Saint Bartholomew, Apostle; Our Lady Health of the Sick

 

  

 

Jose (Jusepe) de Ribera
The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew
Prado, Madrid
1639

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW

Apostle

 

OUR LADY HEALTH OF THE SICK

[Historical]

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / RED
Bartholomew, a doctor in the Jewish law, was a dear friend of St. Philip the Apostle. Because Bartholomew was a man "in whom there was no guile," his mind was open to the truth. He went willingly with Philip to see Christ, and recognized the Saviour immediately as the Son of God. After having received the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost, Bartholomew evangelized Asia Minor, northwestern India, and Greater Armenia. In the latter country, while preaching to idolators, he was arrested and condemned to death.

INTROIT Ps. 138:17
Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.
Ps. 138:1-2. O Lord, You have proved me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
V. Glory be . . .

GLORIA

COLLECT
Almighty and Eternal God, the feast of Your blessed apostle Bartholomew fills us with reverent and holy joy. Grant that Your Church may love the truths that he believed and preach the doctrines that he taught. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE I Cor. 12:27-31
Brethren, you are the body of Christ and members of member. And God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors: after that miracles: then the graces of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of speeches. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all doctors? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the grace of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But be zealous for the better gifts.

GRADUAL Ps. 44:17-18
You shall make them princes through all the land; they shall remember Your name, O Lord.
V. To take the place of your fathers, sons shall be born to you; therefore peoples shall praise you.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.
The glorious choir of apostles praises You, O Lord. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 6:12-19
At that time, Jesus went out into a mountain to pray: and he passed the whole night in the prayer of God. And when day was come, he called unto him his disciples: and he chose twelve of them (whom also he named apostles): Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who is called Zelotes, And Jude the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor. And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place: and the company of his disciples and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast, both of Tyre and Sidon, Who were come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the multitude sought to touch him: for virtue went out from him and healed all.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 138:17
Your friends are greatly honored by me, O Lord; their pre-eminence is definitely established.

SECRET
O Lord, grant us Your blessings through the help of the blessed apostle Bartholomew, in whose memory we offer this Sacrifice of praise to celebrate his feast day. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 19:28
"You who have followed me shall sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel," said the Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION
We have received in Holy Communion the pledge of eternal salvation, O Lord. May it help us in this life and in the life to come through the prayers of Your blessed apostle Bartholomew. Through our Lord . . .

OUR LADY HEALTH OF THE SICK

When Bishop Don Vasco de Quiroga wanted a statue of the Blesses Virgin for the Christian community of Patzcuaro, he persuaded a member of the Tarascan tribe to sculpt it for him.  Accustomed to fashioning idols, the Indian’s statue was well received and is the one that is now venerated as the miraculous image of Our Lady Health of the Sick.

For three centuries the little statue of Our Lady has been dearly loved and venerated by the Indians and the people of Patzcuaro.  Known for restoring peace, giving needed rain during droughts, restoring wells and spring, it has even dismissed epidemics.  But most of all, the Blessed Virgin is known as Nuestra Senora de la Salud, Our lady Health of the Sick, the worked of miracles and a guiding star for her faithful children. 

Prayer

Virgin, most holy, Mother of the Word Incarnate, Treasurer of graces, and Refuge of sinners, I fly top your motherly affection with lively faith, and I beg of you the grace ever to do the will of God.

Into your most holy hands I commit the keeping of my heart, asking you for health of soul and body, in the certain hope that you, my most loving Mother, will hear my prayer.

Into the bosom of your tender mercy, this day, every day of my life, and at the hour of my death, I commend my soul and body.

To you I entrust all my hopes and consolations, all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life, that all my actions may be ordered and disposed according to your will and that of your Divine Son. Amen.