NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST; SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA (1562 A.D.)

 

 

NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 

Ecstasy of St. Peter of Alcantara
Painting by Melchior Perez Holguin, 18th century,
National Museum of Art, Bolivia

SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA
Confessor

DOUBLE/GREEN

However much the old habits of self-sufficiency and false ideals may plague a Christian, he is forever called to be a "new man." The distinct doctrine and ethics he inherits at his rebirth are everywhere true, and everywhere they are the way to heaven. No career, no science, no art, no political or social system can be a god of salvation for any person. Christ in His social teaching, His life, His Church, and His sacraments, must be accepted and sincerely lived. Serving Christ in other men is an essential of the Christian way of salvation and the surest expression of Christian love.

INTROIT

"I Am the salvation of the people," saith the Lord. "In whatever tribulation they shall cry to Me, I will hear them; and I will be their Lord for ever."

Ps. 77:1. Attend, O My people, to My law; incline your ears to the words of My mouth.

Glory be . . .

 

GLORIA 

COLLECT

Almighty and merciful God, graciously shield us from all that is harmful, so that both in body and soul we may be eager to do Your will. Through our Lord . . .  

Commemoration of SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA
One of the great Spanish mystics of the 16th century, Peter of Alcantara (1499-1562) entered the Franciscan Order at 16. As a friar his time was divided between preaching to the poor and contemplative prayer. He instituted a very severe Franciscan reform known as the "Strick Observance." He defended St. Teresa of Avila when everyone else was against her, and assured her, from his own experience, that her contemplative prayer was genuine. After his death he appeared to Teresa and said to her: "O blessed penitence which has earned for me such great glory!"

O God, You blessed the holy confessor Peter with a remarkable spirit of penance and the highest gift of contemplation. May his merits help us to mortify our flesh and deepen our understanding of the things of heaven. 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.

 

EPISTLE Eph. 4:23-28

[The Apostle exhorts us to put on the new man, to be renewed in the spirit.]

Brethren: Be ye renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who according in God is created in justice and holiness of truth. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger. Give not place to the devil. He that stole, let him now steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have something to give to him that suffereth need.

GRADUAL Ps. 14:2

Let my prayer be directed as incense in Thy sight, O Lord. V.: The lifting up of my hands as evening sacrifice.
   Alleluia, alleluia. V.(Ps. 104. 1). Give glory to the Lord, and call upon His Name: declare His deeds among the Gentiles. Alleluia.

GOSPEL Matt. 22:1-14

[Parable of the marraige guests. All men are called to the heavenly, beatific union, but few are chosen: those who wear the nuptial robe of baptism and of the state of grace.]

At that time, Jesus spoke to the chief priests and the Pharisees in parables, 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 oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come ye to the marraige. But they neglected; and went their way, 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 marraige 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 marraige. And his servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found, both bad and good; and the marraige 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."

CREED

 

OFFERTORY Ps. 137:7

If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, Thou wilt quicken me, O Lord: and Thou wilt stretch forth Thy hand against the wrath of my enemies; and Thy right hand shall save me.

SECRET

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that these gifts, which we offer in the sight of Thy Majesty, may be unto us for salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA
Grant we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the offering we humbly bring may be pleasing to Thee in honor of Thy Saints, and cleanse us alike in body and in soul. Through our Lord . . .

  

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 118:4-5

Thou hast commanded Thy commandments to be kept most diligently: O that my ways may be directed to keep Thy justifications!

POSTCOMMUNION

May Thy healing grace, O Lord, mercifully free us from our perverse inclinations, and make us ever to cleave to Thy commandments. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .

 

Commemoration of SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA
We beseech Thee, almighty God, that we, who have received heavenly nourishment, may thereby, at the intercession of blessed Peter, Thy Confessor, be defended against all adversity. Through our Lord . . .