TUESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN LENT; BLESSED JOHN LARKE, Martyr (1544 A.D.)

  

TUESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK
IN LENT

[Commemoration]

BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Martyr 

 

SIMPLE / PURPLE
INTROIT Ps. 89:1, 2

O Lord, You have been our refuge through all generations; You are from eternity to eternity.
Ps. 89:2. Before the mountains were made, or the earth was formed, from eternity to eternity You are God. 
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

Look kindly upon Your household, O Lord. May the mortification of our bodies purify our minds also and make us desire You. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Parish priest. Rector of Saint Ethelburga’s, Bishopgate, London, England from 1504 to 1524. Rector of Woodford, Essex from 1526 to 1527. Rector at Chelsea, London. Friend of and imprisoned with Saint Thomas More. Martyred with Blessed German Gardiner and Blessed John Ireland for denying that the King of England had supremacy over the Church, and for the crime of being a priest.  

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that through the intercession of blessed John Larke, Thy Martyr, we may be delivered from all harm to the body and all uncleanness of mind. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Isa. 55:6-11
In those days, the prophet Isaias spoke, saying:
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

GRADUAL Ps. 140:2
Let my prayer come like incense before Your sight, O Lord.
V. The lifting up of my hands, like an evening sacrifice.

GOSPEL Matt. 21:10-17

At that time, when Jesus was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the multitudes said, "This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee." 
And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money–changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; and he saith unto them, "It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers." 
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple: and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the son of David;" they were moved with indignation, and said unto him, "Hearest thou what these are saying?" And Jesus saith unto them, "Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there. 

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 30:15-16

I have placed my trust in You, O Lord; I said, "You are my God, my life is in Your hands."

SECRET

O Lord, be moved to compassion by our offerings and shield us from all danger. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
May our offering be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, and may it benefit us by the prayer of him on whose feast it is offered. Through our Lord . . .    

 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 4:2

When I called upon You, You answered me, O my just God; when I was in distress, You upheld me. Have pity on me, O Lord, and hear my prayer.

POSTCOMMUNION

Almighty God, grant that we may attain the salvation promised us through this Sacrament. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Refreshed by partaking of Thy sacred Gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Our God, that through the intercession of blessed John Larke, Thy Martyr, we may perceive the fruit of the rite which we celebrate. Through our Lord . . .  
 

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
Let our prayers come before You, O Lord. Drive away all evil from Your Church. Through our Lord . . .

SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT; BLESSED JOHN LARKE (1544 A.D.)

 

SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT

BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Martyr 

SIMPLE / PURPLE
"I show favors to whom I will. . . . I grant mercy to whom I will" (Ex. 33:19). God's mercy to sinners seems to be governed principally by two things: His infinite love for each person and His quick response to genuine sorrow and humility. God, in fact, tenders the very grace that brings a sinner back to Him, "giving wisdom to little ones." The important thing is to become the humble little one, the dependent child before God. Do that, and Heaven and earth are yours for the asking.

INTROIT Ps. 16:8
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting souls. The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
Ps. 18:2. The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, may our fasting attain its saving effect so that the mortification of our bodies may bring a new life to our souls. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Parish priest. Rector of Saint Ethelburga’s, Bishopgate, London, England from 1504 to 1524. Rector of Woodford, Essex from 1526 to 1527. Rector at Chelsea, London. Friend of and imprisoned with Saint Thomas More. Martyred with Blessed German Gardiner and Blessed John Ireland for denying that the King of England had supremacy over the Church, and for the crime of being a priest.  

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that through the intercession of blessed John Larke, Thy Martyr, we may be delivered from all harm to the body and all uncleanness of mind. Through our Lord . . .

  
LESSON Gen. 27:6-40
In those days Rebecca said to her son Jacob: "I heard thy father talking with Esau, thy brother, and saying to him: 'Bring me of thy hunting, and make me meats that I may eat, and bless thee in the sight of the Lord, before I die.' Now therefore, my son, follow my counsel: And go thy way to the flock, bring me two kids of the best, that I may make of them meat for thy father, such as he gladly eateth. Which when thou hast brought in, and he hath eaten, he may bless thee before he die." And he answered her: "Thou knowest that Esau, my brother, is a hairy man, and I am smooth: If my father should feel me, and perceive it, I fear lest he will think I would have mocked him, and I shall bring upon me a curse instead of a blessing." And his mother said to him: "Upon me be this curse, my son: only hear thou my voice, and go, fetch me the things which I have said."
He went, and brought, and gave them to his mother. She dressed meats, such as she knew his father liked. And she put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at home with her: And the little skins of the kids she put about his hands, and covered the bare of his neck. And she gave him the savoury meat, and delivered him bread that she had baked. Which when he had carried in, he said: "My father?" But he answered: "I hear. Who art thou, my son?" And Jacob said: "I am Esau, thy firstborn: I have done as thou didst command me: arise, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me." And Isaac said to his son: "How couldst thou find it so quickly, my son?" He answered: "It was the will of God, that what I sought came quickly in my way:" And Isaac said: "Come hither, that I may feel thee, my son, and may prove whether thou be my son Esau, or no." He came near to his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said: "The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob; but the hands, are the hands of Esau." And he knew him not, because his hairy hands made him like to the elder.
Then blessing him, He said: "Art thou my son Esau?" He answered: "I am." Then he said: "Bring me the meats of thy hunting, my son, that my soul may bless thee." And when they were brought, and he had eaten, he offered him wine also, which after he had drunk, He said to him: "Come near me, and give me a kiss, my son." He came near, and kissed him. And immediately as he smelled the fragrant smell of his garments, blessing him, he said: "Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord hath blessed. God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, abundance of corn and wine. And let peoples serve thee, and tribes worship thee: be thou lord of thy brethren, and let thy mother's children bow down before thee. Cursed be he that curseth thee: and let him that blesseth thee be filled with blessings."
Isaac had scarce ended his words, when, Jacob being now gone out abroad, Esau came, And brought in to his father meats, made of what he had taken in hunting, saying: "Arise, my father, and eat of thy son's venison; that thy soul may bless me." And Isaac said to him: "Why! who art thou?" He answered: "I am thy firstborn son, Esau." Isaac was struck with fear, and astonished exceedingly; and wondering beyond what can be believed, said: "Who is he then that even now brought me venison that he had taken, and I ate of all before thou camest? and I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed."
Esau having heard his father's words, roared out with a great cry; and, being in a consternation, said: "Bless me also, my father." And he said: "Thy brother came deceitfully and got thy blessing." But he said again: "Rightly is his name called Jacob; for he hath supplanted me lo this second time: My birthright he took away before, and now this second time he hath stolen away my blessing." And again he said to his father: "Hast thou not reserved me also a blessing?" Isaac answered: "I have appointed him thy lord, and have made all his brethren his servants: I have established him with corn and wine, and after this, what shall I do more for thee, my son?" And Esau said to him: "Hast thou only one blessing, father? I beseech thee bless me also." And when he wept with a loud cry, Isaac being moved, said to him: "In the fat of the earth, and in the dew of heaven from above,
Shall thy blessing be."

GRADUAL Ps. 91:2-3
It is good to praise the Lord, and to sing to Your name, O Most High.
V. To proclaim Your mercy in the morning and Your truth throughout the night.

GOSPEL Luke 15:11-32
At that time, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and Scribes this parable: "A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father: 'Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me.' And he divided unto them his substance.
"And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously. And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country: and he began to be in want. And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And returning to himself, he said: 'How many hired servants in my father's house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger! I will arise and will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee. I am not worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.' And rising up, he came to his father.
"And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion and running to him fell upon his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him: 'Father: I have sinned against heaven and before thee I am not now worthy to be called thy son.' And the father said to his servants: 'Bring forth quickly the first robe and put it on him: and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it: and let us eat and make merry: Because this my son was dead and is come to life again, was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
"Now his elder son was in the field and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said to him: 'Thy brother is come and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe.' And he was angry and would not go in. His father therefore coming out began to entreat him. And he answering, said to his father: 'Behold, for so many years do I serve thee and I have never transgressed thy commandment: and yet thou hast never given me a kid to make merry with my friends. But as soon as this thy son is come, who hath devoured his substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.' But he said to him: 'Son, thou art always with me; and all I have is thine. But it was fit that we should make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead and is come to life again; he was lost, and is found.' "

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 12:4-5
Give light to my eyes that I may never sleep in death, that my enemy may never say, "I have overcome him."

SECRET
O Lord, be appeased by this Sacrifice. We seek forgiveness for our own sins; let us not be burdened with the sins of others. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
May our offering be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, and may it benefit us by the prayer of him on whose feast it is offered. Through our Lord . . .  

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Luke 15:32
You ought to rejoice, my son, for your brother was dead, and has come to life; he was lost, and is found.

POSTCOMMUNION
May this sacramental libation of Your Sacrament fill our hearts, O Lord, and impart its own strength to us. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Refreshed by partaking of Thy sacred Gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Our God, that through the intercession of blessed John Larke, Thy Martyr, we may perceive the fruit of the rite which we celebrate. Through our Lord . . .  
 
PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O Lord, watch over Your household with constant, loving care. Let Your protection forever shield those who place their trust solely upon the hope of Your heavenly grace. Through our Lord . . .

THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT; BLESSED JOHN LARKE (1544 A.D.)

 

THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT

 

BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Martyr 

SIMPLE/PURPLE

Man's entire being cries out for the presence of God -- a God who knows, loves, protects, forgives, and heals. The man whose life is God-centered will be God's agent of charity toward the oppressed, the abandoned, the sick, the stranger, regardless of race or nationality. Such God-centered agents of charity were Saints Cosmas and Damian, martyred physicians in whose honor the "stational church" of today's liturgy was built.

INTROIT

"I AM the salvation of the people," said the Lord. "In whatever distress they shall cry to me, I will hear them; and I will be their Lord forever."

Ps. 77:1 Hearken, my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

We honor You, O Lord, in the celebration of the feast of Your blessed Cosmas and Damian. Help us through these saints upon whom, in Your wondrous providence, You have bestowed eternal glory. Through Our Lord . . . 

 

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Parish priest. Rector of Saint Ethelburga’s, Bishopgate, London, England from 1504 to 1524. Rector of Woodford, Essex from 1526 to 1527. Rector at Chelsea, London. Friend of and imprisoned with Saint Thomas More. Martyred with Blessed German Gardiner and Blessed John Ireland for denying that the King of England had supremacy over the Church, and for the crime of being a priest.  

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that through the intercession of blessed John Larke, Thy Martyr, we may be delivered from all harm to the body and all uncleanness of mind. Through our Lord . . .  

LESSON Jer. 7:1-7
In those days, the word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying:
"Stand in the gate of the house of the Lord, and proclaim there this word, and say: Hear ye the word of the Lord, all ye men of Juda, that enter in at these gates, to adore the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Make your ways and your doings good: and I will dwell with you in this place.
"Trust not in lying words, saying: The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, it is the temple of the Lord. For if you will order well your ways, and your doings: if you will execute judgment between a man and his neighbour, If you oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, and walk not after strange gods to your own hurt, I will dwell with you in this place: in the land, which I gave to your fathers from the beginning and for evermore, says the Lord Almighty."


GRADUAL Ps. 144:15-16
The eyes of all look hopefully to You, O Lord, and You give them food in due season.
V. You open Your hand, and fill every living creature with blessing.


GOSPEL Luke 4:38-44
And Jesus rising up out of the synagogue, went into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever: and they besought him for her. And standing over her, he commanded the fever: and it left her. And immediately rising, she ministered to them.
And when the sun was down, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them to him. But he, laying his hands on every one of them, healed them. And devils went out from many, crying out and saying: "Thou art the son of God." And rebuking them he suffered them not to speak; for they knew that he was Christ.
And when it was day, going out he went into a desert place: and the multitudes sought him, and came unto him. And they stayed him that should not depart from them. To whom he said: "To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of God: for therefore am I sent." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 137:7
Though I walk in the midst of tribulation, you shall preserve my life, O Lord. You will stretch forth Your right hand against the anger of my enemies, and Your right hand shall save me.


