SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
SAINT PETER'S CHAIR AT ROME
DOUBLE / GREEN
At the wedding in Cana, Mary knew the embarrassment of the young couple over the wine shortage, at once sympathized with them, and quite naturally went to her Son about the problem. With the delicacy of perfect prayer, she simply told Him the need.
Power at the disposal of love, serving immediate needs, is also the point of the Reading. Power without love corrupts and destroys. Love keeps power flowing outward in a purifying stream, for it demands both self-forgetfulness and a respect for those in want.
INTROIT (Ps. 65:4)
At the wedding in Cana, Mary knew the embarrassment of the young couple over the wine shortage, at once sympathized with them, and quite naturally went to her Son about the problem. With the delicacy of perfect prayer, she simply told Him the need.
Power at the disposal of love, serving immediate needs, is also the point of the Reading. Power without love corrupts and destroys. Love keeps power flowing outward in a purifying stream, for it demands both self-forgetfulness and a respect for those in want.
INTROIT (Ps. 65:4)
Let all on earth worship You, O God, and sing praise to You; let them sing a psalm to Your name, O Most High.
Ps. 65:1-2. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing a psalm to the glory of His name; proclaim His glorious praise.
V. Glory be . . .
Ps. 65:1-2. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing a psalm to the glory of His name; proclaim His glorious praise.
V. Glory be . . .
GLORIA
COLLECT
Almighty
and Eternal God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth,
mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace in
our days. Through Our Lord . . .
Preserved
to this day at the Vatican Basilica in Rome is the chair upon which, as
history tells us, Pope Peter sat enthroned to exercise his Christ-given
authority over the universal Church. Our Lord founded the continuing
line of visible heads of the Church with the impetuous fisherman of the
Sea of Galilee. Peter, inspired by God to recognize the divinity of the
Son of Man, became the guardian of the revelation of faith which was
left as a heritage from Christ to all men. Today's feast commemorates
the unbroken chain of successors of the bishop of Rome. Submission to
that See, by Christ's own declaration, is a mark of unity with Christ
Himself.
Commemoration of SAINT PETER"S CHAIR
O
God, You have entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Your
blessed apostle Peter and have given him the power of bishop to bind or
to loose. May his intercession free us from the slavery of sin; who
lives and rules with God the Father . . .
Commemoration of Saint Paul
St.
Paul's journeys in search of souls for Christ took him to the capital
of the Roman Empire. In tradition and liturgy, he is linked with St.
Peter in the founding of Christianity in Rome.
O
God, you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the
blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with You help us
who venerate his memory this day.
EPISTLE (Rom. 12:6-16)
Brethren:
We having different gifts, according to the grace that is given us,
either prophecy, to be used according to the rule of faith; or ministry,
in ministering; or he that teacheth, in doctrine; he that exhorteth, in
exhorting; he that giveth, with simplicity; he that ruleth, with
carefulness; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be
without dissimulation. Hating that which is evil, cleaving to that which
is good, loving one another with the charity of brotherhood: with
honour preventing one another. In carefulness not slothful. In spirit
fervent. Serving the Lord. Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation.
Instant in prayer. Communicating to the necessities of the saints.
Pursuing hospitality. Bless them that persecute you: bless, and curse
not. Rejoice with them that rejoice: weep with them that weep. Being of
one mind one towards another. Not minding high things, but consenting to
the humble. Be not wise in your own conceits.
GRADUAL (Ps. 106:20-21)
The Lord sent forth His word and healed them, and rescued them from destruction. V. Let them praise the Lord for His mercies, and His wondrous deeds towards the children of men.
Alleluia, alleluia! (V. Ps. 148:2)
Praise the Lord, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL (John 2:1-11)
At that time, there was a marriage in Cana of
Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited,
and his disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the mother of
Jesus saith to him: "They have no wine." And Jesus saith to her: "Woman, what is that to me and to thee? My hour is not yet come." His
mother saith to the waiters: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye."
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner
of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece.
Jesus saith to them: "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to them: "Draw out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast." And
they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made
wine and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the
water: the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, And saith to him:
"Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well
drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until
now." This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and
manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
CREED
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 65:1-2, 16)
Shout
joyfully to God, all the earth; sing a psalm to the glory of His name.
Come and hear, all you who fear God, while I declare what He has done
for me, alleluia!
SECRET
O Lord, sanctify the gifts we offer You, and cleanse us from the stain of our sins. Through Our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT PETER"S CHAIR
O
Lord, we offer You the prayers and sacrifice of Your Church through the
intercession of Your apostle Peter. May this Mass, which we celebrate
in his honor, win pardon for us. Through our Lord . . .
Commemoration of Saint Paul
O
Lord, sanctify the offerings of Your people through the intercession of
the blessed apostle Paul. The sacrifice we offer is already acceptable
to You because You instituted it; may it become even more pleasing to
You through the prayers of Your saint.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON (John 2:7, 8, 9, 10-11)
The
Lord said, "Fill the waterpots with water, and carry them to the chief
steward of the feast." When the chief steward had tasted the water made
wine, he calleth the bridegroom, and saith to him: "thou hast kept the
good wine until now." This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of
Galilee and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, increase Your grace within us, so that this divine Sacrament may bring us life and prepare us for the blessedness It promises. Through Our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT PETER"S CHAIR
May
our offering bring us happiness, O Lord. We praise You for the wondrous
things You accomplished through Your apostle Peter and ask forgiveness
through his intercession. Through Our Lord . . .
Commemoration of Saint Paul
We
have been made holy by this life-giving Sacrifice, O Lord. May we
always be aided by the prayers of Your saint, whom You gave us as a
protector and a guide.
