SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO; EMBER WEDNESDAY IN SEPTEMBER

 

SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO
Confessor

EMBER WEDNESDAY

DOUBLE / WHITE
Because he was apparently a most ungifted and unpromising youth, Joseph of Cupertino (1603-63) was unwanted at home. Finally the Conventual Franciscans accepted him as a lay brother and assigned to him the task of rubbing down a mule. Brother Joseph's obedience and patience under severe criticism, his spirit of poverty, and his angelic purity brought about his ordination to the priesthood. He worked such extraordinary miracles that his fame spread over all Christendom. He is known as the flying Saint, patron of aviators and those who fly.

INTROIT Eccli. 1:14-15 
Wisdom worthy of honor is the love of God. Those to whom she is revealed love her because of her beauty and the appreciation of her great works.
Ps. 83:2. How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and faints for the courts of the Lord.
V. Glory be . . .

GLORIA

COLLECT
O God, at Your command Your only-begotten Son was lifted up above the earth that He might draw all things to Himself. May the merits and example of Your seraphic confessor Joseph help to raise us above all earthly desires so that we may come to Jesus, who lives and rules with You . . .

O Lord, we beseech You, grant to Your praying household that, as they fast from bodily food, they may also abstain mentally from sin.
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. 
 
EPISTLE I Cor. 13:1-8
Brethren: If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up, Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void or tongues shall cease or knowledge shall be destroyed.

GRADUAL Ps. 20:4-5
O Lord, You have made him excel by Your choicest blessings; You have placed on his head a crown of precious stones.
V. He asked life of You and You gave him length of days forever.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Eccli. 11:13
The eye of God has looked upon him for good, and he has lifted him up from his low estate and exalted his head. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 22:1-14
At that time, Jesus answering, spoke again in parables to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who made a marriage for his son. And he sent his servants to call them that were invited to the marriage: and they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying: 'Tell them that were invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my beeves and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come ye to the marriage.' But they neglected and went their ways, one to his farm and another to his merchandise. And the rest laid hands on his servants and, having treated them contumeliously, put them to death. But when the king had heard of it, he was angry: and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers and burnt their city. Then he saith to his servants: 'The marriage indeed is ready; but they that were invited were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways; and as many as you shall find, call to the marriage.' And his servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found, both bad and good: and the marriage was filled with guests. And the king went in to see the guests: and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment. And he saith to him: 'Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment?' But he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters: 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."


OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 34:13
But I, when they were afflicting me, clothed myself in sackcloth, humbled myself with fasting, and prayed with head bent low.

SECRET
We offer You, O Lord, this Sacrifice of praise in memory of Your saints. Free us from evil now and in the future through their intercession. Through our Lord . . .

May this offering, O Lord, we beseech You, wipe away our transgressions, and make holy the minds and bodies of Your servants for celebrating this sacrifice.
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.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 68:30-31
I am brought low and sorrowful. let Your saving aid, O God, lift me up. I will extol the name of God in song and I will glorify Him with praise.

POSTCOMMUNION
Refreshed with Heavenly Food and Drink, we humbly pray You, our God, that we may be strengthened by the prayers of Your saint in whose memory we have received this Sacrament. Through our Lord . . .

In partaking of Your heavenly gifts, we humbly entreat You, O Lord, that by Your grace we may receive what, through Your bounty, we perform in diligent service.
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
 

Image via Wikipedia

English: "S. Giuseppe da Copertino si eleva in volo alla vista della Basilica di Loreto" (featuring Saint Joseph of Cupertino) by Ludovico Mazzanti (1686-1775), 17th century, Church of Saint Joseph of Cupertino, Osimo, Italy Italiano: "S. Giuseppe da Copertino si eleva in volo alla vista della Basilica di Loreto" di Ludovico Mazzanti (1686-1775), XVII sec., Santuario di S. Giuseppe da Copertino, Osimo, Italia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)