DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / WHITE
This
is the great family feast of the Mystical Body in its final triumph.
The unnumbered and nameless multitude of saints, "out of all nations and
tribes and peoples and tongues," are our brothers and sisters in
Christ at home with our Redeemer-Brother. Their sainthood is the
fulfillment of living the eight Beatitudes.
They are the great Christian heroes. "Eye has not seen nor ear heard,
nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared
for those who love Him" (I Cor. 2:9).
INTROIT
Let us all rejoice in the Lord as we celebrate the feast in honor of all
the saints upon which the angels rejoice and praise the Son of God.
Ps. 32:1. Rejoice in the Lord, you just; praise befits the upright.
V. Glory be . . .
GLORIA
COLLECT
Almighty
and eternal God, through Your grace we honor the merits of all Your
saints in the one solemn feast of today. Grant us the abundant mercy we
ask of You through this army of heavenly intercessors. Through Our Lord
Jesus Christ . . .
LESSON Apoc. 7:2-12
In
those days, behold, I, John, saw another angel ascending from the
rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God. And he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth
and the sea, Saying: "Hurt not the earth nor the sea nor the trees, till
we sign the servants of our God in their foreheads." And
I heard the number of them that were signed. An hundred forty-four
thousand were signed, of every tribe of the children of Israel. Of the
tribe of Juda, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Ruben, twelve
thousand signed: Of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand signed: Of the
tribe of Aser, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Nephthali, twelve
thousand signed: Of the tribe of Manasses, twelve thousand signed: Of
the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Levi,
twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand
signed: Of the tribe of Zabulon, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of
Joseph, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Benjamin, twelve
thousand signed. After
this, I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all
nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne
and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their
hands. And they cried with a loud voice, saying: "Salvation to our God,
who sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb." And all the angels stood
round about the throne and the ancients and the four living creatures.
And they fell down before the throne upon their faces and adored God,
Saying: "Amen. Benediction and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, honor
and power and strength, to our God, for ever and ever. Amen."
GRADUAL Ps. 33:10, 11
Fear the Lord all you His saints, for nothing is wanting to those who fear Him.
V. Those who seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.
Alleluia, alleluia! Matt. 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.Alleluia!
GOSPEL Matt. 5:1-12
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At
that time, Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain, and
when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. And opening his
mouth he taught them, saying: "Blessed
are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are the meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that
mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and
thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the
merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart:
they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be
called the children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for
justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye
when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is
evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice for your
reward is very great in heaven."
CREED
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Wisdom 3:1-2, 3
The
souls of the just are in the hands of God, and the torment of death
shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they appeared to
perish, but they are in peace, alleluia!
SECRET
We offer these gifts to You in sacrifice, O Lord. May the honor we pay
to Your saints please You, and may these offerings, through Your mercy,
bring us closer to our salvation. Through Christ Our Lord . . .
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 5:8-10
Blessed
are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are
they who suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.
POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER
May
Your faithful always delight in paying reverence to all the saints, O
Lord, and may the constant intercession of the saints be our
protection. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and
rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit . . .
