Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul - Mass during the Day (Cycle C, Year I)

SOLEMNITY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL - Mass During the Day (RED)

First Reading (Acts 12:1-11)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
“Get up quickly.”
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.”
He did so.
Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him. 
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
“Now I know for certain 
that the Lord sent his angel 
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”

The Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9)

R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

V. I will bless the LORD at all times;

     his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
     Let my soul glory in the LORD;
     the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R)

V. Glorify the LORD with me,
     let us together extol his name.
     I sought the LORD, and he answered me
     and delivered me from all my fears. (R)

V. Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
     and your faces may not blush with shame.
     When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
     and from all his distress he saved him. (R)

V. The angel of the LORD encamps
     around those who fear him, and delivers them.
     Taste and see how good the LORD is;
     blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R)

Second Reading (2 Tm. 4: 6-8, 17-18)

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to Timothy

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord

Gospel (Mt. 16:13-19)

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Matthew

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. 
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The Word of the Lord

Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul - Vigil Mass (Cycle C, Year I)

SOLEMNITY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL - Vigil Mass (RED)

First Reading (Acts 3:1-10)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Peter and John were going up to the temple area
for the three o’clock hour of prayer. 
And a man crippled from birth was carried
and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate”
every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple,
he asked for alms.
But Peter looked intently at him, as did John,
and said, “Look at us.”
He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.
Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold,
but what I do have I give you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”
Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up,
and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.
He leaped up, stood, and walked around,
and went into the temple with them,
walking and jumping and praising God.
When all the people saw the man walking and praising God,
they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging
at the Beautiful Gate of the temple,
and they were filled with amazement and astonishment
at what had happened to him.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 19: 2-3, 4-5)

R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

V. The heavens declare the glory of God;
     and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
     Day pours out the word to day;
     and night to night imparts knowledge. (R)
 
V. Not a word nor a discourse
     whose voice is not heard;
     through all the earth their voice resounds,
     and to the ends of the world, their message. (R)

Second Reading (Gal. 1:11-20)

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

I want you to know, brothers and sisters,
that the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin.
For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it,
but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism,
how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure
and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism
beyond many of my contemporaries among my race,
since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions.
But when God, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart
and called me through his grace,
was pleased to reveal his Son to me,
so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles,
I did not immediately consult flesh and blood,
nor did I go up to Jerusalem
to those who were Apostles before me;
rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem
to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days.
But I did not see any other of the Apostles,
only James the brother of the Lord.
--As to what I am writing to you, behold,
before God, I am not lying.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Jn. 21:15-19)

The Gospel of the Lord According to St. John

Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples 
and, when they had finished breakfast, said to Simon Peter, 
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

The Word of the Lord

Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist - Mass during the Day (Cycle C, Year I)

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist - Mass during the Day

First Reading (Is. 49: 1-6)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Hear me, O coastlands,
listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.
You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.

Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God.
For now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 139:1B-3, 13-14AB, 14C-15)

R. (14) I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

V. O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:     you know when I sit and when I stand;     you understand my thoughts from afar.     My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,     with all my ways you are familiar. (R)
V. Truly you have formed my inmost being;     you knit me in my mother’s womb.     I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;     wonderful are your works. (R)
V. My soul also you knew full well;     nor was my frame unknown to you     When I was made in secret,     when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.

Second Reading (Acts 13:22-26)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostle

In those days, Paul said:
“God raised up David as king; 
of him God testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’

“My brothers, sons of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent.”

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Lk. 1: 57-66, 80)

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?”
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, 
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist-Vigil Mass (Cycle C, Year I)

SOLEMNITY of the NATIVITY of St. John the Baptist (Vigil Mass) - White

First Reading (Jer. 1:4-10)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.

In the days of King Josiah, the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

“Ah, Lord GOD!” I said,
“I know not how to speak; I am too young.”
But the LORD answered me,
Say not, “I am too young.”
To whomever I send you, you shall go;
whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Have no fear before them,
because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying,

See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you
over nations and over kingdoms,
to root up and to tear down,
to destroy and to demolish,
to build and to plant.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 71:1-2, 3-4A, 5-6AB, 15AB and 17)

R. (6) Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.

Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.

For you are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.

My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.

Second Reading (1Pt. 1:8-12)

A reading from the First Letter of St. Peter.

Beloved:
Although you have not seen Jesus Christ you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation,
prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours
searched and investigated it,
investigating the time and circumstances
that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated
when he testified in advance
to the sufferings destined for Christ
and the glories to follow them.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you
with regard to the things that have now been announced to you
by those who preached the Good News to you
through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
things into which angels longed to look.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Lk. 1:5 - 17)

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,
there was a priest named Zechariah
of the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth.
Both were righteous in the eyes of God,
observing all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren
and both were advanced in years.
Once when he was serving
as priest in his division’s turn before God,
according to the practice of the priestly service,
he was chosen by lot
to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside
at the hour of the incense offering,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
John will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn their hearts toward their children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Sacred Heart of Jesus (Cycle C, Year I)

June 7, 2013

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS - WHITE

First Reading: Ez. 34: 11-16

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel

For thus says the Lord God:

"Behold, I myself will seek my sheep, and I myself will visit them. Just as a shepherd visits his flock, in the day when he will be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my sheep. And I will deliver them from all the places to which they had been scattered in the day of gloom and darkness. And I will lead them away from the peoples, and I will gather them from the lands, and I will bring them into their own land. And I will pasture them into their own land. And I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the settlements of the land. I will feed them in very fertile pastures, and their pastures will be on the lofty mountains of Israel. I will feed my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down," says the Lord God.

"I will  seek what had been lost. And I will lead back again what had been cast aside. And I will bind up what had been broken. And I will strengthen what had been infirm. And I will preserve what was fat and strong. And I will feed them on judgment."

The Word of the Lord.

Psalm Response: Ps. 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6

 R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

V. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
     In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
     beside restful waters he leads me;
     he refreshes my soul. (R)

V. He guides me in right paths
     for his name's sake.
     Even though I walk in the dark valley
     I fear no evil; for you are at my side
     with your rod and your staff
     that give me courage. (R)

V. You spread the table before me
     in the sight of my foes;
     you anoint my head with oil;
     my cup overflows. (R)

V. Only goodness and kindness follow me
     all the days of my life;
     and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
     for years to come. (R)

Second Reading: Rom. 5:5B-11

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

Brothers and sisters:

The love of God is poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Yet why did Christ, while we were still infirm, at the proper time, suffer death for the impious? Now someone might barely be willing to die for the sake of justice, for example, perhaps someone might dare to die for the sake of a good man. but God demonstrates his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, at the proper time, Christ died for us. Therefore, having been justified now by his blood, all the more so shall we be saved from wrath through him. For if we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, while we were still enemies, all the more so, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. And not only that, but we also glory in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Lk. 15:3-7

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke.

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and the Scribes:

"What man among you, who has one-hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: 'Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been lost.' I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent."

The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

 Divine Jesus, you have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it will be opened unto you," behold be kneeling at your feet, filled with a lively faith and confidence in the promises dictated by your Sacred Heart and pronounced by your adorable lips. I come to ask this favor: (Here silently mention your petitions.)

To whom can I turn if not to you whose Heart is the source of all graces and merits? Where should I seek if not in the treasure which contains all the riches of your kindness and mercy? Where should I knock if not at the door through which God gives himself to us and through which we go to God? I have recourse to you, Heart of Jesus. In you I find consolation when afflicted, protection when persecuted, strength when burdened with trials, and light in doubt and darkness.

Dear Jesus, I firmly believe that you can grant me the grace I  implore, even though it should require a miracle. You have only to will it, and my prayer will be granted. I admit that I am most unworthy of your favors, but this is not a reason for me to be discouraged. You are the god of mercy and you will not refuse contrite heart. Cast upon me a look of mercy, I beg of you, and your kind Heart will find in my miseries and weaknesses a reason for granting my prayers.

O Sacred Heart, whatever may be your decision with regard to my request, I will never stop adoring, loving, praising, and serving you. My Jesus, be pleased to accept this my act of perfect resignation to the decrees of your adorable Heart which I sincerely desire may be fulfilled by me and by all your creatures forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I know that there is but one thing impossible to you: to be without pity for those who are suffering or in distress. Look upon me, I beg of you, dear Jesus, and grant me the grace for which I humbly implore you through the Immaculate Heart of your most sorrowful Mother. You have entrusted me to her as her child, and her prayers are all-powerful with you. AMEN.

FEATURED SONG OF THE DAY:

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Corpus Christi (Cycle C, Year I)

June 2, 2013

SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST - WHITE

First Reading: (Gen. 14:18-20)

A reading from the Book of Genesis

Then in truth, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, for he was a priest of the Most high God; he blessed him, and he said: "Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, who created heaven and earth. And blessed be the Most high God, through whose protection the enemies are in your hands. And he gave him tithes from everything."

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 110:1, 2, 3, 4

R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

V. The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool." (R)

V. The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
"Rule in the midst of your enemies." (R)

V. "Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you." (R)

V. The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." (R)

Second Reading: 1Cor. 11:23-26

A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

Brothers and sisters:

I receive from the Lord what I have also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the same night that he was handed over, took bread, and giving thanks, he broke it, and said: Take and eat. This is my body, which shall be given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Similarly also, the cup, after he had eaten supper, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink in it, in remembrance of me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he returns.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Lk. 9:11B-17

The Gospel of the Lord according to Luke.

Jesus spoke to the crowds about the Kingdom of God, and those who were in need of cures, he healed. Then the day began to decline. And drawing near, the twelve said to him: "Dismiss the crowds, so that, by going into the surrounding towns and villages, they may separate and find food. For we are here in a deserted place." But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said, "There is with us no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we are to go and buy food for this entire multitude." 

Now there were about five thousand men. So he said to his disciples, "Have them recline to eat in groups of fifty." And they did so. And they caused them all recline to eat. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish, he gazed up to heaven, and he blessed and broke and distributed them to his disciples, in order to set them before the crowd. And they all ate  and were satisfied. And twelve baskets of fragments were taken up, which were left over from them.

The Gospel of the Lord.

FEATURED SONG FOR THE DAY: