TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS PROPERS IN ENGLISH

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

St. Peter Nolasco has a vision of Jerusalem. Image via Wikipedia

SAINT PETER NOLASCO
Confessor

Saint Agnes
Virgin and Martyr
[2nd Mass]

DOUBLE / WHITE
Peter (1182-1258) was born in southern France. After the death of his wealthy parents, he spent his inheritance in Barcelona to rescue Christians enslaved by the Moors. He formed a lay confraternity, which later developed into the religious order of the Mercedarians, and led his fellow workers into Moorish territory to purchase the freedom of Christian captives, and to make numerous conversions among the non-Christians. Later Peter's Mercedarians labored among the Indians of the far-flung Spanish American Empire.

Mass of a CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, except

COLLECT
O God, St. Peter was divinely guided by the example of Your won love to enrich Your Church with a new community dedicated to the ransoming of imprisoned Christians. Release us from the slavery of sin through his intercession so that we may enjoy the eternal freedom of our home in heaven; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of SAINT AGNES, VIRGIN AND MARTYR

We are made happy, O God, by the annual feast of Your blessed virgin martyr Agnes. May we be inspired by the example of Your saint, as we honor her in this Mass. Through Our Lord . . .

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 . . .

Commemoration of SAINT AGNES

Pour out Your rich blessings, O Lord, upon this sacrifice, so that through it we may come closer to our sanctification and be made joyful on the feast of Your martyrs. Through Our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION

Refreshed with Heavenly Food and Drink, we humbly pray You, our God, to strengthen us through the prayers of Your saints, in whose memory we have received this Sacrament. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT AGNES

We have partaken of Your Sacrament, O Lord, with which we yearly celebrate this feast.May it help us in this life and in the life to come. Through Our Lord . . .

2012-01-27T00:08:00.001-05:00

Body of St. John Chrysostom being brought to Holy Apostles Church.

SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Bishop and Doctor of the Church

DOUBLE/WHITE

Archbishop of Constantinople in the fourth century, John was surnamed Chrysostom, "the golden-mouthed," because of his moving eloquence. His gifted pen, as well as his sermons drew many to Christ. The saint's courageous condemnation of sinfulness brought him exile and all manner of ill-usage from his persecutors. Solicitous for the poor of Constantinople, St. John also looked beyond the boundaries of his episcopal see, and sent out missioners among the Scythians, Persians, and Goths. With the praise of God on his lips, this great Doctor of the Eastern Church died in exile on September 14, 407.

Mass of a DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, except

COLLECT

O Lord, the merits and teachings of the blessed confessor bishop John Chrysostom reflected glory on Your Church. May she flourish and increase through Your divine grace. Through Our Lord . . .

GRADUAL (Eccli. 44:20)

Behold a great priest, who pleased God in his life. V. There was none found the like to him, who kept the law of the Most High.

Alleluia, alleluia! (V. Jac. 1:12)

Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life.

Alleluia!

SECRET
O Lord, let the blessed bishop and Doctor John Chrysostom always help us, and through his intercession accept our offering and pardon our sins. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may this Sacrifice bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of Your blessed bishop and illustrious Doctor John Chrysostom. Through our Lord . . .

2012-01-26T00:04:00.000-05:00

SAINT POLYCARP

Bishop and Martyr

DOUBLE / RED

A disciple of St. John the Beloved, Polycarp received from the Apostle himself his appointment as bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp served his master ardently during a long episcopate. In his old age he refused to flee persecution and faced martyrdom with supreme peace of soul. When ordered to deny Christ, Polycarp replied, "For 86 years I have served Him; how then can I blaspheme my Savior and my King?" The last of the bishops chosen by the Apostles, he was martyred in the year 156.

Mass of a MARTYR BISHOP, except the following:

COLLECT

O God, who gladdens us each year by the feast of Your blessed Martyr bishop Polycarp, mercifully grant that we who celebrate his birthday may also enjoy his protection. through Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE I John 3:10-16

Beloved: Whosoever is not just is not of God, or he that loveth not his brother. For this is the declaration which you have heard from the beginning, that you should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one and killed his brother. And wherefore did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked: and his brother's just. Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself. In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

GOSPEL Matt. 10:26-32

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, " Therefore fear them not. For nothing is covered that shall not be revealed: nor hid, that shall not be known. That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light: and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops. And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: better are you than many sparrows. Every one therefore that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven."

SECRET

Bless the gifts we have set apart for You, O Lord. May the prayers of Your blessed Martyr bishop Polycarp help these offerings to win Your mercy for us. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION

We are refreshed by the reception of Your sacred Gift, O Lord. May the prayers of Your blessed Martyr bishop Polycarp make us feel the benefit of the sacred rite we have performed. Through Our Lord . . .

St. Polycarp miraculously extinguishing fire Icon. Image via Wikipedia

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL

Chair of Unity Octave Intention: Missionary Conquest of the World

GREATER DOUBLE/WHITE

Saul, the youthful Pharisee of Jerusalem who stood by as a witness at the death of the first martyr, Stephen, grew into manhood with a consuming desire to destroy the religious followers of Jesus. Three years after the crucifixion of Christ, while in the very act of extending his persecution of the Christians from Jerusalem to Damascus, Saul was confronted by his Savior with the question, "Why dost thou persecute me?" In the dazzling light of this vision, Saul was called to a double vocation: to be a chosen vessel to carry the name of Jesus among nations, and to suffer much for Christ. In this new life, Saul was renamed Paul.

It was the suffering for the name of Jesus--not only the physical hardships, the deprivations and rejections of his journeys, but the complete giving of himself for his neighbors--that lay at the root of Paul's unparalleled missionary success. Because he "lived Christ," Paul glorified in his tribulations, wrote the lyrical praise of Christian love, exhorted his Christians to be imitators of him, as he was of Christ. He so thoroughly "emptied himself" for men that he could say, "It is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me."

INTROIT (II Tim. 1:12)

I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that He is able to guard the trust committed to me against that day, for He is a just judge. Ps. 138:1, 2. O Lord, You have proved me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand. V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

We celebrate the conversion of the blessed apostle Paul today. You taught the whole world through his preaching, O God; may we come to You by following his example. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETER

O God, You have entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven yo 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 . . .

EPISTLE (Acts 9:1-22)

In those days, Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus. And suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him. And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Who said: "Who art thou, Lord?" And he: "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad." And he, trembling and astonished, said: "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" And the Lord said to him: "Arise and go into the city; and there it shall be told thee what thou must do." Now the men who went in company with him stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the ground: and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they, leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus. And he was there three days without sight: and he did neither eat nor drink.
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: "Ananias," And he said: "Behold I am here, Lord." And the Lord said to him: "Arise and go into the street that is called Strait and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth." (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.) But Ananias answered: "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name." And the Lord said to him: "Go thy way: for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." And Aninias went his way and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost." And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales: and he received his sight. And rising up, he was baptized. And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened.

And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days. And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the son of God. And all that heard him were astonished and said: "Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name and came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests?"
But Saul increased much more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.

GRADUAL (Gal. 2:8, 9)

He who worked in Peter for the apostleship worked also in me among the Gentiles, and they recognized the grace of God that was given to me.

V. The grace of God in me has not been fruitless, but His grace remains in me always.

Alleluia, alleluia!

V. The great Saint Paul, a chosen vessel, is indeed worthy of glory, and he deserves to possess the twelfth throne.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL (Matt. 19:27-29)

At that time, Peter answering, said to him: "Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have? " And Jesus said to them: " Amen I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting. "

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 138:17)
Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.

SECRET

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. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETER
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 . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Matt. 19:28, 29)

Amen I say to you that you who have left all and followed Me, shall receive a hundred fold, and shall possess life everlasting.

POSTCOMMUNION

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. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETER
May our offering bring us happiness, O Lord. We praise You for the wondrous things You accomplished through Your apostle Peter, and ask for forgiveness through his intercession. through Our Lord . . .

2012-01-24T20:01:00.002-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

When I lived in New York City, I loved to attend the Latin Mass at St. Agnes Church at 43rd St. and 3rd Ave. It was the only Latin Mass celebrated at that time. Later the Bishop of Brooklyn authorized a Latin Mass in Queens, where I lived, at Christ the King High School in Middle Village. I served the Mass as an altar boy, which was celebrated by an elderly priest. Sometimes I had to help the priest get up after he genuflected, his legs were not strong, but I loved assisting him and serving in this way. Now that I'm old I need someone to help me up too! Anyway, I'm so happy to have these memories and to have experienced these wonderful and happy events in my life.

Wednesday, January 25, a Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul will be celebrated at 6 P.M. at the Church of the Holy Innocents (West 37th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan).

The Holy Innocents Schola will sing Henri Dumont's plainchant Messe Royale du Priemier Ton, the first time this ordinary setting has been sung at Holy Innocents since the weekday sung Masses in the traditional rite began.

The video below provides a sample of the music (in another choir's rendition) laid under some pictures from Holy Innocents:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpJzE3ieva4&feature=player_detailpage

Hat-tip to http://www.latinmassnyc.org/

2012-01-24T00:04:00.000-05:00

SAINT TIMOTHY

Bishop and Martyr

Chair of Unity Octave Intention: Conversion of the Jews

DOUBLE / RED

Timothy, born in Galatia in Asia Minor, was baptized and later ordained to the priesthood by St. Paul. The young Galatian became Paul's missionary companion and his most beloved spiritual son. Paul showed his trust in this disciple by consecrating him bishop of the great city of Ephesus. During his last imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote to Timothy to make haste and come from Asia minor. But St. Paul was martyred before an earthly reunion with his son in Christ was possible. Thirty years later, Timothy was stoned to death at Ephesus for having denounced the worship of the goddess Diana.

Mass of a MARTYR BISHOP, except

COLLECT

Almighty God, look upon our weakness and the heavy burden we carry because of our own deeds. Let the prayers of Your blessed martyr bishop Timothy in heaven be our protection. Through Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE I Tim. 6:11-16

Beloved: Pursue justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called and be it confessed a good confession before many witnesses. I charge thee before God who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate, a good confession: That thou keep the commandment without spot, blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, Which in his times he shall shew, who is the Blessed and only Mighty, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Who only hath immortality and inhabiteth light inaccessible: whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and empire everlasting. Amen.

SECRET
O Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer You in honor of Your blessed Martyr bishop Timothy and grant us Your unending assistance through these offerings. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
We are refreshed by the reception of Your sacred gifts, O Lord. May the prayers of Your blessed Martyr bishop Timothy make us feel the benefit of the sacred rite we have performed. Through our Lord . . .

2012-01-23T00:03:00.001-05:00

Saint Emerentiana

SAINT RAYMUND OF PENNAFORT

Confessor

SAINT EMERENTIANA

VIRGIN AND MARTYR

The Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Saint Joseph
[Historical]
http://www.rosarychurch.net/latin/jan23.html

Chair of Unity Octave Intention: Return of Lapsed Catholics

SIMPLE / WHITE
Raymund of Pennafort (1175-1275), a native of Catalonia, Spain, was outstanding in the direction of souls and is revered as a patron saint of confessors. A learned professor of philosophy and law, he was entrusted by the Holy Father with the codification of canon law. When he was nearly fifty years of age, Raymund entered the Dominican Order. He converted thousands of Moors, Jews, and Albigensian heretics, and pioneered in founding language schools for aspirant missioners. Raymund performed numerous miracles. The Prayer alludes to his miraculous journey from Barcelona to the Island of Majorca on his cloak spread on the sea.

Mass of a CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, except

COLLECT

O God, You chose blessed Raymund to be an example of the true minister of the Sacrament of penance and marked his life by the miraculous trip across the sea. May his intercession make us worthy of the forgiveness and grace of penance and help us toward the shore of our eternal salvation. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT EMERENTIANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR

Tradition holds that Emerentiana, a foster-sister of St. Agnes, was stoned to death by a pagan mob while she was praying at the martytr's tomb.

O Lord, pardon our sins through the intercession of the blessed virgin martyr Emerentiana, who pleased You by her purity and her faith. Through Our Lord . . .

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 . . .

Commemoration of SAINT EMERENTIANA

O Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer You in honor of Your blessed virgin martyr Emerentiana, and grant us Your unending assistance through these offerings. Through Our Lord . . .

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 . . .

Commemoration of SAINT EMERENTIANA

We have been nourished by Your Divine Gift, O Lord our God. May the reception of this Bread of Heaven bring us eternal life through the intercession of Your blessed virgin martyr Emerentiana. Through Our Lord . . .

THE HOURS OF OUR LADY #11

2012-01-22T14:54:00.001-05:00

(The translation of the Psalms and the brief introductory comments on the Psalms of this Little Office of the Blessed Virgin are taken largly from: The Psalms and Canticles by George O'Neill, S.J. [Bruce Publishing Co. 1937.] The late Father O'Neill's work has long been out of print.)

[Continued]

INTRODUCTION

"It is impossible fully to follow the Psalms through history: enough, perhaps, to say that Pope John VIII granted the request of Saints Cyril and Methodius that

the Scriptures might be translated into the Slav tongue in the words of the 150th Psalm: 'Let all that hath breath praise the Lord'; that St. Patrick recited the whole Psalter every day, and is said to have gained a unique victory over the Druids (equipped with chariots) by his recitation of 'Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, But we will call upon the name of the Lord our God.' Ps. 19,8; that St. Columba could recite the Psalms by heart though he READ only the alphabet; and the exquisite story of his death is interwoven with that of his writing out the Psalter.

