The Sower
SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY
[Commemoration]
THE SEVEN FOUNDERS OF THE
SERVITE ORDER
Confessors
This
Sunday moves deeper into immediate preparation for Lent. It is a day of
testing the soil of human hearts, to find out how ready everyone is for
the good seed of grace that God is sure to offer. Has our vision
enlarged to see all men as our brothers? Has our love reached out to all
the world's sufferers, at least by sympathy and prayer? Is our hand
open to the needy of our local community?
The Prayer recalls that in old Rome this Mass was always said at the "stational" church of St. Paul-outside-the-Walls.
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| Front of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls - Roma - Italy. Italiano: Facciata della Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura a Roma. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
INTROIT Ps. 43:23-26
Awake!
Why are you asleep, O Lord? Arise! Cast us not off forever! Why do you
hide your face and forget our troubles? Our bodies are pressed to the
earth. Arise, O Lord, help us, and free us!
Ps. 43:2. O God, our ears have heard, our fathers have spoken to us.
V. Glory be . . .
Ps. 43:2. O God, our ears have heard, our fathers have spoken to us.
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
O
God, You see that we place no trust in our ability and actions. May the
prayers of the Doctor of the Gentiles defend us against all adversity.
Through Our Lord . . .
Commemoration of THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS
In the thirteenth century, the prosperous city of Florence was torn by political struggles and troubled by heresy. Seven young Florentines offered their lives to atone for the sins of their fellow citizens. They became hermits, meditating constantly on the Passion of Jesus and the sorrows of Mary at the foot of the cross. In 1240 our Blessed Lady inspired the holy solitaries to found a new order, the Servants of Mary. The society grew amazingly and from Italy spread to France, Germany, Poland, and even Asia.
O Lord Jesus Christ, through the seven blessed fathers You enriched Your Church with the new Order of Servites in order to keep alive the memory of the sorrows of Your most holy Mother. May we be united in the sorrows of these saints so that we may also share in their joys; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .
In the thirteenth century, the prosperous city of Florence was torn by political struggles and troubled by heresy. Seven young Florentines offered their lives to atone for the sins of their fellow citizens. They became hermits, meditating constantly on the Passion of Jesus and the sorrows of Mary at the foot of the cross. In 1240 our Blessed Lady inspired the holy solitaries to found a new order, the Servants of Mary. The society grew amazingly and from Italy spread to France, Germany, Poland, and even Asia.
O Lord Jesus Christ, through the seven blessed fathers You enriched Your Church with the new Order of Servites in order to keep alive the memory of the sorrows of Your most holy Mother. May we be united in the sorrows of these saints so that we may also share in their joys; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .
EPISTLE II Cor. 11:19-33; 12:1-9
Brethren:
For you gladly suffer the foolish: whereas yourselves are wise. For you
suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man
take from you, if a man be lifted up, if a man strike you on the face.
I
seek according to dishonour, as if we had been weak in this part.
Wherein if any man dare (I speak foolishly), I dare also. They are
Hebrews: so am I. They are Israelites: so am I. They are the seed of
Abraham: so am I. They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as one less
wise): I am more; in many more labours, in prisons more frequently, in
stripes above measure, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times did I
receive forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods: once I
was stoned: thrice I suffered shipwreck: a night and a day I was in the
depth of the sea.
In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of 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 labour and painfulness, in much watchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness: Besides those things which are without: my daily instance, the solicitude for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is scandalized, and I am not on fire?
In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of 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 labour and painfulness, in much watchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness: Besides those things which are without: my daily instance, the solicitude for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is scandalized, and I am not on fire?
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my infirmity. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lie not. At Damascus, the
governor of the nation under Aretas the king, guarded the city of the
Damascenes, to apprehend me. And through a window in a basket was I let
down by the wall: and so escaped his hands. If I must glory (it is not
expedient indeed) but I will come to visions and revelations of the
Lord. I know a man in Christ: above fourteen years ago (whether in the
body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth), such a
one caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the
body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth): That he was caught
up into paradise and heard secret words which it is not granted to man
to utter.
For
such an one I will glory: but for myself I will glory nothing but in my
infirmities. For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be
foolish: for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should
think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth
from me.
And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me. And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me. And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
GRADUAL Ps. 82:19, 14
Let the nations know that You whose name is God, alone are the Most High over all the earth.
V. O my God, whirl them about like chaff before the wind!
V. O my God, whirl them about like chaff before the wind!
TRACT Ps. 59:4, 6
You have shaken the earth, O Lord, and thrown it into confusion.
V. Repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.
V. That they may flee out of bowshot; that Your chosen ones may escape.
V. Repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.
V. That they may flee out of bowshot; that Your chosen ones may escape.
GOSPEL Luke 8:4-15
At
that time, when a very great multitude was gathered together and
hastened out of the cities, unto him, he spoke by a similitude. "The
sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the way
side. And it was trodden down: and the fowls of the air devoured it. And
other some fell upon a rock. And as soon as it was sprung up, it
withered away, because it had no moisture. And other some fell among
thorns. And the thorns growing up with it, choked it. And other some
fell upon good ground and, being sprung up, yielded fruit a
hundredfold." Saying these things, he cried out: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. To whom he said: "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 may not
understand.' Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. And
they by the way side are they that hear: then the devil cometh and
taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved.
Now they upon the rock are they who when they hear receive the word
with joy: and these have no roots: for they believe for a while and in
time of temptation they fall away. And that which fell among thorns are
they who have heard and, going their way, are choked with the cares and
riches and pleasures of this life and yield no fruit. But that on the
good ground are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word,
keep it and bring forth fruit in patience."
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 Savior of
those who trust in You, O Lord.
SECRET
May the sacrifice we offer You, O Lord, bring us new life and keep us safe. Through our Lord . . .
Commemoration of THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS
O Lord, graciously accept the
sacrifice we offer You. Through the prayers of Your saints inflame us
with love for the sorrowing Virgin Mother of Your Son and let us serve
You in freedom of spirit. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . .
.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 42:4
I will go in to the altar of God, to God who gives joy to my youth.
POSTCOMMUNION
Almighty
God, we humbly ask that those who are nourished with Your Sacrament may
live a life of worthy service pleasing to You. Through Our Lord . . .
Commemoration of THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS
We are refreshed by the Sacrament of
Heaven, O Lord. May we follow the examples of these saints, whom we
honor today, and stand faithfully beneath the cross of Jesus with Mary
His Mother, in order that we may also share in the effects of His
redeeming sacrifice. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .
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