SECRET
We honor the glorious death of Your saints, O Lord, in the offering of this sacrifice which has given meaning to all martyrdom. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
May our offering be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, and may it benefit us by the prayer of him on whose feast it is offered. Through our Lord . . .  

 
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 118:4-5
You have commanded that Your precepts be kept most diligently. Oh, that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your statutes!


POSTCOMMUNION
We beg You, O Lord, through the merits of Your blessed Martyrs Cosmas and Damian, to let this Sacrament be a sure promise of our salvation. Through our Lord . . .

 

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Refreshed by partaking of Thy sacred Gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Our God, that through the intercession of blessed John Larke, Thy Martyr, we may perceive the fruit of the rite which we celebrate. Through our Lord . . .  


PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
Draw all nations to Yourself by Your divine mercy, O Lord, and make them always obedient to Your commandments. Through our Lord . . .

WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN LENT; BLESSED JOHN LARKE (1544 A.D.) Martyr

WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN LENT

BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Martyr

SIMPLE / PURPLE
INTROIT Ps. 37:22-23
Forsake me not, O Lord, my God; be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
Ps. 37:2. Rebuke me not in Your anger, O Lord, and chastise me not in Your wrath.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, look mercifully upon Your people. We abstain from food at Your command; may we also turn away from the spiritual poison of sin. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Parish priest. Rector of Saint Ethelburga’s, Bishopgate, London, England from 1504 to 1524. Rector of Woodford, Essex from 1526 to 1527. Rector at Chelsea, London. Friend of and imprisoned with Saint Thomas More. Martyred with Blessed German Gardiner and Blessed John Ireland for denying that the King of England had supremacy over the Church, and for the crime of being a priest.  

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that through the intercession of blessed John Larke, Thy Martyr, we may be delivered from all harm to the body and all uncleanness of mind. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Esther 13:8-11; 15-17
But Mardochai besought the Lord, remembering all his works, And said: "O Lord, Lord, almighty king, for all things are in thy power, and there is none that can resist thy will, if thou determine to save Israel. Thou hast made heaven and earth and all things that are under the cope of heaven. Thou art Lord of all, and there is none that can resist thy majesty. And now, O Lord, O king, O God of Abraham, have mercy on thy people, because our enemies resolve to destroy us, and extinguish thy inheritance. Despise not thy portion, which thou hast redeemed for thyself out of Egypt. Hear my supplication, and be merciful to thy lot and inheritance, and turn our mourning into joy, that we may live and praise thy name, O Lord, and shut not the mouths of them that sing to thee."

GRADUAL Ps. 27:9, 1
Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance.
V. To You, O Lord my God, I cry; be not deaf to me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit.

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 name's sake.

GOSPEL Matt. 20:17-28
At that time. as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart and said to them: "Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes: and they shall condemn him to death. And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified: and the third day he shall rise again."
Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: "What wilt thou?" She saith to him: "say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom." And Jesus answering, said: "You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?" They say to him: "We can." He saith to them: "My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father."
And the ten, hearing it, were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them to him and said: "You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and that they that are the greater, exercise power upon them. It shall not be so among you: but whosoever is the greater among you, let him be your minister. And he that will be first among you shall be your servant. Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a redemption for many."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 24:1-3
I have lifted up my soul to You, O Lord; in You, O my God, I place my trust. Let me not be put to shame, nor let my enemies exalt over me. No one who waits for You shall be left in confusion.

SECRET
O Lord, look with favor upon the sacrifices we offer You. May this holy exchange of gifts free us from the bondage of our sins. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
May our offering be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, and may it benefit us by the prayer of him on whose feast it is offered. Through our Lord . . . 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 10:8
The Lord is just, and He has loved justice; the upright shall see His face.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may the reception of Your Sacrament bring us ever nearer to our eternal redemption. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BLESSED JOHN LARKE
Refreshed by partaking of Thy sacred Gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Our God, that through the intercession of blessed John Larke, Thy Martyr, we may perceive the fruit of the rite which we celebrate. Through our Lord . . . 

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O God, You love innocence and have restored it to us. Turn the hearts of Your people towards Yourself. Set them on fire with Your Spirit, that they may be firm in faith and zealous in virtues. Through our Lord . . .