MONDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
[Commemoration]
SAINT CONSTANTINE
King, Martyr
SIMPLE / PURPLE
The wisdom of God is always saving men from their human weaknesses. Man succeeds in a particular task by concentrating on the particular; but he fails in his high destiny when he lets the particular need, or desire, or project, crowd out the rights of God and of his fellow men. The eternal vision of God rectifies the limited human vision which sees everything in days or months or years. The eternal law of God lays down man's duty of worshiping God and also his duty of speaking the truth, of rendering justice, and of practicing charity towards everyone. God's wisdom prevails to man's eternal gain.
The wisdom of God is always saving men from their human weaknesses. Man succeeds in a particular task by concentrating on the particular; but he fails in his high destiny when he lets the particular need, or desire, or project, crowd out the rights of God and of his fellow men. The eternal vision of God rectifies the limited human vision which sees everything in days or months or years. The eternal law of God lays down man's duty of worshiping God and also his duty of speaking the truth, of rendering justice, and of practicing charity towards everyone. God's wisdom prevails to man's eternal gain.
INTROIT Ps. 53:3-4
O God, by Your name save me, and by Your might deliver me. O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth.
Ps. 53:5. For strangers have risen up against me, and the powerful have sought my life.
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
O Almighty God, may we please You with
our bodies and our souls by keeping this yearly fast with devotion.
Through our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT CONSTANTINE
St.
Constantine, a British king, had joined St. Columba in preaching the
Faith of Christ among the Picts. In extreme old age, he received the
Martyr's crown, being cruelly put to death by pagans.
LESSON III Kings 3:16-28 [I King 3:16-28]
Then there came two women that were
harlots, to the king, and stood before him. And one of them said: I
beseech thee, my lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house, and I was
delivered of a child with her in the chamber. And the third day after I
was delivered, she also was delivered; and we were together, and no
other person with us in the house; only we two. And this woman's child
died in the night: for in her sleep she overlaid him. And rising in the
dead time of the night, she took my child from my side, while I, thy
handmaid, was asleep, and laid it in her bosom: and laid her dead child
in my bosom. And when I arose in the morning, to give my child suck,
behold it was dead: but considering him more diligently, when it was
clear day, I found that it was not mine which I bore. And
the other woman answered: It is not so as thou sayst, but thy child is
dead, and mine is alive. On the contrary, she said; Thou liest: for my
child liveth, and thy child is dead. And in this manner they strove
before the king. Then said the
king: The one saith, My child is alive, and thy child is dead. And the
other answereth: Nay; but thy child is dead, and mine liveth. The king
therefore said: Bring me a sword. And when they had brought a sword
before the king, Divide, said he, the living child in two, and give half
to the one and half to the other. But
the woman, whose child was alive, said to the king; (for her bowels
were moved upon her child) I beseech thee, my lord, give her the child
alive, and do not kill it. But the other said: Let it be neither mine
nor thine; but divide it. The king answered, and said: Give the living
child to this woman, and let it not be killed; for she is the mother
thereof. And all Israel heard the judgment which the king had judged,
and they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom of God was in him to do
judgment.
GRADUAL Ps. 30:3; 70:1
Be a God of protection to me, a place of shelter to give me safety.
V. I have placed my trust in You, O God; O Lord, let me never be put to shame.
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 John 2:13-25
At that time, the pasch of the Jews was at hand: and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
And he found in the temple them that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting. And when he had made, as it were, a scourge of little cords, he drove them all out of the temple, the sheep also and the oxen: and the money of the changers he poured out, and the tables he overthrew. And to them that sold doves he said: "Take these things hence, and make not the house of my Father a house of traffic." And his disciples remembered, that it was written: 'The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up.'
The Jews, therefore, answered, and said to him: "What sign dost thou shew unto us, seeing thou dost these things?" Jesus answered and said to them: "Destroy this temple; and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said: "Six and forty years was this temple in building; and wilt thou raise it up in three days?" But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen again from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this: and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had said.
Now when he was at Jerusalem, at the pasch, upon the festival day, many believed in his name, seeing his signs which he did. But Jesus did not trust himself unto them: for that he knew all men, And because he needed not that any should give testimony of man: for he knew what was in man.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 99:1-2
Sing joyfully to God all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful song, for the Lord is God.
SECRET
May the Sacrifice that we offer You, O Lord, always bring us new life and keep us from harm. Through our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT CONSTANTINE
Receive
our gifts and our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord, cleanse us by the
heavenly Mysteries and mercifully hear us. Through our Lord . . .COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 18:13-14
Cleanse me from my hidden faults, O Lord, and spare Your servants from those of others.
POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may the reception of Your Sacrament bring us ever nearer to our eternal redemption. Through our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT CONSTANTINE
Grant,
we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, that as we rejoice on earth in
keeping the memory of Thy saints, so also we may enjoy their company for
evermore. Through our Lord . . .PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O Lord, graciously hear our prayers. Protect those who depend upon You even for the desire to ask for help. Through our Lord . . .
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