THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN LENT; SAINT OSWALD (992 A.D.)

 

THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK 

IN LENT

[Wikimedia.org image]

Commemoration

SAINT OSWALD
Bishop, Confessor

SIMPLE / PURPLE
The natural joys and comforts of life are blessings from God. Kept within limits, they help men to bear life's burdens and to do God's will. But where pleasure-seeking dominates life, a man becomes his own worst enemy; God and eternity seem unreal, hardly worth the bother. There is little thought of God's poor or of the world's sufferers. Lent recalls everyone to the wisdom of restraint in all pleasure. Trust rather in God for eternity's happiness.
 
INTROIT Ps. 69:2-3
O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me. Let my enemies who seek my life be put to shame and confounded.
Ps. 69:4. Let those who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, help us by Your grace to be diligent in fasting and prayer, that we may be shielded against the enemies of our soul and body. 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 Jer. 17:5-10
Thus saith the Lord: "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like tamaric in the desert, and he shall not see when good shall come: but he shall dwell in dryness in the desert in a salt land, and not inhabited.
"Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence. And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots towards moisture: and it shall not fear when the heat cometh. And the leaf thereof shall be green, and in the time of drought it shall not be solicitous, neither shall it cease at any time to bring forth fruit.
"The heart is perverse above all things, and unsearchable, who can know it? I am the Lord who search the heart, and prove the reins: who give to every one according to his way, and according to the fruit of his devices."

GRADUAL Ps. 78:9-10
Pardon us our sins, O Lord, lest the nations ever say, "Where is their God?"
V. Help us, O God our Saviour, and for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us.

GOSPEL Luke 16:19-31
At that time, Jesus said to the Pharisees, "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. And no one did give him: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. "And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom: And he cried and said: 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.' And Abraham said to him: 'Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you cannot, nor from thence come hither.' And he said: 'Then, father, I beseech thee that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren, That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments.' And Abraham said to him: 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.' But he said: 'No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance.' And he said to him: 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.' "

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ex. 32:11, 13-14
Moses prayed before the Lord his God, saying, "Why, O Lord, should Your wrath blaze up against Your own people? Let Your anger die down. Remember Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, and how You swore to give them a land flowing with milk and honey." And the Lord relented in the punishment He had threatened to inflict on His people.

SECRET
O Lord, may the fast we observe in Your name sanctify us through this Sacrifice, so that our acts of penance may accomplish within us the effects they outwardly signify. 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 John 6:57

"He who eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, abides in me and I in him," said the Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION
Let us not be wanting of Your grace, O Lord. May it fire us with devotion to Your service and bring us Your assistance. 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
O Lord, come to the assistance of Your servants and be merciful to those who implore Your mercy. Bind up the wounds of sin in those who glory in You as their creator and ruler, and keep them whole and sinless. Through our Lord . . .

Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent, Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

WEDNESDAY OF THE 

SECOND WEEK IN LENT

[COMMEMORATION]

SAINT GABRIEL OF
OUR LADY OF SORROWS
Confessor

SIMPLE / PURPLE
INTROIT Ps. 37:22-23
Forsake me not, O Lord, my God; be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
Ps. 37:2. Rebuke me not in Your anger, O Lord, and chastise me not in Your wrath.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, look mercifully upon Your people. We abstain from food at Your command; may we also turn away from the spiritual poison of sin. 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 Esther 13:8-11; 15-17
But Mardochai besought the Lord, remembering all his works, And said: "O Lord, Lord, almighty king, for all things are in thy power, and there is none that can resist thy will, if thou determine to save Israel. Thou hast made heaven and earth and all things that are under the cope of heaven. Thou art Lord of all, and there is none that can resist thy majesty. And now, O Lord, O king, O God of Abraham, have mercy on thy people, because our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish thy inheritance. Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redeemed for thyself out of Egypt. Hear my supplication, and be merciful to thy lot and inheritance, and turn our mourning into joy, that we may live and praise thy name, O Lord, and shut not the mouths of them that sing to thee."

GRADUAL Ps. 27:9, 1
Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance.
V. To You, O Lord my God, I cry; be not deaf to me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit.

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. 20:17-28
At that time. as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart and said to them: "Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes: and they shall condemn him to death. And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified: and the third day he shall rise again." 
Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: "What wilt thou?" She saith to him: "say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom." And Jesus answering, said: They say to him: "We can." He saith to them: "You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?""My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father." 
And the ten, hearing it, were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them to him and said: "You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and that they that are the greater, exercise power upon them. It shall not be so among you: but whosoever is the greater among you, let him be your minister. And he that will be first among you shall be your servant. Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a redemption for many." 

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 24:1-3
I have lifted up my soul to You, O Lord; in You, O my God, I place my trust. Let me not be put to shame, nor let my enemies exalt over me. No one who waits for You shall be left in confusion.

SECRET
O Lord, look with favor upon the sacrifices we offer You. May this holy exchange of gifts free us from the bondage of our sins. Through our Lord . . .

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 Ps. 10:8
The Lord is just, and He has loved justice; the upright shall see His face.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may the reception of Your Sacrament bring us ever nearer to our eternal redemption. 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
O God, You love innocence and have restored it to us. Turn the hearts of Your people towards Yourself. Set them on fire with Your Spirit, that they may be firm in faith and zealous in virtues. Through our Lord . . .

TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT

 

 

TUESDAY OF THE SECOND 

WEEK OF LENT

SIMPLE / PURPLE
The clear will of God is the light and the salvation of all men. No one can desire anything good unless God desires it. Even the best of intentions, even seemingly worthy projects, are no good if they are not God's will at the moment. Distress, suffering, even death, can be accepted as His mysterious will. His creative love is always at work drawing the greatest possible good out of everything. Be the humble servant of God's will and you will be truly wise and always at peace.
 
INTROIT Ps. 26:8, 9
My heart has spoken to You; I have sought You. Your presence, O Lord, I will still seek; hide not Your face from me.
Ps. 26:1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, help us keep the holy lenten fast. Teach us our duties and assist us with Your grace to perform them. Through Our Lord . . .

LESSON III Kings 17:8-16 [I King 17:8-16]

In those days, the word of the Lord came to Elias the Thesbite, saying: "Arise, and go to Sarephta of the Sidonians, and dwell there: for I have commanded a widow woman there to feed thee."
He arose, and went to Sarephta. And when he was come to the gate of the city, he saw the widow woman gathering sticks, and he called her, and said to her: "Give me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." And when she was going to fetch it, he called after her, saying: "Bring me also, I beseech thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand." And she answered: "As the Lord thy God liveth, I have no bread, but only a handful of meal in a pot, and a little oil in a cruise: behold I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it, for me and my son, that we may eat it and die."
And Elias said to her: "Fear not; but go, and do as thou hast said but first make for me of the same meal a little hearth cake, and bring it to me, and after make for thyself and thy son. For thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: 'The pot of meal shall not waste, nor the cruise of oil be diminished, until the day wherein the Lord will give rain upon the face of the earth.' "
She went, and did according to the word of Elias: and he ate, and she, and her house: and from that day The pot of meal wasted not, and the cruise of oil was not diminished according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke in the hand of Elias.

GRADUAL Ps. 54:23, 17, 18, 19
Cast your care upon the Lord, and He will support you.
V. When I called upon the Lord, He heard my voice and delivered me from those who war against me.

GOSPEL Matt. 23:1-12
At that time Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, Saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not. For they say, and do not. For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens and lay them on men's shoulders: but with a finger of their own they will not move them. And all their works they do for to be seen of men. For they make their phylacteries broad and enlarge their fringes. And they love the first places at feasts and the first chairs in the synagogues, And salutations in the market place, and to be called by men, Rabbi. But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master: and all you are brethren. And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, Christ. He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 50:3
Have mercy on me, O Lord; in the greatness of Your compassion, O Lord, blot out my sinfulness.

SECRET
O Lord, sanctify us by this sacred rite so that we may be cleansed from earthly sinfulness and come to our eternal reward. Through Our Lord . . .

 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 9:2-3
I will declare all Your wondrous deeds; I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, make us ever obedient to Your commandments so that we may be deserving of Your heavenly gifts. Through Our Lord . . .

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE  

O Lord, be moved by our prayers and heal the sickness of our souls. Grant us pardon for our sins and make us always joyous in Your blessings. Through our Lord . . .

SAINT MATTHIAS, Apostle (transferred); Monday of the Second Week of Lent

 

SAINT MATTHIAS

Apostle

[Transferred]

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 . . .

GLORIA

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 MONDAY 2nd WEEK OF LENT
O Almighty God, while Your servants mortify their bodies by fasting, may they also follow after righteousness and avoid sin. Through Our Lord . . .

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."

CREED

 

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 MONDAY 2nd WEEK OF LENT 

O Lord, protect us through this sacrifice which we offer to atone for our sins and to give glory to You. Through Our Lord . . .

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 MONDAY 2nd WEEK OF LENT 

O Lord, may this Communion cleanse us from sin, and bestow upon us spiritual health from heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

 
 

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / PURPLE
Knowing what Christ taught and lived, we perceive the contrast between what we are and what we are meant to be. What we are, if patiently accepted, is a help toward that Christian humility which is the foundation of personal holiness. Original sin and personal sins have upset our inner harmony. Still, even though appetites are greedy, they are not our masters.
"God has called us unto holiness" -- that is, to be mature, balanced, happy Christians who share the responsibility of bringing persons of every race to holiness in Christ. Inner transformation ought to shine outwardly in apostolic zeal. resurrection to glory is life's reward.

INTROIT Ps. 24:6, 3, 22

Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your mercy are from of old, that my enemies may never rule over us. Deliver us from all our distress, O God of Israel. 
Ps. 24:1-2. I have lifted up my soul to You, O Lord; in You, O my God, I place my trust. Let me not be put to shame.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, You see that we are completely powerless of ourselves. Protect us from bodily and spiritual dangers, so that we may not be harmed by physical misfortunes and evil thoughts. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE I Thess. 4:1-7
Brethren: For the rest therefore, brethren, pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus that, as you have received from us, how you ought to walk and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more.
For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: That you should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor, Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God: And that no man overreach nor circumvent his brother in business: because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have told you before and have testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification, in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

GRADUAL Ps. 24:17-18
The cares of my heart are multiplied; deliver me from my distress, O Lord.
V. See my wretchedness and my suffering, and forgive all my sins.

TRACT Ps. 105:1-4
Give glory to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.
V. Who shall tell the mighty deeds of the Lord; who shall proclaim all His praises? 
V. Blessed are they who keep the precepts, who do what is just at all times.
V. Remember us, O Lord, in Your benevolence towards Your people; visit us with Your saving help.

GOSPEL Matt. 17: 1-9
At that time, Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo a voice out of the cloud, saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him." And the disciples hearing fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them: "Arise, and fear not." And they lifting up their eyes, saw no one, but only Jesus.
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: "Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead." 

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 118:47, 48
I will meditate on Your commandments, which I love dearly; and I will lift up my hands to Your commands, which I cherish.

SECRET
Look with favor upon these offerings, O Lord, that they may be an aid to our devotion and to our salvation. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 5:2-4
Hear my call for help and hearken to the voice of my prayer, O my King and my God; for to You I pray, O Lord.

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 . . .

EMBER SATURDAY IN LENT; COMMEMORATION OF SAINT ETHELBERT, King, Confessor (616 A.D.)

 

 

EMBER SATURDAY IN LENT

[Wikipedia.org image]

COMMEMORATION OF SAINT ETHELBERT
King, Confessor

SIMPLE / PURPLE
This Mass provides for ordination to one of the minor or major orders after each set of Prayer and Lesson. Celebrated by every priest in every church and chapel, the Mass unites the whole worshiping Christ in the exercise of the one priesthood of Christ. This entering into priesthood by the respective steps of Baptism, Confirmation, and the essentially distinctive and superior Holy Orders, is like a transfiguration. It is a profound reason for mutual respect among all Christians and a great urge to bring every race under Heaven into such dignity and glory.

INTROIT Ps. 87:3

Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my call for help, O Lord.
Ps. 87:2. O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and by night in Your presence.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
V. Let us pray. Let us kneel.

R. Arise!

Look with mercy upon Your people,O Lord, and in Your pity spare them from the punishment they deserve. Through our Lord . . .

FIRST LESSON Deut. 26:12-19

In those days, Moses spoke to the people, saying, "When thou hast made an end of tithing all thy fruits, in the third year of tithes thou shalt give it to the Levite, and to the stranger, and to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled: And thou shalt speak thus in the sight of the Lord thy God: 'I have taken that which was sanctified out of my house, and I have given it to the Levite, and to the stranger, and to the fatherless, and to the widow, as thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments nor forgotten thy precepts. I have not eaten of them in my mourning, nor separated them for any uncleanness, nor spent any thing of them in funerals. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and have done all things as thou hast commanded me. Look from thy sanctuary, and thy high habitation of heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou didst swear to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.'
" This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these commandments and judgments: and to keep and fulfill them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul. Thou hast chosen the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways and keep his ceremonies, and precepts, and judgments, and obey his command. And the Lord hath chosen thee this day, to be his peculiar people, as he hath spoken to thee, and to keep all his commandments: And to make thee higher than all nations which he hath created, to his own praise, and name, and glory: that thou mayst be a holy people of the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken."

GRADUAL Ps. 78:9, 10

Pardon us our sins, O Lord, lest the nations ever say, "Where is their God?"
V. Help us, O God our Savior; and for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us.

COLLECT

O God, who protected the three young men from the flames of fire, grant that the flames of sin may not consume us, Your servants. Through our Lord . . .

Second Lesson
Lesson from the book of Deuteronomy
Deut. 11:22-25
In those days, Moses said to the children of Israel, If you are careful to observe all these commandments I enjoin on you, loving the Lord, your God, and following His ways exactly, and holding fast to Him, the Lord will drive all these nations out of your way, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves. Every place where you set foot shall be yours: from the desert and from Lebanon, from the Euphrates River to the Western Sea, shall be your territory. None shall stand up against you; the Lord, your God, will spread the fear and dread of you through any land where you set foot, as He promised you, the Lord your God.
R. Thanks be to God.
Gradual
Ps 83:10, 9.
Behold, O God, our Protector, and look upon Your servants.
V. O Lord of Hosts, hear the prayer of Your servants.

Collect
Let us pray.
V. Let us kneel.
R. Arise.
Heed our humble prayers, we beseech You, O Lord, that by Your bounty we may have grace to be humble in prosperity and untroubled in the midst of adversity.
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.

Third Lesson
Lesson from the book of Machabees
2 Mach. 1:23-27
In those days, all the priests made prayer, while the sacrifice was consuming, Jonathan beginning and the rest answering. And the prayer of Nehemias was after this manner: O Lord God, Creator of all things, dreadful and strong, just and merciful, Who alone are the good King, Who alone are gracious, Who alone are just and almighty and eternal, Who deliver Israel from all evil, Who chose the fathers and sanctified it; that the Gentiles may know that You are our God.
R. Thanks be to God.
Gradual
Ps 89:13, 1.
Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on Your servants!
V. O Lord, You have been our refuge through all generations.

Collect
Let us pray.
V. Let us kneel.
R. Arise.
Have mercy upon us, O God of the universe, and behold us, and show us the light of Your mercies; and put all the nations in dread of You that have not sought after You. Let them know that there is no God beside You, and show forth Your wonders.
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.

Fourth Lesson
Lesson from the book of Ecclesiastes
Ecclus. 36:1-10 
Raise Your hand against the heathen, that they may realize Your power. As You have used us to show them Your holiness, so now use them to show us Your glory. Thus they will know, as we know, that there is no God but You, O Lord. Give new signs and work new wonders; show forth the splendor of Your right hand and arm; rouse Your anger, pour out wrath, humble the enemy, scatter the foe. Hasten the day, bring on the time; that they may declare Your wonderful works, O Lord, our God.
R. Thanks be to God.
Gradual
Ps 140:2
Let my prayer come like incense before You, O Lord.
V. The lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.

Collect
Let us pray.
V. Let us kneel.
R. Arise.
O Lord, we beseech You, precede our actions with Your favor and accompany them by Your help, so that each prayer and work of ours may always begin with You and, once begun, may be accomplished through 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.
R. Amen.

Fifth Lesson
Lesson from the Prophecy of Daniel
Dan. 3:47-51
In those days, the Angel of the Lord went down into the furnace with Azure and his companions, drove the fiery flames out of the furnace, and made the inside of the furnace as though a dew-laden breeze were blowing through it. And the flames rose forty-nine cubits above the furnace, and spread out, burning the Chaldeans nearby, the king’s men who were stoking the furnace. And the fire in no way touched them or caused them pain or harm. Then these three in the furnace with one voice sang, glorifying and blessing God:

HYMN
Dan. 3:52-56
Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our father, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. And blessed is Your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. Blessed are You in the temple of Your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. Blessed are You on the holy throne of Your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Blessed are You upon the sceptre of Your divinity, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Blessed are You Who look into the depths from Your throne upon the Cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Blessed are You Who walk upon the wings of the wind, and on the waves of the sea, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Let all Your Angels and Saints bless You, and praise You and exalt You above all forever. Let the heavens, the earth, the sea and all the things that are in them bless You, and praise you and exalt You above all forever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our father, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Collect
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, Who tempered the flames of fire for the three young men, mercifully grant that the flames of sin may burn us, Your servants.
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 SAINT ETHELBERT
St. Ethelbert, King of Kent, was converted to Christianity by St. Augustine of Canterbury. The king giving him every possible assistance, St. Augustine founded the Archbishopric of Canterbury and the bishoprics of London and Rochester. St. Ethelbert built the Cathedrals and many churches in these dioceses. He died A.D. 616.

O God, who hast crowned blessed King Ethelbert, Thy Confessor, with everlasing glory, make us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate him here on earth that we may reign with him in heaven. Through our Lord . . .  

EPISTLE I Thess. 5:14-23

Brethren: And we beseech you, rebuke the unquiet: comfort the feeble minded: support the weak: be patient towards all men. See that none render evil for evil to any man: but ever follow that which is good towards each other and towards all men. Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all. Extinguish not the spirit. Despise not prophecies. But prove all things: hold fast that which is good. From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves. And may the God of peace himself sanctify you in all things: that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

TRACT Ps. 116:1-2

Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise Him in unison, all you peoples!
V. For His mercy is steadfast towards us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.

GOSPEL Matt. 17:1-9

At that time, Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. And Peter answering, said to Jesus: "Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias."
And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo a voice out of the cloud, saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him." And the disciples hearing fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them: "Arise, and fear not." And they lifting up their eyes, saw no one, but only Jesus.

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: "Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 87:2-3

O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and by night in Your presence. let my prayer come before You, O Lord.

SECRET

O Lord, sanctify our fasting by these offerings, so that our acts of penance may interiorly accomplish in us the effect that they outwardly signify. Through our Lord . . .

 

Commemoration of SAINT ETHELBERT In memory of Thy Saints, O Lord, we offer Thee the sacrifice of praise, by which we trust to be freed from both present and future evils. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 7:2

O Lord, my God, in You have I placed my trust; save me from all my persecutors, and rescue me.

POSTCOMMUNION

Almighty God, may the grace of this Sacrament cure our sinfulness and be an everlasting remedy for our weakness. Through our Lord . . .

 

Commemoration of SAINT ETHELBERT
Refreshed by  meat and drink from heaven, O God, we humbly entreat Thee, that we may be protected by the prayers of him in whose memory we have partaken. Through our Lord . . .  

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE

O God, strengthen Your people with the blessing they ask, so that they may always be obedient to Your will and rejoice in Your gifts. Through our Lord . . .

EMBER FRIDAY IN LENT; SAINT PETER DAMIAN (1072 A.D.) Bishop and Doctor of the Church

 

EMBER FRIDAY IN LENT

[Commemoration]

SAINT PETER DAMIAN
Bishop and Doctor of the Church

 

SIMPLE/PURPLE
The need to make reparation is a vital, inescapable urge of a free person. His very nature cries out for order and peace. His reason tells him that where an order has been violated, the order must be repaired; and the higher the order, the greater must be the reparation. To be free at all, is to accept the responsibility for atonement. Sin is a violation of God's order. Sin demands reparation -- the reparation of personal penance, personal prayer, personal charity to all. Part of our atonement to God is made by serving our fellow men.

INTROIT (Ps. 24:17-18)
Deliver me from my distress, O Lord. See my affliction and my suffering, and forgive all my sins. Ps. 24:1-2. I have lifted up my soul to You, O Lord; in You, O my God, I place my trust. Let me not be put to shame. 
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, be merciful towards Your people. Comfort them with Your loving help, as You have kept them loyal to You. Through our Lord . . .

 

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 (Ezech. 18:20-28)
The soul that sinneth, the same shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, and the father shall not bear the iniquity of the son: the justice of the just shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked do penance for all his sins which he hath committed, and keep all my commandments, and do judgment, and justice, living he shall live, and shall not die. I will not remember all his iniquities that he hath done: in his justice which he hath wrought, he shall live. Is it my will that a sinner should die, saith the Lord God, and not that he should be converted from his ways, and live? But if the just man turn himself away from his justice, and do iniquity according to all the abominations which the wicked man useth to work, shall he live? all his justices which he hath done, shall not be remembered: in the prevarication, by which he hath prevaricated, and in his sin, which he hath committed, in them he shall die. And you have said: The way of the Lord is not right. Hear ye, therefore, O house of Israel: Is it my way that is not right, and are not rather your ways perverse? For when the just turneth himself away from his justice, and comitteth iniquity, he shall die therein: in the injustice that he hath wrought he shall die. And when the wicked turneth himself away from his wickedness, which he hath wrought, and doeth judgment, and justice: he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth and turneth away himself from all his iniquities which he hath wrought, he shall surely live, and not die.

GRADUAL (Ps. 85:2, 6)
Save Your servant who trusts in You, O my God. V. Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer.

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 (John 5:1-15)
At that time, there was a festival day of the Jews: and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem a pond, called Probatica, which in Hebrew is named Bethsaida, having five porches.
In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered: waiting for the moving of the water. And an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under.
And there was a certain man there that had been eight and thirty years under his infirmity. Him when Jesus had seen lying, and knew that he had been now a long time, he saith to him: "Wilt thou be made whole?" The infirm man answered him: "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pond. For whilst I am coming, another goeth down before me." Jesus saith to him: "Arise, take up thy bed and walk." And immediately the man was made whole: and he took up his bed and walked. And it was the sabbath that day.
The Jews therefore said to him that was healed: "It is the sabbath. It is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed." He answered them: "He that made me whole, he said to me: Take up thy bed and walk." They asked him therefore: "Who is that man who said to thee: Take up thy bed and walk?" But he who was healed knew not who it was: for Jesus went aside from the multitude standing in the place. Afterwards, Jesus findeth him in the temple and saith to him: "Behold thou art made whole: sin no more, lest some worse thing happen to thee." The man went his way and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 102:2, 5)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; and your youth shall be renewed like that of the eagle.