[To be continued]

2012-01-22T00:05:00.000-05:00

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

SAINTS VINCENT AND ANASTASIUS

Martyrs

Chair of Unity Octave Intention: Catholic Unity for American Christians

INTROIT (Ps. 96:7-8)

Worship God, all you His angels. Sion heard and was glad, and all the daughters of Juda rejoiced.
Ps. 96:1. The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad!
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

Almighty and eternal God, look mercifully upon our weakness, and stretch forth the right hand of Your power to protect us. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS VINCENT AND ANASTASIUS

During the early years of the fourth century, Vincent, a young deacon, was inhumanly tortured by Dacian, Roman governor of Valencia in Spain. Vincent rejoiced in his sufferings until he drew his last breath. More than three hundred years later, Anastasius the Persian, a convert from the priestly caste of Magi, endured a similar martyrdom in distant Assyria. Through all the Christian centuries martyrs of the West and of the East have united their sacrifices to that of Calvary for the salvation of every man born into the world.

COLLECT

O Lord, hear our humble prayers. May the intercession of Your blessed martyrs Vincent and Anastasius free us from the guilt of sin which troubles us. Through Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE (Romans 12:16-21)

Brethren: Be not wise in your own conceits. To no man rendering evil for evil. Providing good things, not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as is in you, have peace with all men. Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; but give place unto wrath, for it is written: "Revenge is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." But ,"If the enemy be hungry, give him to eat; if he thirst, give him to drink. For, doing this, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head." Be not overcome by evil: but overcome evil by good.

GRADUAL (Ps. 101:16-17)

The nations shall revere Your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth shall reverence Your glory. V. For the Lord has built up Sion, and He shall appear in His glory.

Alleluia, alleluia! (V. Ps. 96:1)

The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad!

Alleluia!

GOSPEL (Matthew 8:1-13)

At that time, when Jesus had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him: And behold a leper came and adored him, saying: "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." And Jesus stretching forth his hand, touched him, saying: "I will, be thou made clean." And forthwith his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith to him: "See thou tell no man: but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."
And when he had entered into Capharnaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him,
and saying, "Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented." And Jesus saith to him: "I will come and heal him." And the centurion, making answer, said: "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it." And Jesus hearing this, marvelled; and said to them that followed him. "Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel. And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven: But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And Jesus said to the centurion: "Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee." And the servant was healed at the same hour.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 117:16, 17)

The right hand of the Lord has exercised power; the right hand of the Lord has lifted me up. I shall not die, but live, and shall declare the works of the Lord.

SECRET

May this offering cleanse us from our sins, O Lord, and may it sanctify Your servants in body and soul for the celebration of this sacrifice. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS VINCENT AND ANASTASIUS
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 Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Luke 4:22)

All marveled at these things that came from the mouth of God.

POSTCOMMUNION

Make us worthy, O Lord, to reap the fruits of these great mysteries which you have graciously given us to celebrate. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS VINCENT AND ANASTASIUS
Almighty God, we pray that the reception of this Bread of Heaven may strengthen us against all adversity through the intercession of Your blessed martyrs Vincent and Anastasius. 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.

2012-01-21T00:05:00.000-05:00

SAINT AGNES
Virgin and Martyr

Chair of Unity Octave Intention: Return of European Protestants

DOUBLE / RED

Agnes is the archetype of the virgins who throughout the Christian centuries have followed the Lamb wherever He goes, "first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb" (Apoc. 14:4). She was twelve years old when she was commanded to offer incense before the pagan altar of Minerva at Rome, soon after Emperor Diocletian began his persecution of the Christians in the year 303. The persecutors tried in vain to overcome the virgin's refusal by flattery and offers of marriage. "Christ is my Spouse," she answered. "He chose me first and His I will be." Her sentence of death was passed and the child martyr died by the sword.

INTROIT Ps. 118:95-96

The wicked have lain in wait to destroy me, but I have understood Your testimonies, O Lord. I have seen that all things are finite, but Your commandment is indeed perfect.
Ps. 95:1. Blessed are they who are undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

Almighty and eternal God, you choose the weak things of the world to confound the strong. May the virgin martyr Agnes intercede for us who celebrate her feast. Through Our Lord . . .

LESSON Eccli. 51:1-8, 12 [Sirach]

I will give glory to thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise thee, O God my Saviour. I will give glory to thy name: for thou hast been a helper and protector to me. And hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies, and in the sight of them that stood by, thou hast been my helper. And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour. Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about: From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt. From the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue: My soul shall praise the Lord even to death. How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.

GRADUAL Ps. 44:3, 5
Grace is poured out upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever and for all ages.
V. For the sake of truth and meekness and justice may your right hand lead you on wonderfully.

TRACT Ps. 44:8, 5
Come, O spouse of Christ, receive the crown that has been prepared for you forever by the Lord, for whose love you did shed your blood.
V. You loved justice and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellow creatures.
V. In your splendor and your beauty, make ready, ride on triumphant, and rule.

GOSPEL Matthew 25: 1-13)

At that time, Jesus spoke to his disciples this parable,"The kingdom of heaven will be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. And five of them were foolish and five wise. But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made: 'Behold the bridegroom cometh. Go ye forth to meet him.' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise: 'Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.' The wise answered, saying: 'Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves.' Now whilst they went to buy the bridegroom came: and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage. And the door was shut. But at last came also the other virgins, saying: 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' But he answering said: 'Amen I say to you, I know you not.' Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 44:13, 16

Behind her the virgins shall be led to the king; her friends shall be brought to you with gladness and joy, they shall be led into the temple of the king, the Lord.

SECRET

O Lord, graciously accept the sacrifices we offer You, and free us from the slavery of sin through the intercession of Your blessed virgin martyr Agnes. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 25:4, 6

The five wise virgins took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And at midnight a cry arose, "Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go forth to meet Christ the Lord."

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 Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

2012-01-20T00:03:00.001-05:00

Saint Sebastian and Saint Fabian

Artist: Anonymous (Spanish)

Date: 1475-1500

Medium: Oil and tempera on panel. 141.4x89.5 cm.

Location: The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia

SAINTS FABIAN AND SEBASTIAN

Martyrs

Chair of Unity Intention: Submission of Anglicans

DOUBLE / RED

Ancient tradition has coupled together the veneration of these glorious martyrs. Fabian was responsible for sending St. Dionysius and other missioners to Gaul. From there, missionary priests journeyed to Britain. This pope was slain during the year 250, during the persecution of Decius. Sebastian was a Christian Roman officer of the fourth century, who by his devotion and fervor converted many of his soldier companions. He fearlessly pleaded with Emperor Diocletian to cease persecuting the Church. For this Sebastian was arrested, sentenced to death, and mercilessly beaten with clubs.

INTROIT (Ps. 78:11, 12, 10)

Let the sighs of the imprisoned come before You, O Lord. Pay back to our neighbors seven times over into their bosoms, and avenge the shedding of the blood of Your saints. Ps. 78:1. O God, strangers have come into Your inheritance, they have defiled Your holy temple, they have made Jerusalem desolate as an orchard watchtower. V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

Almighty God, look upon our weakness and the heavy burden we carry because of our deeds. Let the prayers of Your blessed martyrs Fabian and Sebastian in heaven be our protection. Through Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE (Heb. 11:33-39)

Brethren: The saints by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners. Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection. And others had trial of mockeries and stripes: moreover also of bands and prisons. They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted: Of whom the world was not worthy: wandering in deserts, in mountains and in dens and in caves of the earth. And all these, being approved by the testimony of faith, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GRADUAL (Ex. 15:11, 6)

Glorious is God in His saints, marvelous in majesty, worker of wonders! V. Your right hand, O Lord, is magnificent in power, Your right hand has slain the enemy.

Alleluia, alleluia! (V. Ps. 144:10, 11)

Let Your saints bless You, O Lord; let them tell of the glory of Your kingdom.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL (Luke 6:17-23)

At that time, Jesus coming down with them, he stood in a plain place: and the company of his disciples and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast, both of Tyre and Sidon, Who were come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the multitude sought to touch him: for virtue went out from him and healed all.
And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said: "Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for you shall laugh. Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Be glad in that day and rejoice: for behold, your reward is great in heaven, For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 31:11)

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you just; shout for joy, all you upright of heart.

SECRET

O Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer You in honor of Your blessed martyrs Fabian and Sebastian, and grant us Your unending assistance through these offerings. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Luke 6:18, 19)

A multitude of sick and those who were troubled with unclean spirits came to Him, for power went forth from Him and healed all.

POSTCOMMUNION

We are refreshed by the reception of Your sacred Gift, O Lord. may the prayers of Your blessed martyrs Fabian and Sebastian make us feel the benefit of the sacred rite we have performed. 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.

2012-01-19T00:09:00.000-05:00

SAINTS MARIUS, MARTHA, AUDIFAX,

AND ABACHUM

Martyrs

SAINT CANUTE
Martyr

Chair of Unity Octave Intention: Return of Oriental Separatists

SIMPLE / RED

These saints -- a family of father, mother, and two sons -- were Persians. In the year 270 they made a pilgrimage to Rome, one of the many proofs that the faithful, even at that early date, held the Holy See to be the center of Christendom. Emperor Claudius was then persecuting the Church, and these holy Persians gave Christian burial to the remains of martyrs. God rewarded the veneration they paid His saints by granting them in their turn the supreme gift of martyrdom. After their arrest, Marius and his two sons were beheaded, and Martha was drowned.

INTROIT Ps. 67:4

Let the just feast and rejoice before God; let them rejoice with gladness.
Ps. 67:2. Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee before Him.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

Hear, O Lord, the prayers of Your people and Your saints who intercede for them. Grant us peace in this life and Your assistance to attain eternal life. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CANUTE, MARTYR

During the eleventh century King St. Canute of Denmark was one of the missionary rulers who spread the Faith of Scandinavia. Rebels rose against him and murdered him at Odense in 1086.

O God, You have added glory to Your Church by granting to the blessed king Canute the gift of miracles and the crown of martyrdom. May we walk in the footsteps of Your saint and follow our Lord's own path of suffering, so that we too may enter into everlasting happiness. Through Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Heb. 10:32-38

Brethren, call to mind the former days, wherein, being illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions. And on the one hand indeed, by reproaches and tribulations, were made a gazingstock; and on the other, became companions of them that were used in such sort. For you both had compassion on them that were in bands and took with joy the being stripped of your own goods, knowing that you have a better and a lasting substance. Do not therefore lose your confidence which hath a great reward. For patience is necessary for you: that, doing the will of God, you may receive the promise. "For yet a little and a very little while, and he that is to come will come and will not delay. But my just man liveth by faith."

GRADUAL Sap. 3:1, 2, 3

The souls of the just are in the hands of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. V. In the sight of the unwise they appeared to perish, but they are in peace.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 67:36

Our God is wonderful in His saints.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 24:3-13

At that time, as Jesus was sitting on mount Olivet, the disciples came to him privately, saying: "Tell us when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the consummation of the world?" And Jesus answering, said to them: "Take heed that no man seduce you. For many will come in my name saying, 'I am Christ.' And they will seduce many. And you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be not troubled. For these things must come to pass: but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And there shall be pestilences and famines and earthquakes in places.
"Now all these are the beginnings of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall put you to death: and you shall be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be scandalized and shall betray one another and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise and shall seduce many. And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold. But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 123:7

Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken and we are free.

SECRET
Look favorably on the prayers and offerings of Your people, O Lord. may this celebration of the feast of Your saints please You and bring us Your merciful help. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CANUTE

O Lord, let the prayers of Your saints whom we honor by this sacred rite make our offering acceptable to You, so that it may aid our salvation. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Luke 12:4

But I say to you, my friends, "Do not be afraid of those who persecute you."

POSTCOMMUNION

May the prayers of Your saints win forgiveness for us, O Lord. Grant that the Sacrifice we offer in this life may be our everlasting possession in the life to come. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CANUTE

We are refreshed by the reception of Your sacred Gift, O Lord. May the prayers of Your blessed martyr Canute make us feel the benefit of the sacred rite we have performed. Through Our Lord . . .

2012-01-18T00:01:00.001-05:00

SAINT PETER'S CHAIR AT ROME

Chair of Unity Octave Intention: Return of the "Other Sheep"

SAINT PAUL

APOSTLE

SAINT PRISCA

VIRGIN & MARTYR

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE
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.

INTROIT Eccli. 45:30

The Lord established a covenant of peace with him, and made him a prince, that the dignity of priesthood should be his forever.
Ps. 131:1. O Lord, remember David and all his meekness.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

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.

Commemoration of Saint Prisca, Virgin Martyr

A young Roman virgin, Prisca was martyred during the third century.

Almighty God, we celebrate today the birthday of Your blessed virgin Martyr Prisca. May her feast fill us with joy, and may we profit by the example of her great faith. 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 I Peter 1:1-7

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers dispersed through Pontus, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, unto the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead: Unto an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled and that cannot fade, reserved in heaven for you, Who, by the power of God, are kept by faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you shalt greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations: That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

GRADUAL Ps. 106:32; 31

Let them extol him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.
V. Let them praise the Lord for His mercies and for His wondrous deeds to the children of men.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Matt. 16:18

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 16:13-19

At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: "Whom do men say that the Son of man is?" But they said: "Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Jesus saith to them: "But whom do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said: "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God."

