Thy Saints, we beseech Thee, O Lord, in all places bring us joy, that while we recall their merits, we may experience their patronage. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 4:2

When I called upon You, You answered me, O my just God; when I was in distress, You upheld me. Have pity on me, O Lord, and hear my prayer.

POSTCOMMUNION

Almighty God, grant that we may attain the salvation promised us through this Sacrament. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT OSWALD 
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who give thanks for the gifts that we have received, may through the intercession of blessed Oswald, Thy Confessor and Bishop, obtain still greater blessings. Through our Lord . . .

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
Let our prayers come before You, O Lord. Drive away all evil from Your Church. Through our Lord . . .

MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT; SAINT GABRIEL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS (1862 A.D.)

 

 

MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

[COMMEMORATION]

SAINT GABRIEL OF
OUR LADY OF SORROWS
Confessor

SIMPLE/PURPLE
Today's Mass indicates the twofold aspect of God's providence: that is,  that all men receive the tender care of God (Reading) and in turn, become the agents of God to extend His care to those in need (Gospel). God's Will in not only in what happens to men, but also in what men cause to happen, for charity's sake and within the norms of justice and prudence.

INTROIT (Ps, 122:2)
As the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, so are our eyes on the Lord, our God, until He have pity on us. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! Ps. 122:1. To You, who are enthroned in heaven, have I lifted up my eyes. V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord of our salvation, change our hearts and enlighten us by Your heavenly teachings, that this Lenten fast may be profitable to us. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT GABRIEL POSSENTI

Gabriel Possenti (1838-62), the son of a distinguished Italian lawyer, entered the novitiate of the Passionist Fathers, receiving in religion the name of Brother Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. The story of the remaining six years of this young saint's life is largely a record of an extraordinary effort to attain spiritual perfection in small things, but his devotion to Mary was exceptional. Pope Leo XIII said of him: "Because of his filial love for Mary at the foot of the cross, he deserves to take his place by St. John, the beloved disciple, to whom Jesus in His dying hour commended His Mother."

O God, You taught blessed Gabriel to meditate constantly on the sorrows of Your most sweet Mother, and You exalted him by glorious virtues and miracles. Through his prayers and example may we share the sorrows of Your Mother and come to eternal life under Her motherly care; who lives and rules with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

LESSON (Ezech. 34:11-16)
For thus saith the Lord God: "Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them. As the shepherd visiteth his flock in the day when he shall be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them out of the countries, and will bring them to their own land: and I will feed them in the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the habitations of the land. I will feed them in the most fruitful pastures, and their pastures shall be in the high mountains of Israel: there shall they rest on the green grass, and be fed in fat pastures upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost: and that which was driven away, I will bring again: and I will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong I will preserve, and I will feed them in judgment," says the Lord Almighty.

GRADUAL (Ps. 83:10, 9)
Behold our protector, O God, and look upon Your servants. V. O Lord, God of hosts, hear the prayers of Your servants.

TRACT (Ps. 102:10; 78:8-9)
O Lord, repay us not according to the sins we have committed, nor according to our iniquities. V. O Lord, remember not our iniquities of the past; let Your mercy come quickly to us, for we are being brought very low. (All Kneel.) V. Help us, O God our Savior, and for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us; and pardon us our sins for Your names sake.

GOSPEL (Matt. 25:31-46)
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty. And all nations shall be gathered together before him: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me.' "Then shall the just answer him, saying: 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and fed thee: thirsty and gave thee drink? Or when did we see thee a stranger and took thee in? Or naked and covered thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison and came to thee?' And the king answering shall say to them: 'Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.' "Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: 'Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty and you gave me not to drink. I was a stranger and you took me not in: naked and you covered me not: sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also shall answer him, saying: 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to thee?' Then he shall answer them, saying: 'Amen: I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.' And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 118:18, 26, 73)
I will lift up my eyes and consider Your wondrous deeds, O Lord, that You may teach me Your way of justice. Give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.

SECRET
Bless these gifts we offer You, O Lord. May they cleanse us from the stain of our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Commemoration of SAINT GABRIEL

We offer You, O Lord, this life-giving sacrifice in memory of blessed Gabriel. make us always remember the sacrifice of Your death, and let us share in the abundant effects of that sacrifice through the merits of the sorrowing Virgin; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Matt. 25:40, 34)
Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did for Me. Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER
O Lord, may the banquet of salvation, of which we have partaken with joy, bring us a new life. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT GABRIEL

O Lord, on this feast of Your holy confessor Gabriel, we give thanks for all we have received from You. Graciously accept our gratitude through the hands of the glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, from whom You took flesh--the same flesh that we have received in this Banquet of Salvation; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

 

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
Free us from the slavery of our sins, O Lord, and mercifully shield us from the punishments these sins deserve. Through our Lord . . .

