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.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time - GREEN

First Reading (Zec. 12:10-11; 13:1)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah

Thus says the LORD:
I will pour out on the house of David
and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem
a spirit of grace and petition;
and they shall look on him whom they have pierced, 
and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son,
and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn.

On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great
as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

On that day there shall be open to the house of David
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9)

R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

V. O God, you are my God whom I seek;
     for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
     like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R)

V. Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
     to see your power and your glory,
     For your kindness is a greater good than life;
     my lips shall glorify you. (R)

V. Thus will I bless you while I live;
     lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
     As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
     and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R)
 
V. You are my help,
     and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
     My soul clings fast to you;
     your right hand upholds me. (R)

Second Reading (Gal. 3:26-29)

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

Brothers and sisters:
Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free person,
there is not male and female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ,
then you are Abraham’s descendant,
heirs according to the promise.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel (Lk. 9:18-24)

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist;
others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them
and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

June 9, 2013

TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - GREEN

First Reading: 1Kgs. 17:17-24

A reading from the Book of Kings

Now it happened that, after these things, the son of the woman who was the mother of the family became ill. And the sickness was very powerful, so that no breath remained in him. Therefore, she said to Elijah: "What is there between you and me, O man of God? Have you entered to me, so that my iniquities would be remembered, and so that you would put death to my son?" And Elijah said to her, "Give your son to me." And he took him from her bosom, and he carried him to an upper room where he himself was staying. And he placed him on his own bed. And he cried out to the Lord and he said, "O Lord, my God, have you even afflicted the widow by whom I am, in a sense, sustained, so that you would put to death her son?" and he stretched himself out beside the boy three times. And he cried out to the Lord and said, "O  Lord, my God, let the soul of this boy, I beg you, return to his body." And the Lord heeded the voice of Elijah. And the soul of the boy returned to him, and he revived. And Elijah took the boy, and he brought him down from the upper room to the lower part of the house. And he gave him to his mother. And he said to her, "See, you son lives." And the woman said to Elijah, "By this, I now realize that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is true."

The Word of the Lord.

Psalm Response: Ps. 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13

R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

V. I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
     and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
     O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
     you preserved me from among those going down into the pit. (R)

V. Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
     and give thanks to his holy name.
     For his anger lasts but a moment;
     a lifetime, his good will.
     At nightfall, weeping enters in,
     but with the dawn, rejoicing. (R)

V. Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
     O LORD, be my helper.
     You changed my mourning into dancing;
     O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks. (R)

Second Reading: Gal. 1:11-19 

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

For I would have you understand, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel which has been preached by me is not according to man. And I did not receive it from man, nor did I learn it, except through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former behavior within Judaism: that, beyond measure, I persecuted the Church of God and fought against Her. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my equals among my own kind, having proven to be more abundant in zeal toward the tradition of my fathers. But, when it pleased him who, from my mothers womb, had set me apart, and who has called me by his grace, to reveal his Son within me, so that I might evangelize him among the Gentiles, I did not seek the consent of flesh and blood. Neither did I go to Jerusalem, to those who were Apostles before me. Instead, I went into Arabia, and next I returned to Damascus. And then, after three years, I went to Jerusalem to see Peter; and I stayed with him for fifteen days. But I saw none of the other Apostles, except James, the brother of the Lord.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Lk. 7:11-17

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke.

Jesus went to a city called Nain and his disciples, and an abundant crowd, went with him. Then, when he had drawn near to the gate of the city, behold, a deceased person was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord had seen her, being moved by mercy over her, he said to her, "Do not weep." And he drew near the coffin and touched the coffin. Then those who carried it stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead youth sat up and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Then fear fell over all of them. And they magnified God, saying: "For a great prophet has risen up among us, and, For God has visited his people." And this word about him went out to all of Judea and to the entire surrounding region.

The Gospel of the Lord


FEATURED SONG FOR  THE DAY

Immaculate Heart of Mary (Cycle C, Year I)

June 8, 2013

MEMORIAL OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

First Reading: Tb 12:1, 5-15, 20

A Reading from the Book of Tobit.

Tobit called his son Tobiah and said to him,

“Son, see to it that you give what is due to the man who made the journey with you; give him a bonus too.” So he called Raphael and said, “Take as your wages half of all that you have brought back, and go in peace.”

Raphael called the two men aside privately and said to them:

“Thank God! Give him the praise and the glory. 

Before all the living, acknowledge the many good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name in song. Honor and proclaim God’s deeds, and do not be slack in praising him. A king’s secret it is prudent to keep, but the works of God are to be declared and made known. Praise them with due honor. Do good, and evil will not find its way to you. Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life; but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies.

“I will now tell you the whole truth; I will conceal nothing at all from you. I have already said to you, ‘A king’s secret it is prudent to keep, but the works of God are to be made known with due honor.’ I can now tell you that when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed,  it was I who presented and read the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord; and I did the same thing when you used to bury the dead. When you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner in order to go and bury the dead, I was sent to put you to the test. At the same time, however, God commissioned me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord.”

“So now get up from the ground and praise God. Behold, I am about to ascend to him who sent me; write down all these things that have happened to you.”

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Tb. 13:2, 6EFGH, 7, 8

R. (1b) Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

V. He scourges and then has mercy;

     he casts down to the depths of the nether world,

     and he brings up from the great abyss.

     No one can escape his hand. (R)

V. So now consider what he has done for you,

     and praise him with full voice.

     Bless the Lord of righteousness,

     and exalt the King of ages. (R)

V. In the land of my exile I praise him

     and show his power and majesty to a sinful nation. (R)

V. Bless the Lord, all you his chosen ones,

     and may all of you praise his majesty.

     Celebrate days of gladness, and give him praise.

Gospel: Lk. 2:41-51

The Gospel of the Lord according to St. Luke

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

The Gospel of the Lord.

FEATURED SONG FOR THE DAY:

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:

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: