Feast of Visitation (Cycle C, Year I)

May 31, 2013

FEAST OF THE VISITATION - WHITE

First Reading: Zep. 3:14-18A

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah.

Give praise, daughter of Zion. Shout joyfully Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD has taken away your judgment; he has turned aside your foes. The king of Israel, the LORD is in your midst; you shall no longer fear evil. In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, "Do not be afraid," and to Zion, "Do not let your hands be weakened." The LORD your God is the strength in your midst; he will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. In love, he will be silent. He will exult over you with praise. The triflers who withdrew from the law, I will gather together, because they were from you, so that you may no longer suffer disgrace over them.

The Word of the Lord.

or: Rom. 12:9-16

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans.

Brothers and sisters:

Let love be without falseness: hating evil, clinging to what is good, loving one another with fraternal charity, surpassing one another in honor: in solicitude, not lazy; in spirit, fervent; serving the LORD; in hope, rejoicing; in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, ever-willing; in the difficulties of the saints, sharing; in hospitality, attentive. Bless those who are persecuting you: bless, and do not curse. Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Weep with those who are weeping. Be of the same mind toward one another: not savoring what is exalted, but consenting in humility. Do not choose to seem wise to yourself.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Is. 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6

R. (6) Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

V. God indeed is my savior;
     I am confident and unafraid.
     My strength and my courage is the LORD,
     and he has been my savior.
     With joy you will draw water
     at the fountain of salvation. (R)

V. Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
     among the nations make known his deeds,
     proclaim how exalted is his name. (R)

V. Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
     let this be known throughout all the earth.
     Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
     for great in your midst
      is the Holy One of Israel! (R)

Gospel: Lk. 1:39-56

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke

In those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah. And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth. And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she cried out with a loud voice and said: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my LORD would come to me? For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the LORD shall be accomplished."

And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the LORD. And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour. For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed. For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

"And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him. He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart. He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy, just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and his offspring forever." Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house.

The Gospel of the Lord.

FEATURED SONG FOR THE DAY:

Trinity Sunday (Cycle C, Year I)

May 26, 2013

TRINITY SUNDAY (Solemnity) - WHITE

Today is the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  This is also called the First Sunday After Pentecost.

First Reading: Prv. 8:22-31

A reading from the Book of Proverbs

Thus says the wisdom of God:

The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made anything, from the beginning. I was ordained from eternity, and out of antiquity, before the earth was formed. The abyss did not yet exist  and I was already conceived; neither has the fountains of waters yet erupted. The mountains, with their great mass, had not yet been established. Before the hills, I was brought forth. Still he had not made the earth, and the rivers, and the poles of the globe of the earth.

I was already present: when he prepared the heavens; when, with a certain law and a circuit, he fortified the abyss; when he made firm the sky above, and set free the mountains of waters, lest they transgress their limits; when he weighed the foundations of the earth. I was with him in composing all things. And I was delighted, throughout every day, by playing in his sight at all times, playing in globe of the earth. And my delight was to be with the sons of men.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 8: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

V: When I behold the heavens, the work of your fingers,

      the moon and the stars which you set in place - 

      What is man that you should be mindful of him,

      or the son of man that you should care for him? (R)

V: You have made him little less than the angels,

      and crowned him with glory and honor.
      You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
      putting all things under his feet: (R)

V: All sheep and oxen,

      yes, and the beasts of the field,
      The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
      and whatever swims the paths of the seas. (R)

Second Reading: Rom. 5:1-5

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters:

Therefore, having been justified in faith, let us be at peace with God, through our LORD Jesus Christ. For through him we also have access by faith to this grace, in which we stand firm, and to glory, in the hope of the glory of the sons of God. And not only that, but we also find glory in tribulation exercises patience, and patience leads to proving, yet truly proving leads to hope, but hope is not unfounded, because the love of God is poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

The word of the Lord.

Gospel: Jn. 16:12-15

The Gospel of the  Lord according to John.

Jesus said to his disciples:

"I still have many things to say to you but you are not able to bear them now. But when the Spirit of truth has arrived, he will teach the whole truth to you. For he will not be speaking from himself. Instead, whatever he will hear, he will speak. And he will announce to you all the things that are to come. He shall glorify me. For he will receive from what is mine, and he will announce it to you. All things whatsoever that the father has are mine. For this reason, I  said that he will receive from what is mine and that he will announce it to you."

The Gospel of the Lord.

FEATURED SONG FOR THE DAY