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

 

 

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / PURPLE

After our first brave efforts of Lent, our natural inclinations tend to reassert themselves. Temptations may increase their strength or their frequency. Hence the danger of discouragement and of slackening in the observance of generous lenten resolutions. It is the critical hour, in which temptation may surprise us, turn our thoughts inward upon personal problems, and make us forget the sufferings of other men. Brother to all men, Jesus showed that temptation can be a way of redeeming souls--our own and those of others. "In that He Himself has suffered and has been tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted" (Heb. 2:18)

INTROIT Ps. 90:15-16

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him, I will deliver him and glorify him with length of days.
Ps. 90:1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall abide in the protection of the God of heaven.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O God, each year You purify the Church through the lenten observance. May the good works of Your Church obtain for us the grace we ask for through our self-denial. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

EPISTLE II Cor. 6:1-10

Brethren: We do exhort you that you receive not the grace of God in vain. For he saith: In an accepted time have I heard thee and in the day of salvation have I helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time: behold, now is the day of salvation. Giving no offense to any man, that our ministry be not blamed. But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, In chastity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned, In the word of truth, in the power of God: by the armour of justice on the right hand and on the left: By honour and dishonour: by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true: as unknown and yet known: As dying and behold we live: as chastised and not killed: As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many: as having nothing and possessing all things.

GRADUAL Ps. 90:11-12

God has given his angels charge over you, that they guard you in all your ways.
V. Upon their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

TRACT Ps. 90:1-7; 11-16

He who dwells inm the shelter of the Most High shall abide in the protection of the God of heaven.
V. He shall say to the Lord, "You are my support and my refuge; my God, in You I trust."
V. For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word.
V. He will overshadow thee with his shoulders: and under his wings thou shalt trust.
V. His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night.
V. Of the arrow that flieth in the day, of the business that walketh about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil.
V. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.
V. For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.
V. In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
V. Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon.
V. Because he hoped in me I will deliver him: I will protect him because he hath known my name.
V. He shall cry to me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation,
V. I will deliver him, and I will glorify him. I will fill him with length of days; and I will shew him my salvation.

GOSPEL Matt. 4:1-11

At that time, Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was hungry. And the tempter coming said to Him: "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Who answered and said: "It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God."

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, and set Him upon the pinnacle of the temple, And said to Him: "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written: That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone."

Jesus said to him: "It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

Again the devil took Him up into a very high mountain, and shewed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, And said to Him: "All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me." Then Jesus saith to him: "Begone, Satan: for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve."

Then the devil left Him, and behold angels came and ministered to Him.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 90:4-5

The Lord will cover you with His shoulders, and under His wings you shall find refuge. His truth shall surround you with a shield.

SECRET

O Lord, we solemnly offer You our sacrifice at the beginning of Lent, and pray that by observing abstinence we may also learn to avoid sinful pleasures. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 90:4-5

The Lord will cover you with His shoulders, and under His wings you shall find refuge. His truth shall surround you with a shield.

POSTCOMMUNION

May the worthy reception of the Blessed Sacrament give us new strength, O Lord. May it cleanse us from our old selves and bring us closer to our salvation. Through our Lord . . .

SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

 

 

SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

 

SIMPLE / PURPLE
Not only fasting, private prayer, and almsgiving, but also corporate worship, helps to form the thorough Christian. All worship centers in Christ, the one Mediator. His presence and priesthood are the hope of the world. Through Him as their Head, all His members give the Trinity due homage, thanksgiving, and reparation. By worshiping together, men express their dependence upon one another and deepen their vital unity.

INTROIT Ps. 29:11
The Lord heard me and had pity on me; the Lord became my helper.
Ps. 29:2. I will extol You, O Lord, for You have upheld me, and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

Hear our Prayers, O Lord, and help us strickly observe the solemn fast that was enjoined upon us as a healing for our body and our soul. 

 

LESSON Isa. 58:9-14 

Thus says the Lord God: If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thine obscurity be as the noonday: and the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in dry places, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, and the holy of the LORD honourable; and shalt honour it, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the earth; and I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 

 

GRADUAL Ps. 26:4 

One thing I have asked of the Lord; this will I seek after; to dwell in the house of the Lord. V. That I may behold the joy of the Lord and be sheltered by His holy temple. 

 

GOSPEL Mark 6:47-56 

At that time, when even was come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them: but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was an apparition, and cried out: for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he straightway spake with them, and saith unto them, "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." And he went up unto them into the boat; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves; for they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened. And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. And when they were come out of the boat, straightway the people knew him, and ran round about that whole region, and began to carry about on their beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. And wheresoever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. 

 

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 118:154, 125
O Lord, give me life according to Your promise, that I may know Your degrees.

SECRET

O Lord, accept this Sacrifice, which You have instituted in order that man may be at peace with God. May it cleanse us from sin so that our love may also be acceptable to You. 

 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 2:11-12
Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling before Him. Embrace discipline that you perish not from the way of virtue.

 

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER

We are nourished by the Bread of Heavenly Life, O Lord. May this Sacrifice that is hidden under the veil of mystery in this life help us through all eternity.  

 

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O Lord, may the faithful be strengthened by the reception of Your Sacramental Gifts. And having received them, may they hunger after them still; and through hungering, may they come constantly to be nourished by them. Through our Lord . . .

SAINT MATTHIAS, Apostle; Commemoration of FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

 

 

SAINT MATTHIAS

Apostle

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / RED

After the Ascension of Jesus, St. Peter proposed to the assembled faithful that they choose a disciple of Christ to fill the place of the traitor Judas in the first missionary band. Lots were drawn, with the result in favor of Matthias. According to one ancient tradition, this missioner labored in Ethiopia and was martyred there. Thus did St. Matthias receive "the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12).

INTROIT (Ps. 138:17)

Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.
Ps. 138:1. O Lord, You have proved me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O God, You made blessed Matthias one of the group of Your apostles. May his intercession enable us to feel the effects of Your mercy. Through Our Lord . . .

 

Commemoration of FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY
May Your kindly favor, we beseech You, O Lord, accompany the fast we have begun, that we may be able to practice with a pure mind what we perform bodily.
Through Jesus Christ . . .

LESSON (Acts 1:15-26)

In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren, said (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty): "Men, brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended Jesus: Who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. And he indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged, burst asunder in the midst: and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so that the same field was called in their tongue, Haceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms: 'Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein.' And 'His bishopric let another take.'
" Wherefore of these men who have companied with us, all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, until the day wherein he was taken up from us, one of these must be made a witness with us of his resurrection."

And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And praying, they said: "Thou, Lord, who knowest the heart of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place." And they gave them lot, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

GRADUAL (Ps. 138:17-18)

Your friends are greatly honored, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.
V. Were I to try to number them, they would be more numerous than the sands.

TRACT (Ps. 20:3-4)

You have granted him his heart's desire; You have not refused him the wish of his lips.
V. You have made him excel by Your choicest blessings.
V. You have placed on his head a crown of precious stones.

GOSPEL (Matt. 11:25-30)

At that time Jesus answered and said: "I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. Yea, Father: for so hath it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no one knoweth the Son but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him. Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 44:17-18)

You shall make them princes through all the land; they shall remember Your name, O Lord, in every generation and age.

SECRET

May Your blessed apostle Matthias join his prayers to the sacrifice we offer to Your name, O Lord, so that it may win Your pardon and protection for us. Through Our Lord . . .

 

Commemoration of FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY 

Grant, O Lord, we beseech You, that as we offer the sacrifice of Lent, our hearts may be made acceptable to You; and the sacrifice may give us greater willingness for self-denial.
Through Jesus Christ . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Matt. 19:28)

You who have followed Me shall sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

POSTCOMMUNION

O Almighty God, may our reception of Your Holy Sacrament and the intercession of Your blessed apostle Matthias bring us Your pardon and peace. Through Our Lord . . .

 

Commemoration of FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

Fill us, O Lord, with the spirit of Your love, to unite in charity those whom You have filled with one and the same heavenly Bread.
Through Jesus Christ . . . 

THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY; SAINT PETER DAMIAN (1072 A.D.) Bishop and Doctor of the Church

 

 

THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

[Commemoration]

SAINT PETER DAMIAN
Bishop and Doctor of the Church

SIMPLE / PURPLE
Everyone owes God the homage of looking to Him as the source of all things. Everyone must express this homage, both in private prayer and in corporate worship. Both private and public prayer should embrace all mankind, so that men of every race will come to offer God the homage of prayer and receive from Him the graces of spiritual rebirth, of final perseverance, and of every needed blessing. Today's Mass indicates that all prayer is to be offered with simplicity, with complete confidence, and with deep humility.
 
 Introit
Ps 54:17, 19-20, 23.
When I called upon the Lord, He heard my voice from those who war against me; and He humbled them, Who is before all ages and remains forever. Cast your care upon the Lord, and He will support you.
Ps 54:2
Hearken, O God, to my prayer; turn not away from my pleading; give heed to me, and answer me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
When I called upon the Lord, He heard my voice from those who war against me; and He humbled them, Who is before all ages and remains forever. Cast your care upon the Lord, and He will support you.

Collect
O God, offended by sin, and appeased by penitence, graciously hear the prayers of Your people as they entreat You to turn away from us the scourges of anger that we have deserved because of our sins.
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.

Commemoration of SAINT PETER DAMIAN
The tenth century was a dark age for the Church, but an upsurge of faith and morals began soon after the year 1000. One of the foremost apostles of reform was Peter Damian (1007-72), a native of Ravenna, Italy. Seven Popes in succession sought his advice, and St. Peter induced two antipopes to withdraw their pretensions to the Holy See. He often said: "We can never restore primitive discipline when once it is decayed; and if we, by negligence, suffer any diminution in what remains established, future ages will never be able to repair the breach."

O Almighty God, grant that we may follow the teaching and example of Your blessed confessor bishop Peter, and turn away from the things of earth that we may attain the joys of heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

Lesson
Lesson from the book of Isaias
Isa 38:1-6
In those days, when Ezechia was mortally ill, the prophet Isaiah, son of Amos, came and said to him; Thus says the Lord: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you shall not recover. Then Ezechia turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord: O Lord, remember how faithfully and wholeheartedly I conducted myself in Your presence, doing what was pleasing to You! And Ezechia wept bitterly. Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: Go, tell Ezechia: ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life. I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; I will be a shield to this city, says the Lord almighty.

Gradual
Ps 54:23, 17-19.
Cast your care upon the Lord, and He will support you.
V. When I called upon the Lord, He heard my voice from those who war against me.

GOSPEL

Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt. 8:5-13
At that time, when Jesus had entered Capharnaum, there came to Him a centurion, who entreated Him, saying, Lord, my servant is lying sick in the house, paralyzed, and is grievously afflicted. Jesus said to him, I will come and cure him. But in answer the centurion said, Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, and have soldiers subject to me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. And when Jesus heard this, He marveled, and said to those who were following Him, Amen I say to you, I have not found such great faith in Israel. And I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west, and will feast with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom will be put forth into the darkness outside; there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth. Then Jesus said to the centurion, Go your way; as you have believed, so be it done to you. And the servant was healed in that hour.

Secret
O Lord, we beseech You to look with favor upon these offerings before You, and may they be profitable to our devotion as well as to our salvation.
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. 

 

Commemoration of SAINT PETER DAMIAN
O Lord, let the blessed bishop and doctor Damian always help us, and through his intercession, accept our offering and pardon our sins. Through our Lord . . .
 
Communion
Ps 50:21
You shall be pleased with due sacrifices, burnt offerings and holocausts on Your altar, O Lord.

Post Communion
We humbly beseech You, almighty God, that, having received the blessing of Your heavenly gift, it may be for us the source of sacramental grace and of salvation.
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. 

Commemoration of SAINT PETER DAMIAN
O Lord, may this Sacrifice bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of Your blessed bishop and illustrious doctor Damian. Through our Lord . . .

 

Prayer over the people
Spare, O Lord, spare Your people, that, being chastened with well-deserved scourging, they may find relief through Your compassion.
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.

 

Pray for the preservation of the Latin Mass

Dear Friends,

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Let us place our hope in Christ this Lent and pray for the preservation of the Latin Mass!

I know it may feel hopeless.  Some of us have already been evicted from churches that had been the spiritual homes for our families for decades.  Others live in dioceses where the Latin Mass is now no longer available at all.  We see shocking overreach from some prelates in Rome who shamelessly bully bishops into ceding authority that is rightfully their own.  In response, we see many Shepards silenced and paralyzed by a culture of fear that is pervasive throughout the Church.

I think Harrison Butker aptly summarized the way many of us feel when he said: “I feel like I’m almost not welcome in the Church for wanting to go to the Latin Mass and for wanting to have a traditional confirmation for my children.” As Father Z recently said, "All of this is so unnecessary". Yet the hits keep coming, rumors abound of worse to come, and our children are scandalized by this injustice by the Church.

