FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
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 . . .
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.
Commemoration of SAINT BERNADETTE
Bernadette Soubirous, in religion Sister Mary Bernard, was born at Lourdes, 7th January 1844. Died at Nevers, in the odour of sanctity, 16th April 1879. She was declared venerable 13th August 1913 and canonised 8th December 1933. The eighteen apparitions of the Immaculate Virgin took place between the 11th of February and 16th July 1858, when Bernadette was in her fifteenth year.
O God, protector and friend of the humble, who filled Thy servant, Mary Bernard, with joy by the apparition and the conversation of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that by the simple way of faith we may be counted worthy to see Thee face to face in heaven.
Commemoration of SAINT SIMEON
St. Simeon was a close relative of the Blessed Virgin. The Apostles chose him to succeed the martyred St. James the Lesser as bishop of Jerusalem. In all probability Simeon directed the Christians in their retreat to Pella, when the Holy City was destroyed. During Trajan's persecution, Simeon was denounced to the governor Atticus as being not only a Christian, but also a descendant of David. The venerable bishop endured two days of torture before his crucifixion in the year 106.
Almighty God, look upon our
weakness and the heavy burden we carry because of our own deeds. Let
the prayers of Your blessed martyr bishop Simeon in Heaven be our
protection. Through Our Lord . . .
Bernadette Soubirous, in religion Sister Mary Bernard, was born at Lourdes, 7th January 1844. Died at Nevers, in the odour of sanctity, 16th April 1879. She was declared venerable 13th August 1913 and canonised 8th December 1933. The eighteen apparitions of the Immaculate Virgin took place between the 11th of February and 16th July 1858, when Bernadette was in her fifteenth year.
O God, protector and friend of the humble, who filled Thy servant, Mary Bernard, with joy by the apparition and the conversation of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that by the simple way of faith we may be counted worthy to see Thee face to face in heaven.
Commemoration of SAINT SIMEON
St. Simeon was a close relative of the Blessed Virgin. The Apostles chose him to succeed the martyred St. James the Lesser as bishop of Jerusalem. In all probability Simeon directed the Christians in their retreat to Pella, when the Holy City was destroyed. During Trajan's persecution, Simeon was denounced to the governor Atticus as being not only a Christian, but also a descendant of David. The venerable bishop endured two days of torture before his crucifixion in the year 106.
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.
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.
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."
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.
CREED
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 . . .
Commemoration of SAINT BERNADETTE
O Lord, by Thy Sacrifice inflame our souls with that heavenly ardour by which blessed Mary Bernard, Thy Virgin, presented herself as a praise-offering agreeable to Thee.
Commemoration of SAINT SIMEON
O Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer You in honor of Your blessed martyr bishop Simeon and grant us Your unending assistance through these offerings. Through our Lord . . .
O Lord, by Thy Sacrifice inflame our souls with that heavenly ardour by which blessed Mary Bernard, Thy Virgin, presented herself as a praise-offering agreeable to Thee.
Commemoration of SAINT SIMEON
O Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer You in honor of Your blessed martyr bishop Simeon and grant us Your unending assistance through these offerings. 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 . . .
Commemoration of SAINT BERNADETTE
We,
who are renewed by those holy Mysteries, beseech Thee, O Lord, that
imitating the marvelous constancy of the blessed Mary Bernard, we may
obtain the eternal reward of our patience.
Commemoration of SAINT SIMEON
We are refreshed by the reception of
Your sacred Gift, O Lord. May the prayers of Your blessed martyr bishop
Simeon make us feel the benefit of the sacred rite we have performed.
Through our Lord . . .
St. Bernadette Soubirous
Died: 1879
Famed visionary of Lourdes, baptized Mary
Bernard. She was born in Lourdes, France, on January 7, 1844, the
daughter of Francis and Louise Soubirous. Bernadette, a severe asthma
sufferer, lived in abject poverty. On February 11, 1858, she was granted
a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary
in a cave on the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes. She was placed
in consider able jeopardy when she reported the vision, and crowds
gathered when she had futher visits from the Virgin, from February 18 of
that year through March 4.The civil authorities tried to frighten
Bernadette into recanting her accounts, but she remained faithful to the
vision. On February 25, a spring emerged from the cave and the waters
were discovered to be of a miraculous
nature, capable of healing the sick and lame. On March 25, Bernadette
announced that the vision stated that she was the Immaculate
Conception, and that a church should be erected on the site. Many
authorities tried to shut down the spring and delay the construction of
the chapel, but the influence and fame of the visions
reached Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon Ill, and
construction went forward. Crowds gathered, free of harassment from the
anticlerical and antireligious officials. In 1866, Bernadette was sent
to the Sisters of Notre Dame in Nevers. There she became a member of
the community, and faced some rather harsh treatment from the mistress
of novices. This oppression ended when it was discovered that she
suffered from a painful, incurable illness. She died in Nevers
on April 16,1879, still giving the same account of her visions.
Lourdes became one of the major pilgrimage destinations in the world,
and the spring has produced 27,000 gallons of water each week since
emerging during Bernadette's visions. She was not involved in the
building of the shrine, as she remained hidden at Nevers. Bernadette
was beatified in 1925 and canonized in 1933 by Pope Pius XI.
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