And Jesus answering said to him: "Blessed art thou, Simon BarJona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Matt. 16:18-19

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

SECRET

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

Commemoration of Saint Prisca

May this sacrifice, O Lord, which we offer in remembrance of the birthdays of Your saints, free us from the slavery of sin and win for us the gift of Your mercy. 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.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 16:18

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.

POSTCOMMUNION

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.

Commemoration of Saint Prisca

We have been nourished by the Sacrament of salvation, O Lord. Help us also through the prayers of Your saint whom we honor this day. Through Our Lord . . .

THE HOURS OF OUR LADY #10

2012-01-17T23:13:00.001-05:00

[Continued] INTRODUCTION
Image via Wikipedia

"As for St. Jerome, who in a sense directed these ladies, we know how continuously he worked at the Psalter. The election of St. Martin as Bishop of Tours was decided by an 'accidental' quotation, by a layman, from Psalm 8. Everyone knows how in East and West monastic life was practically regulated by the Psalms. When Ambrose rebuked the Emperor Theodosius, he could say, 'You have copied David in your crime: copy him in your repentance,' and be understood; for when Theodosius did penance, he is said to have done so in the words of Psalm 118, 25: 'Deep lies my soul in the dust, restore life to me, as thou hast promised.'

[To be continued]

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2012-01-17T00:07:00.000-05:00

SAINT ANTHONY

Abbot

DOUBLE / WHITE

Anthony was born in Egypt of wealthy Christian parents at about the middle of the third century. After the death of his parents, he left the world and sought the solitude of the desert. Although Anthony undertook severe mortifications to overcome the ceaseless temptations he endured, yet he saw the secret of Christian sanctity not in bodily chastisement but in love of God. So many disciples followed him that he founded two monasteries on the bank of the Nile, and directed the lives of his monks according to the Gospel precept of perfection. This patriarch of all monks died in the year 356 in a cave near the Red Sea, at the age of 105.

Mass of an Abbot, except

COLLECT

Let the Blessed Abbot Anthony intercede for us, O Lord. May his prayers win us Your help, since our own actions cannot merit it. Through Our Lord . . .

GOSPEL Luke 12:35-40

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let your loins be girt and lamps burning in your hands. And you yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching. Amen I say to you that he will gird himself and make them sit down to meat and passing will minister unto them. And if he shall come in the second watch or come in the third watch and find them so, blessed are those servants. But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Be you then also ready: for at what hour you think not the Son of man will come."

SECRET

May the offerings we lay upon Your sacred altar, O Lord, bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of the blessed abbot Anthony. 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.

POSTCOMMUNION

May the Sacrament we have received and the prayers of the blessed abbot Anthony protect us, O Lord. Grant also that we may imitate the virtues of this saint who is our intercessor with You in Heaven. Through Our Lord . . .

2012-01-16T00:09:00.001-05:00

SAINT MARCELLUS

Pope and Martyr

SIMPLE / RED
Marcellus was elected pope in the year 308, when the early Church was combating the effects of the devastating persecution under Emperor Diocletian. Pope Marcellus received back into the Church those apostates who gave indications of repentance for having denied the Christian Faith during the reign of terror. A group revolted against the Papal penances imposed upon them and used their influence with Emperor Maxentius to have the Pope exiled from Rome. Pope Marcellus died during the first year of his banishment, safeguarding the integrity of Church discipline even at the sacrifice of his own freedom and life.

Mass of a POPE, except

COLLECT

O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people. may the merits of the martyred pope Marcellus help us, just as his sufferings have given us cause for spiritual joy. Through Our Lord . . .

SECRET
We beg Thee, O Lord, through the gifts which we have offered, in Thy kindness enlighten Thy Church, so that everywhere Thy flock may prosper and her Shepherds by Thy guidance be pleasing to Thy name. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
Multiply in Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the spirit of grace which Thou hast bestowed, so that, by the prayers of blessed Marcellus Thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, neither shall the flock be lacking in obedience to the Shepherd nor the Shepherd be lacking in watchfulness over the flock. Through our Lord . . .

2012-01-15T00:03:00.001-05:00

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

SAINT PAUL
Hermit

SAINT MAURUS
Abbot

DOUBLE / GREEN
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 . . .

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 . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PAUL

An affluent family and an excellent early education offered Paul of Egypt promise of a distinguished life in the world. He chose instead a life of renunciation alone with Christ. During 90 years he remained in the desert, absorbed in contemplation and adoration of God. Toward the close of his long dedication, he was visited by another hermit, St. Anthony of the Desert. His abiding concern for souls was expressed in an eager question to Anthony, "Does idolatry still reign in the world?" Death came to him in his 113th year, about 341, while he was on his knees.

O God, it is a joy for us to celebrate yearly the feast of Your blessed confessor Paul. May we who commemorate his birthday also imitate his example.

Commemoration of SAINT MAURUS
Maurus, sixth-century disciple of St. Benedict, helped to introduce monastic life in France, and was rewarded by God with the gift of miracles because of his heroic spirit of obedience.

Let the blessed Abbot Maurus intercede for us, O Lord. May his prayers win us Your help, since our own actions cannot merit it. Through Our Lord . . .

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.

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 PAUL

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.

Commemoration of SAINT MAURUS
May the offering we lay upon Your sacred altar, O Lord, bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of the blessed abbot Maurus. Through our Lord . . .

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

Commemoration of SAINT MAURUS
May the Sacrament we have received and the prayers of the blessed abbot Maurus protect us, O Lord. Grant also that we may imitate the virtues of this saint, who is our intercessor with You in heaven. Through our Lord . . .

HISTORICAL

OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR

[In Some Places]

The original statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor was brought from France to the pioneer Ursuline convent in New Orleans. When the British Army threatened New Orleans in 1815, the Urslines and the relatives of the American soldiers implored the help of Our Lady of prompt Succor. The subsequent American victory caused General Andrew Jackson to visit the convent to thank the Sisters for their prayers. Our Lady of Prompt Succor was later designated by Papal degree as special patroness of the State of Louisiana.

COLLECT

O most gentle Jesus, You have entrusted the treasury of Your mercy to Your Mother Mary. May she shield us from all evil of body and soul; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

SECRET

O Lord, through Your mercy and the intercession of the Blessed ever-Virgin Mary, let this offering bring us prosperity and peace now and forever. Through Our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord, help us by the prayers of Your Immaculate ever-Virgin Mother Mary. Her loving care has already brought us lasting blessings; may she shield us from all dangers and unite us in heart and mind; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

2012-01-14T00:15:00.001-05:00

SAINT HILARY
Bishop and Doctor of the Church

SAINT FELIX
Priest and Martyr

DOUBLE / WHITE
Champion of the divinity of Christ, Hilary was born in Gaul of patrician parents about the year 315. The people of Poitiers chose Hilary as their bishop in 353, and he protected his flock against numerous heretical teachings of the period. The charity of Christ taught Bishop Hilary that, while heresy deserves only hatred, the individual heretic has need of loving compassion. By the time he died in 367, he had been instrumental in purging his country of false belief and winning back many of the heretics into the true fold of Christ.

Mass of a DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, except

COLLECT
O God, may blessed Hilary intercede for us in heaven as he once instructed Your faithful on earth and directed them in the way of eternal salvation. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT FELIX
Felix of Nola, a priest of Campania during the third century, manifested heroic Christian courage in the service of his bishop, St. Maximus, during the cruel persecution under Emperor Decius.

SECRET
O Lord, let Your blessed bishop and doctor Hilary always help us, and through his intercession accept our offering and pardon our sins. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT FELIX
O Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer You in honor of Your blessed martyr Felix, and help us find in them unending assistance. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may this Sacrifice bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of Your blessed bishop and illustrious doctor Hilary. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT FELIX
We have been nourished by the Sacrament of salvation, O Lord. May we be aided also by the prayers of Your saint Felix, whom we honor this day. Through our Lord . . .

2012-01-13T00:09:00.000-05:00

January 13

OCTAVE DAY OF THE EPIPHANY

COMMEMORATION OF THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

The Christ Child was manifested to the wise men from the East as the king of the world, the ruler of all nations. The mature God-man opens His public ministry with the manifestation of His divinity on the shore of the Jordan River.

The Sacrament of Baptism, prefigured by the baptism of John, incorporates us into union with God. Adopted as sons and made co-heirs of heaven through Baptism and the Holy Spirit, we begin our mission as followers of Christ. Our own lives must echo the words of the forerunner of Christ: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Mass of the feast of the EPIPHANY except

COLLECT

O God, Your only-begotten Son appeared in the substance of our flesh. May He who outwardly was like us, change us interiorly; who lives and rules with You . . .

LESSON as on the Feast of Epiphany

GOSPEL (John 1:29-34)

At that time, John saw Jesus coming to him; and he saith: "Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said: 'After me there cometh a man, who is preferred before me: because he was before me.' And I knew him not: but that he may be made manifest in Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water." And John gave testimony, saying: "I saw the Spirit coming down, as a dove from heaven; and he remained upon him. And I knew him not: but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me: 'He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him, he it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.' And I saw: and I gave testimony that this is the Son of God."

SECRET

We celebrate the manifestation of Your new-born Son with these offerings, O Lord. we humbly beg that Jesus Christ, our Lord, who created them, will mercifully accept them from us; who lives and rules with You . . .

POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord, guide us always and everywhere with Your light from above so that we may clearly appreciate this Sacrament. You have allowed us to share in It; may we always receive It worthily. Through Our Lord . . .

2012-01-12T00:04:00.000-05:00

SIMPLE / WHITE

Within the Octave

EPIPHANY

The Mass of First Sunday after the Epiphany is Said:

2012-01-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

SAINT HYGINUS

Pope & Martyr

WITHIN THE OCTAVE

SIMPLE / WHITE
The Mass of the feast of the EPIPHANY is said, with the following commemoration.

Hyginus ruled the Church as supreme pontiff during the four relatively peaceful years that followed the martyrdom of his predecessor, St. Telephorus, in the year 138.

COLLECT

O Eternal Shepherd, who appointed blessed Hyginus shepherd of the whole Church, let the prayers of this martyr and supreme pontiff move You to look with favor upon Your flock and to keep it under Your continual protection. Through Our Lord . . .

SECRET

We have offered our gifts to You, O Lord. Let Your light graciously shine upon Your Church so that this flock may everywhere prosper, and its pastors, under Your guidance, may be truly pleasing to You. Through Our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord, govern the Church, which You have been pleased to nourish with Your Heavenly Food. Guide her by Your powerful direction so that she may enjoy greater freedom and remain unshaken in the fullness of faith. Through Our Lord . . .

2012-01-10T00:07:00.000-05:00

Saint William

Saint Nicanor

WITHIN THE OCTAVE

SIMPLE / WHITE

The Mass of the Feast of the EPIPHANY is said.

SAINT WILLIAM OF BOURGES
Bishop (Historical)

St. William the Confessor was a member of the noble family of the Counts of Nevers, born in the 12^th century in Nevers, France. His father, Baldwin, planned a military life for the young William. He was educated, however, by his maternal uncle, Peter the Hermit, archdeacon of Soissons, and was drawn toward religious life from an early age. He first was a Monk in the Order of Grandmont. He became a priest and then a canon at Soissons and finally a canon at Paris. He was noted for his austere life, for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and for the time spent praying at the altar. Internal dissension in his religious order caused him to leave Grandmont for the recently formed Cistercian Order, taking the habit at Pontigny. He became abbot at Fontaine-Jean in Sens, France. And then he was elected abbot at Chalis near Senlis, France in 1187. He reluctantly assumed the position of archbishop at Bourges in central France in 1200, accepting the position only after receiving orders from the general of his order and from Pope Innocent III himself. St. William then lived an even more austere life, defended clerical rights against the state, cared personally for the poor, sick, imprisoned and debauched, and converted many Albigensian heretics in his diocese to orthodox Christianity. He died January 10, 1209 at Bourges, France, of natural causes while at prayer. Witnesses claim he performed 18 miracles during his life and another 18 after his death. He was canonized on May 17, 1217 by Pope Honorius III.

SAINT NICANOR
Deacon & Martyr (Historical)

Saint Nicanor, with two thousand other Christians, was slain for Christ on the same day as the holy protomartyr Stephen, as related in the Acts of the Apostles, which states, At that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem.

2012-01-09T00:21:00.001-05:00

Saint Adrian of Canterbury

Saints Julian & Basilissa

WITHIN THE OCTAVE

SIMPLE / WHITE

The Mass of the Feast of the EPIPHANY is said.

SAINT ADRIAN OF CANTERBURY

Archbishop

(Historical)

We all know about men and women who travelled to China and Africa and South Seas Islands as missionaries, to bring the Word of Christ to these distant lands. But many centuries ago, when the Church was still young and hadn't spread to Europe, people would travel from Judea or Egypt to other lands as missionaries. Saint Adrian was born in Africa, but ended his days as a missionary to the people of England.

Saint Adrian was an Abbot of a monastery near Naples, Italy when the Archbishop of Canterbury died in 664. Pope Vitalian asked Adrian to travel to Canterbury as the next Archbishop. (Adrian was then an Abbot of a monastery near Naples.) Adrian refused, saying that he was not good enough for the job and suggested that the Pope send Saint Theodore of Tarsus instead. Saint Adrian offered to go to Canterbury as Saint Theodore's assistant.

Once they arrived in England, Theodore and Adrian went about teaching the Gospel. Most of England was still pagan, and There was much work to be done, to build the Christian Church in England. Adrian's job consisted mainly of establishing monasteries and schools. Together, they successfully spread the Christian faith in England so that it soon became a Christian country.

Saint Adrian died in the year 710. Saint Adrian's feast day is on the 9th on January.

SAINTS JULIAN & BASILISSA

Martyrs

(Historical)

Saint Julian and Saint Basilissa, though married, lived by mutual consent in perpetual chastity. They sanctified themselves by the most perfect exercises of an ascetic life, and employed their revenues in relieving the poor and the sick. For this purpose they converted their house into a kind of hospital, in which they sheltered up to a thousand poor people. Basilissa attended those of her sex in separate lodgings, and Julian, who for his charity is known as the Hospitaler, cared for the men.

Egypt, where they lived, was in those days blessed with persons who, either in the cities or in the deserts, devoted themselves to the most perfect exercises of charity, penance, and mortification. Conversions were numerous, and persecutions by furious pagans followed as the numbers of Christians increased. Basilissa, after having survived seven of those, died in peace, foretelling to her husband that he would die a martyr. Julian lived afterwards for a number of years, but eventually received the crown of a glorious martyrdom in 313. His interrogation and his tortures were accompanied by astonishing prodigies and numerous conversions.

With him died thirty-one other persons, including a priest named Anthony, a new Christian named Anastasius, Celsus, the seven-year-old son of the judge who sentenced Julian, Marcianilla, the mother of Celsus, who when she came to visit her son was won over to the faith, and many other Christians. Spared by fire and wild beasts, Saint Julian finally was decapitated. His tomb became illustrious by many great miracles, including the cure of ten lepers on the same day.

Many churches and hospitals, in both the East and in the West, bear the name of one or another of these martyrs. Four churches at Rome and three in Paris are dedicated to Saint Julian.

Raising Children

2012-01-08T13:36:00.001-05:00

Feast of the Holy Family [Traditional Feast Day January 8th]
J.M.J.

THE REARING OF CHILDREN
by the Carmelites of the Holy Trinity in Washington

Image via Wikipedia

Taken from http://olrl.org/misc/rearing.shtml
More than a century ago, on April 9th, 1888, Therese Martin entered the Carmel of Lisieux where she was to die 9 years later in the odor
of sanctity. But we should make no mistake: St. Therese did not become a Saint in 9 years. The young girl of 15 who crossed the threshold of Carmel that day had already advanced quite far on the "straight way that leads to Heaven". Her parents were her first "Novice Masters" and their own holiness strongly influenced the future Saint. It is certainly worth noting that both Mr. and Mrs.
Martin are candidates for beatification. They have already passed the first step towards canonization by being declared Venerable. Many of the letters written by St. Therese's mother are still extant and,
besides giving us many details about the Martin family, they form almost a treatise on Catholic education.

Mrs. Martin understood very well that Catholic education means much more than morning and evening prayer, attendance at Mass and sending
the children to a good Catholic school. After bestowing natural life, parents must see to it that their children receive also supernatural life through Baptism. And then, they have to foster the development both of the body and of the soul. Mrs. Martin, as a truly Catholic mother, always gave priority to the soul. She considered her children
as a sacred trust received from God and never lost sight of this important truth: a child is not a plaything.

[

On October 19, 2008, World Mission Sunday, Louis Martin and Marie Zelie Guerin, the parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, were declared blessed in Lisieux, France, by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins]

If baptism removes original sin, it nevertheless leaves in the soul
the four wounds of malice, infirmity, ignorance and concupiscence.
Anyone who has been around little children knows that this is no mere
theory. Very soon little ones begin to manifest evil tendencies. Too
often, parents smile at these childish outbursts of anger, jealousy,
stubbornness, pride, etc... which they even consider "cute". No, a
child is NEVER CUTE when he is stubborn, proud, etc... Vices are like
weeds. If you uproot them as soon as they show up, you will pull the
whole thing out without difficulty. But, do not weed your garden for
a few weeks... and you will see the result! If children are corrected
from their early childhood, the whole task of education will be much
easier. Mrs. Martin never showed any weakness. She never allowed
stubbornness or childish whims. Writing to her brother about Pauline
(the future Mother Agnes of Jesus), she could say: "I have never
spoiled her, and LITTLE THOUGH SHE WAS, I never let anything pass
unchecked. Without making a martyr of her, I nevertheless made her
obey." Children can easily be "fussy" at table. St. Therese's parents
never gave way on this point. At table, children had to behave
themselves and no grumbles at dishes they did not like much were ever
tolerated. This may seem trivial matter, and how often parents take
the easy way out by just yielding to their children. No one will deny
that it is a trying task to train children to eat everything, but it
is of much greater importance than it may seem at first sight. In
fact, you do not only train your children's eating habits, you also
train their will, and they will need a strong will to remain Catholic
in our apostate world. In Lent, Mrs. Martin would subject the menu to
some restrictions and all the fasts of the Church were scrupulously
observed, which is an example all Catholic families should follow. It
proves to be a great means of promoting a true spirit of mortification
in the children.

You may raise the objection: "What a dull life for children!" Oh, no!
The Martin family was happy and cheerful and the five girls were very
lively. Mrs. Martin had a real gift for stimulating the generosity of
her children. She always used supernatural motives to persuade them to
fulfill their duties: a sinner to convert, to console Our Lord, etc...
In a letter, she reports that her eldest daughter, Marie, valiantly
faced the dentist -- remember, they did not put your mouth to sleep
in those days! -- to obtain graces for her grandfather who had died
recently. Marie was only 9 years old then, and she even felt sorry
when the dentist did not pull out her tooth. "It is a pity", she
exclaimed, "Grandpa would have left Purgatory!" Later on, when her
eldest daughters had reached their teens, Mrs. Martin knew how to let
them talk freely with her. She deemed it very important that her girls
could express their mind fully so that, with much tact and kindness,
she could rectify her daughters' judgment and teach them how to look
at everything from the standpoint of Faith. The best praise of her
"educational system" was given her by her own daughters at the
process of beatification of St. Therese: "We were not spoiled. Our
mother watched very carefully over her children's souls, and not the
smallest fault ever went unreproved. Her training was kind and

Image by marc dan via Flickr

loving, but attentive and thorough."

St. Therese of the Child Jesus is probably the only Saint about whose childhood we have so many details. In the first four and a half years of St. Therese's life, Mrs. Martin wrote over 120 letters, mainly to her brother and to her daughter Pauline. These letters are an invaluable source of information. They reveal to us the dawn of sanctity in a soul as well as the important part played by the parents in the formation of a Saint. In spite of all her good qualities, St. Therese was not born a Saint. Like the rest of us, she had been wounded by original sin and if her defects were small, they were nevertheless real. there is, for instance, the delightful incident of the two sugar rings, a treasure for a little girl. St. Therese, who had a heart of gold, resolved to give one of the rings to her sister Celine. Alas, on the way home she lost one of the precious rings. What was she to do? Should she give the only ring left to Celine or keep it for herself? The shrewd little girl soon found the solution to this dilemma and declared that, unfortunately,
it was Celine's ring that got lost! And the Saint comments: "See, how
from childhood we instinctively safeguard our own interests!" And who
will not see the "daughter of Eve" in the little Therese who thought
she would have looked much nicer with her arms bare when her mother
had her wear a pretty dress but with long sleeves?! St. Therese had
remarkable qualities too, especially her crystal-clear honesty. Mrs.
Martin could write, with some legitimate parental pride: "The little
one would not tell a lie for all the gold in the world." Little
Therese would always avow her baby faults to her parents without
seeking any excuse and would then ask for forgiveness and await her
punishment. There is something very charming in this innocent child
and it is best expressed in Mrs. Martin's own words, in a letter to
Pauline: "She (Therese) had broken a small vase, the size of my
thumb, which I had given to her that morning. As usual when she has
any accident, she came at once to show it to me. I showed some
displeasure. Her little heart swelled...A moment later, she ran to me
and said: 'Don't be sad, Mother, when I earn money, I promise you I
will buy you another.' As you see it will be a while before I get
it!"

St. Therese was an oversensitive little girl. Her eyes would easily
fill with tears. One day Celine accused her of "bringing up her dolls
badly and letting them have their way." That was enough to make
Therese cry. Yet she did not have a weak character, on the contrary
she had a very strong will and could even be stubborn. Referring to
her two main "weaknesses", i.e. her oversensitiveness and her strong
will, St. Therese wrote: "With such dispositions, I feel sure that,
had I been brought up by careless parents, I would have become very
wicked, and would maybe even have lost my soul." Such a statement
should arouse in parents a salutary fear and make them realize their
responsibility. Try to imagine what St. Therese would have become if
she had spent most of her time sprawled on the carpet watching TV or
listening to rock music, if she had been free to indulge all her
whims...A good form of examination for parents would be the answer to
the following question: "Would St. Therese have become a Saint if she
had been brought up the way I bring my children up?" If the answer is
"no", then think of the account Mrs. Martin would have had to render
to God if, through a careless upbringing, she had deprived God and
the world of St. Therese... We are sure you will then lose no time in
reforming your method of education, for the greater good of your soul
and of your children's souls.

Let us place ourselves at Mrs. Martin's school. The first thing to
bear in mind is that, by baptism, any child is God's child. Several
times a day, Mrs. Martin would put on her little girl's lips this
little prayer: "My God, I give You my heart; Take it, please, so that
no creature may possess it, but You alone, Jesus." St. Therese was
taught to do everything to please God, and for love of Jesus. One
day, Therese could not open the door of the room where Celine was
having her lessons. In her frustration, she lay down in front of the
door. Her mother told her that she should not behave like this. But
the next day, when she found herself before the closed door, she lay
down on the floor again. Her sister Mary told her: "Little Therese,
you hurt the little Jesus very much when you do this." Therese looked
up at her sister. She had understood and she never did it again. Her
mother initiated her from a very early age in the art of making
sacrifices and when St. Thérèse wrote that since the age of three she
had never refused anything to the Good God, it was a tribute not only
to her personal holiness but also to Mrs. Martin's method of
education.

There is no cry-room in France and St. Therese had to behave herself in church. She loved to go to Mass and at two and a half she would
cry if she could not go not only to Mass but also to Vespers. Even
though she was very intelligent, she nevertheless surprised her
parents when she declared one day: "The sermon was better than usual,

Image by marc dan via Flickr

but it was long all the same"!! Cry-rooms are not bad in themselves, but alas, too often parents use them as nurseries. It is certainly easier to let your little ones cry, play and eat in the cry-room than to discipline them and teach them how to behave in the House of God. But how many children are drastically retarded in their spiritual growth because up to the age of three, four, or five they have never
attended Mass outside of a cry-room, playing, eating, etc... Parents must apply to themselves the words of St. Paul (I Cor. 3:9). They are "God's helpers", and their children are "God's tillage, God's building". God found in Mrs. Martin a faithful collaborator. To be the mother of a Saint was her happiness on earth and it is her glory in Heaven. This happiness and this glory are meant to be yours too, if you cooperate with God in the work of the sanctification of your children.

--
Sincerely in Christ
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls"
http://olrl.org

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2012-01-08T00:05:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

First Sunday After The Epiphany
Within the Octave

THE HOLY FAMILY

GREATER DOUBLE/WHITE

From eternity, the Son of God had lived the family life of the Blessed Trinity. At Nazareth, as the Redeemer both of individuals and of families, He lived and made holy the home life that guards divine life in every baptized person.

Problems of family life center mainly in personalities. But social pressures and poverty also add disturbing tensions. Happily, God made marriage a sacrament, which is ministered by husband and wife to one another. Through the sacrament, they communicate to one another those special graces they need for living their enduring and sometimes difficult obligations.

God remains the third partner in every marriage, with His own inalienable rights. In the Holy Family, God Incarnate was the third member. In a Christian family, anywhere in the world, the father is the spiritual head who takes the place of Christ.

INTROIT (Prov. 23:24, 25)

The Father of the just one greatly rejoices. Let your father and your mother be joyful, and let her who bore you be glad.

Ps. 83:2, 3. How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and faints for the courts of the Lord.

V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O Lord Jesus Christ, You sanctified home life with untold virtues by being subject to Mary and Joseph. May they assist us to imitate the example of Your Holy Family, so that we may share with them their eternal happiness; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of the First Sunday After The Epiphany

O Lord, mercifully hear the plea of those who call upon You, that Your people may understand their duty and be strengthened to fulfill it. Through Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE (Col. 3:12-17)

Brethren: Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another. Even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly: in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

GRADUAL (Ps. 26:4; 83:5)

One thing I have asked of the Lord; this will I seek after: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. V.Happy they who dwell in Your house, O Lord! They shall praise You forever and ever.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. (Isa. 45:15)

Verily You are a hidden king, the God of Israel, the Savior.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL (Luke 2:42-52)

And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: "Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." And he said to them: "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business?"

And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace with God and men.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Luke 2:22)

The parents of Jesus took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.

SECRET

O Lord, we offer You this sacrifice in atonement for our sins. May the intercession of the Virgin Mother of God and blessed Joseph, ever bestow Your peace and grace upon our families. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration

May the sacrifice we offer You, O Lord, bring us new life and keep us safe. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Luke 2:51)

Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.

POSTCOMMUNION

We are refreshed by Your heavenly Sacrament, O Lord Jesus. Help us always to follow the example of Your Holy Family, that Your glorious Virgin Mother and blessed Joseph may meet us at the hour of our death, and find us worthy to enter with You into Your eternal home; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration

Almighty God, we humbly ask that those who are nourished with Your Sacrament may live a life of worthy service pleasing to You. Through Our Lord . . .