I'm not writing to assure you that this persecution will soon end.  I have no idea what is going to happen.  I merely wish to remind you that it is exactly times like this that God will be most pleased to hear our prayers.  God heard the appeals of the Jews and rescued them from impossible situations countless times.  God has miraculously delivered many Christian victories as a response to prayer, such as the Battle of Leponto.  Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!

As we enter Lent, more than ever, we must turn to God in prayer. We must ask Our Lady to intercede for us, that God will strengthen his shepherds, soften their hearts and inspire them toward justice.  Let us unite in prayer and penance for the intention of the preservation of the Latin Mass and old rite sacraments.  What is a more fitting prayer than the Ave?  Let us flood Heaven with the sound of this ancient and powerful prayer in the holy language that Vatican II confirmed should retain its primacy.  Please join us in this prayer this Lent and please ask your family and friends to join too.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Marc Rome
President

Preserve The Latin Mass


Preserve The Latin Mass, 7618 County Road P32, Fort Calhoun, NE 68023, United States

ASH WEDNESDAY

 

  

ASH WEDNESDAY

Today's Mass embodies the spirit of Lent. All are reminded to be sorry for sin and to do penance, but not in a spirit of showy sadness or of inward despair. Rather, let the sincere and humble prepare with inner joy to celebrate their baptism in Christ. By living their baptismal promises, they enter more deeply into Christ's suffering. Knowing God's desire to forgive, to heal, and to share with all men His own divine life, we discipline our passions gladly and with confidence in victory. God gives the grace for every Lenten restraint. Therefore everyone should receive the blessed ashes, both as a means of grace and as a reminder to do penance unobtrusively, for personal sins and for the sins of all mankind.

Before the Mass, the celebrant vested in alb, purple stole, and cope, goes up to the altar for the blessing of the ashes.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ASHES

The celebrant stands and receives ashes on his head; he then distributes them to the clergy and the congregation, who kneel before him. He admonishes each one as he places ashes on his head:

Remember, man, that you are dust, and into dust you shall return.

THE MASS

INTROIT (Sap. 11:24, 25, 27)

You are merciful to all, O Lord, and hate none of the things that You have made. When men repent, You overlook their sins and pardon them; for You are the Lord our God.

Ps. 56:2. Have pity on me, O God, have pity on me, for my soul trusts in You.

V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, may the faithful begin the solemn season of fast with fitting piety, and may they continue through to its end with unwavering devotion. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON (Joel 2:12-19)

Now, therefore, saith the Lord. Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and mourning. And rend your hearts, and not your garments and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly,
Gather together the people, sanctify the church, assemble the ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that suck at the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of her bridal chamber. Between the porch and the altar the priests, the Lord's ministers, shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathens should rule over them. Why should they say among the nations: Where is their God? The Lord hath been zealous for his land, and hath spared his people. And the Lord answered, and said to his people: Behold I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be filled with them: and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

GRADUAL (Ps. 56:2, 4)

Have pity on me, O God, have pity on me, for my soul trusts in You. V. He has sent from heaven, and saved me; He has made them a reproach who trample upon me.

TRACT (Ps. 102:10; 78:8-9)

O Lord, repay us not according to the sins we have committed, nor according to our iniquities. V. O Lord, remember not our iniquities of the past; let Your mercy come quickly to us, for we are being brought very low. (All Kneel.) V. Help us, O God our Savior, and for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us; and pardon us our sins for Your name's sake.

GOSPEL (Matt. 6:16-21)

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.
"Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through, and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 29:2-3)

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have upheld me, and have not let my enemies rejoice over me. O Lord, I cried out to You and You have healed me.

SECRET

O Lord, make us truly fit to offer these gifts with which we commemorate the institution of this blessed Sacrament. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Ps. 1:2-3)

He who meditates on the law of the Lord day and night shall bring forth his fruit in due season.

POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord, may this Sacrament which we have received make our fasting an acceptable offering to You and a healthful remedy to our souls. Through our Lord . . .

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE

O Lord, look with mercy upon those who worship before Your majesty. May Your heavenly aid always strengthen those who have feasted upon Your divine Sacrament. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Shrove Tuesday; Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus

 

[Image from https://www.holyface.com/enter_eng.htm]

Shrove Tuesday
Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus

 

In Rome and in other places, Shrove Tuesday is observed as the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus.
Masses in honour of the Holy Face appeared as early as the fourteenth century. In 1958 Pope Pius XII approved the observance of a feast of the Holy Face of Jesus on Shrove Tuesday. At Manoppello, the feast of the Holy Face is celebrated on August 6th, the Transfiguration of the Lord. The Benedictines of Jesus Crucified honoured the Holy Face with the Litanies sung in procession on the Sunday After Ascension.
The present Mass of the Holy Face of Jesus for Shrove Tuesday was approved by the Holy See in 1986. A flash of paschal glory before beginning Lent! Here are the Proper Mass texts of the Mass in English.

INTROIT
Of you my heart has spoken: “Seek his face.” It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face (Ps 26:8-9).
(Cf., Tibi dixit, GR 88)

Collect
O God, who willed that your only–begotten Son
should become man,
and show us in his human nature a perfect image of your divinity, grant, we beseech you, that by venerating the image of his Holy Face we may be united with him
in the mysteries of his Passion and Death,
and so come to contemplate forever his glorious Face
in the joy of the resurrection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

Lesson
Lesson from the second letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
2 Cor. 11:19-33; 12:1-9
Brethren: You gladly put up with fools, because you are wise yourselves! For you suffer it if a man enslaves you, if a man devours you, if a man takes from you, if a man is arrogant, if a man slaps your face! I speak to my own shame, as though we had been weak. But wherein any man is bold - I am speaking foolishly - I also am bold. Are they Hebrews? So am I! Are they Israelites? So am I! Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I! Are they ministers of Christ? I - to speak as a fool - am more: in many more labors, in prisons more frequently, in lashes above measure, often exposed to death. From the Jews five times I received forty lashes less one. Thrice I was scourged, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I was adrift on the sea; in journeyings often, in perils from floods, in perils from robbers, in perils from my own nation, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils from false brethren; in labor and hardships, in many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those outer things, there is my daily pressing anxiety, the care of all the churches! Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not inflamed? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, Who is blessed forevermore, knows that I do not lie. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me, but I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands. If I must boast - it is not indeed expedient to do so - but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago - whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows - such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows that he was caught up into paradise and heard secret words that man may not repeat. Of such a man I will boast; but of myself I will glory in nothing save in my infirmities. For if I do wish to boast, I shall not be foolish; for I shall be speaking the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should reckon me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me. And lest the greatness of the revelations should puff me up, there was given me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me. Concerning this I thrice besought the Lord that it might leave me. And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for strength is made perfect in weakness. Gladly therefore I will glory in my infirmities, that the strength of Christ may dwell in me.

Gradual
Ps 76:15-16
You are the God Who alone works wonders; among the peoples You have made known Your power.
V. With Your strong arm You delivered Your people, the sons of Israel and Joseph.
  
Gospel

Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 8:4-15
At that time, when a very great crowd was gathering together and men from every town were resorting to Jesus. He said in a parable: The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air ate it up. And other seed fell upon the rock, and as soon as it had sprung up it withered away, because it had no moisture. And other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. And other seed fell upon good ground, and sprang up and yielded fruit a hundredfold. As He said these things He cried out, He who has ears to hear, let him hear! But His disciples then began to ask Him what this parable meant, He said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. And those by the wayside are they who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. Now those upon the rock are they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, but believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among the thorns, these are they who have heard, and as they go their way are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not ripen. But that upon good ground, these are they who, with a right and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bear fruit in patience.

Offertory
Make my steps steadfast in Your paths, that my feet may not falter. Incline Your ear to me; hear my word. Show Your wondrous kindness, O Lord, Savior of those who trust in You.

Secret
May this sacrifice which we offer You, O Lord, ever give us new life and protection.
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. 

Post Communion
O almighty God, grant, we humbly beseech You, that those whom You refresh with Your sacrament may also worthily serve You in a way that is well pleasing to You.
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.

FEB. 20 FERIAL II Quinquagesimæ; SAINT AMATA [AMY] (1250 A.D.)

 

[gogoodnews.net image]

 
SAINT AMATA
(Amy)
Amata of Assisi was a Poor Clare nun. After a youth misspent, Amata became very ill and was healed by her aunt, St. Clare. With this miracle she changed her life and entered the Poor Clares, later becoming an acquaintance of St. Dominic.^[1]

 

Saint Clare and sisters of her order, San Damiano, Assisi
[Wikimedia.org]

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 . . .

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.

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.

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.

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 . . .

 

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 . . .