SECRET 
O Lord, accept our offering as a mark of our worship, and in Your mercy sanctify the gifts we bring You. Through our Lord . . .

 

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 ANTIPHON (Ps. 6:11)
Let all my enemies be put to shame in utter terror; let them be turned back in sudden shame.

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER
O Lord, may this sacred rite wash away our sins and fulfill our reasonable desires. Through our Lord . . .

 

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
O God of Mercy, hear us and enlighten our minds with Your grace. Through our Lord . . .

SAINT PETER'S CHAIR AT ANTIOCH

  

Image via Wikipedia

SAINT PETER'S CHAIR AT ANTIOCH

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE
This feast commemorates the seven years during which Pope Peter ruled the Church from Antioch before he went to Rome. Since the majority of the Jews had rejected Christianity, Peter left Jerusalem and founded the see of Antioch among the Gentiles. In that large Eastern city, Christianity took deep root, and it was there that the faithful were first called by the name of Christians. After seven years the Vicar of Christ transferred his see to Rome, the very center of the ancient world, so that from it the messengers of salvation might radiate to the uttermost ends of the earth. 

Introit
Sir 45:30
The Lord made a covenant of friendship with him, and made him a prince; that he should possess the dignity of priesthood forever.
Ps 131:1
Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness.
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.
The Lord made a covenant of friendship with him, and made him a prince; that he should possess the dignity of priesthood forever.

GLORIA

COLLECT 
O God, You have entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Your blessed apostle Peter and have given him the power of bishop to bind or to loose. May his intercession free us from the slavery of sin; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PAUL
O God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with You help us who venerate his memory this day. 

Commemoration of THURSDAY FIRST WEEK OF LENT

We beseech You, O Lord, look graciously upon the fervor of Your people, who mortify themselves in the flesh through abstinence: that they may be refreshed in mind by the fruit of these good works.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Epistle I Peter 1:1-7

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers dispersed through Pontus, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, unto the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead: Unto an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled and that cannot fade, reserved in heaven for you, Who, by the power of God, are kept by faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you shalt greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations: That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

GRADUAL Ps. 106:32; 31

Let them extol him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. V. Let them praise the Lord for His mercies and for His wondrous deeds to the children of men.

TRACT Matt. 16:18-19
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.
V. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
V. What ever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven.
V. And whatever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

GOSPEL Matt. 16:13-19

At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: "Whom do men say that the Son of man is?" But they said: "Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Jesus saith to them:"But whom do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said: "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God."

And Jesus answering said to him: "Blessed art thou, Simon BarJona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven."

CREED

 

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Matt. 16:18-19

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

SECRET

O Lord, we offer You the prayers and sacrifice of Your Church through the intercession of Your apostle Peter. May this Mass, which we celebrate in his honor, win pardon for us. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of Saint Paul

O Lord, sanctify the offerings of Your people through the intercession of the blessed apostle Paul. The sacrifice we offer is already acceptable to You because You instituted it; may it become even more pleasing to You through the prayers of Your saint. 

 

Commemoration of THURSDAY FIRST WEEK OF LENT

May these sacrificial gifts, we beseech You, O Lord, be the more effective unto our salvation since they have been aided by wholesome fasting.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen. 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 16:18

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.

POSTCOMMUNION

May our offering bring us happiness, O Lord. We praise You for the wondrous things You accomplished through Your apostle Peter and ask forgiveness through his intercession. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of Saint Paul

We have been made holy by this life-giving Sacrifice, O Lord. May we always be aided by the prayers of Your saint, whom You gave us as a protector and a guide. 

 

Commemoration of THURSDAY FIRST WEEK OF LENT

May Your generous grace sustain and help us, O Lord, in this world and make us new for the world to come.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.