Posted on 08/30/2007 9:23:21 AM PDT by Salvation
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Thursday of the Twenty-first Week
in Ordinary Time
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Reading 1
1 Thes 3:7-13
We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters,
in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.
For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you,
for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?
Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person
and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith.
Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus
direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17
R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Gospel
Mt 24:42-59
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
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The Immaculate Heart [of Mary]
This devotion has received new emphasis in this century from the visions given to Lucy Dos Santos, oldest of the visionaries of Fatima, in her convent in Tuy, in Spain, in 1925 and 1926. In the visions Our Lady asked for the practice of the Five First Saturdays to help make amends for the offenses given to her heart by the blasphemies and ingratitude of men. The practice parallels the devotion of the Nine First Fridays in honor of the Sacred Heart.
On October 31, 1942, Pope Pius XII made a solemn Act of Consecration of the Church and the whole world to the Immaculate Heart. Let us remember this devotion year-round, but particularly through the month of August.
INVOCATIONS
O heart most pure of the Blessed Virgin Mary, obtain for me from Jesus a pure and humble heart.
Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.
ACT OF CONSECRATION
Queen of the most holy Rosary, help of Christians, refuge of the human race, victorious in all the battles of God, we prostrate ourselves in supplication before thy throne, in the sure hope of obtaining mercy and of receiving grace and timely aid in our present calamities, not through any merits of our own, on which we do not rely, but only through the immense goodness of thy mother's heart. In thee and in thy Immaculate Heart, at this grave hour of human history, do we put our trust; to thee we consecrate ourselves, not only with all of Holy Church, which is the mystical body of thy Son Jesus, and which is suffering in so many of her members, being subjected to manifold tribulations and persecutions, but also with the whole world, torn by discords, agitated with hatred, the victim of its own iniquities. Be thou moved by the sight of such material and moral degradation, such sorrows, such anguish, so many tormented souls in danger of eternal loss! Do thou, O Mother of mercy, obtain for us from God a Christ-like reconciliation of the nations, as well as those graces which can convert the souls of men in an instant, those graces which prepare the way and make certain the long desired coming of peace on earth. O Queen of peace, pray for us, and grant peace unto the world in the truth, the justice, and the charity of Christ.
Above all, give us peace in our hearts, so that the kingdom of God may spread its borders in the tranquillity of order. Accord thy protection to unbelievers and to all those who lie within the shadow of death; cause the Sun of Truth to rise upon them; may they be enabled to join with us in repeating before the Savior of the world: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."
Give peace to the nations that are separated from us by error or discord, and in a special manner to those peoples who profess a singular devotion toward thee; bring them back to Christ's one fold, under the one true Shepherd. Obtain full freedom for the holy Church of God; defend her from her enemies; check the ever-increasing torrent of immorality; arouse in the faithful a love of purity, a practical Christian life, and an apostolic zeal, so that the multitude of those who serve God may increase in merit and in number.
Finally, even as the Church and all mankind were once consecrated to the Heart of thy Son Jesus, because He was for all those who put their hope in Him an inexhaustible source of victory and salvation, so in like manner do we consecrate ourselves forever to thee also and to thy Immaculate Heart, O Mother of us and Queen of the world; may thy love and patronage hasten the day when the kingdom of God shall be victorious and all the nations, at peace with God .and with one another, shall call thee blessed and intone with thee, from the rising of the sun to its going down, the everlasting "Magnificat" of glory, of love, of gratitude to the Heart of Jesus, in which alone we can find truth, life, and peace. — Pope Pius XII
IN HONOR OF THE IMMACULATE HEART
O heart of Mary, mother of God, and our mother; heart most worthy of love, in which the adorable Trinity is ever well-pleased, worthy of the veneration and love of all the angels and of all men; heart most like to the Heart of Jesus, of which thou art the perfect image; heart, full of goodness, ever compassionate toward our miseries; deign to melt our icy hearts and grant that they may be wholly changed into the likeness of the Heart of Jesus, our divine Savior. Pour into them the love of thy virtues, enkindle in them that divine fire with which thou thyself dost ever burn. In thee let Holy Church find a safe shelter; protect her and be her dearest refuge, her tower of strength, impregnable against every assault of her enemies. Be thou the way which leads to Jesus, and the channel, through which we receive all the graces needful for our salvation. Be our refuge in time of trouble, our solace in the midst of trial, our strength against temptation, our haven in persecution, our present help in every danger, and especially) at the hour of death, when all hell shall let loose against u its legions to snatch away our souls, at that dread moment; that hour so full of fear, whereon our eternity depends. An,; then most tender virgin, make us to feel the sweetness of thy motherly heart, and the might of thine intercession with Jesus, and open to us a safe refuge in that very fountain of mercy, whence we may come to praise Him with thee in paradise, world without end. Amen.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
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Sacred Heart Of Jesus |
Immaculate Heart of Mary |
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Blessed be the Most Loving Heart and Sweet Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the most glorious Virgin Mary, His Mother, in eternity and forever. Amen. ....Only the Heart of Christ who knows the depths of his Father's love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy in so simple and beautiful a way ----From the Catechism. P:1439 From the depth of my nothingness, I prostrate myself before Thee, O Most Sacred, Divine and Adorable Heart of Jesus, to pay Thee all the homage of love, praise and adoration in my power. The prayer of the Church venerates and honors the Heart of Jesus just as it invokes his most holy name. It adores the incarnate Word and his Heart which, out of love for men, he allowed to be pierced by our sins. Christian prayer loves to follow the way of the cross in the Savior's steps.-- >From the Catechism. P: 2669 |
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The first is that we ought to love and honor whatever God loves and honors, and that by which He is loved and glorified. Now, after the adorable Heart of Jesus there has never been either in heaven or on earth, nor ever will be, a heart which has been so loved and honored by God, or which has given Him so much glory as that of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Never has there been, nor will there ever be a more exalted throne of divine love. In that Heart divine love possesses its fullest empire, for it ever reigns without hindrance or interruption, and with it reign likewise all the laws of God, all the Gospel maxims and every Christian virtue.
This incomparable Heart of the Mother of our Redeemer is a glorious heaven, a Paradise of delights for the Most Holy Trinity. According to St. Paul, the hearts of the faithful are the dwelling place of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself assures us that the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost take up Their abode in the hearts of those who love God. Who, therefore, can doubt that the Most Holy Trinity has always made His home and established the reign of His glory in an admirable and ineffable manner in the virginal Heart of her who is the Daughter of the Father, the Mother of the Son, the Spouse of the Holy Ghost, who herself loves God more than all other creatures together?
How much then are we not obliged to love this exalted and most lovable Heart?
— St. John Eudes
The History of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Catholic Caucus)
Homilies preached by Father Robert Altier on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Marian Associations Unite to Celebrate Immaculate Heart
Solemnity Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary
From: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13
Paul Rejoices over the Good Reports Brought by Timothy (Continuation)
He Prays for the Thessalonians
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Commentary:
6-8. St Paul discreetly allows the Thessalonians to see how zealous he
is for their souls: far from being indifferent to their state of spiritual health,
he sees it as a matter of life or death. Concern for the solid faith of those
entrusted to him is his very life. Timothy has reported that the Thessalonians
were “standing fast in the Lord” and that makes him very happy.
9. The fact that the Thessalonians are steadfast in the faith in spite
of persecution is not due only to their own merits; the credit must go
mainly to the grace of God; and so St Paul thanks the Lord for the help
he has given them.
“For all the joy we feel...before our God”: that is, in the presence of
God. Prayer provides the outlet the Christian needs for expressing his
feelings and desires; it is an intimate conversation with God which he
can have at any time: “While we carry out as perfectly as we can (with
all our mistakes and limitations) the tasks allotted to us by our
situation and duties, our soul longs to escape. It is drawn towards God
like iron drawn by a magnet. One begins to love Jesus, in a more
effective way, with the sweet and gentle surprise of his encounter”
([St] J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 296).
10. St Paul’s first stay in Thessalonica was a very short one, because
unrest caused by Jews forced him to leave in a hurry (cf. Acts
17:5-10). That meant that he was unable to give any advanced religious
instruction to the believers—which is why he wants to see them again.
He does not confine himself to wishing he could see them; he uses his
supernatural resources (including prayer) to obtain what he wants, for
prayer should precede and accompany preaching. Otherwise there is no
reason to expect apostolic work to bear fruit. Although faith is born
of preaching (cf. Rom 10:17), preaching alone cannot produce faith; St
Thomas teaches that it is necessary for grace to act on the heart of
the listener (cf. “Commentary on Rom”, 10, 2).
11. Earlier St Paul referred to the obstacles Satan put in the way of
his return to Thessalonica (cf. 2:18). That is why he now prays the
Lord to “direct his way”—prayer being the best resource he has.
“May our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct [singular
verb] our way”: it is interesting to note that the verb is singular
even though it has two subjects. It would be wrong to dismiss this as
insignificant, for it hints at the mystery of the three Persons in the
one God.
12-13. Love is a supernatural virtue which inclines us to love God (for
his own sake) above all things, and our neighbor as ourselves for the
love of God. Given that charity is a virtue which God infuses into the
soul, it is something we must not only practise but also ask God to
increase in us.
Supernatural love, or charity, embraces everyone without exception.
“Loving one person and showing indifference to others”, St John
Chrysostom observes, “is characteristic of purely human affection;
but St Paul is telling us that our love should not be restricted in any
way” (”Hom. on 1 Thess, ad loc.”). When a person practices this virtue
in an uninhibited way, his holiness gains in strength: he becomes
irreproachable “before our Lord and Father”; “in this does the true
merit of virtue really consist—and not in simply being blameless
before men [...]. Yes, I shall say it again: it is charity, it is love,
which makes us blameless” (”ibid.”).
“With all his saints”: referring to believers who died in the grace of
God.
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Matthew 24:42-51
Vigilance. The Faithful Servant
[45] “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his
household, to give them their food at the proper time? [46] Blessed is that servant
whom his master when he comes will find so doing. [47] Truly, I say to you, he
will set him over all his possessions. [48] But if that wicked servant says to him-
self, ‘My master is delayed,’ [49] and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats
and drinks with the drunken, [50] the master of that servant will come on a day
when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, [51] and will
punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash
their teeth.”
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Commentary:
42. Jesus himself draws from this revelation about the future the practical moral
that a Christian needs to be on the watch, living each day as if it were his last.
The important thing is not to be speculating about when these events will happen
and what form they will take, but to live in such a way that they find us in the state
of grace.
51. “And will punish him [or, cut him in pieces]”: this can be understood as a
metaphor for “will cast him away”. “Weeping and gnashing of teeth”: the pains
of hell.
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
| First reading | 1 Thessalonians 3:7 - 13 © |
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| Brothers, your faith has been a great comfort to us in the middle of our own troubles and sorrows; now we can breathe again, as you are still holding firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel before our God on your account? We are earnestly praying night and day to be able to see you face to face again and make up any shortcomings in your faith. May God our Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, make it easy for us to come to you. May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints. |
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| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 89 |
| Gospel | Matthew 24:42 - 51 © |
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| Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. What sort of servant, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their food at the proper time? ‘Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you solemnly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the dishonest servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time”, and sets about beating his fellow servants and eating and drinking with drunkards, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’ |
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O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 17 (18) |
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| Thanksgiving |
| The Lord’s ways are pure; the words of the Lord are refined in the furnace; the Lord protects all who hope in him. For what God is there, but our Lord? What help, but in the Lord our God? God, who has wrapped me in his strength and set me on the perfect path, who has made my feet like those of the deer, who has set me firm upon the heights, who trains my hands for battle, teaches my arms to bend a bow of bronze. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 17 (18) |
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| You have given me the shield of your salvation; your right hand holds me up; by answering me, you give me greatness. You have stretched out the length of my stride, my feet do not weaken. I pursue my enemies and surround them; I do not turn back until they are no more. I smash them to pieces, they cannot stand, they fall beneath my feet. You have wrapped me round with strength for war, and made my attackers fall under me. You turned my enemies’ backs on me, you destroyed those who hated me. They cried out, but there was no-one to save them; they cried to the Lord, but he did not hear. I have ground them up until they are dust in the wind, trodden them down like the mud of the street. You have delivered me from the murmurings of the people and placed me at the head of the nations. A people I do not even know serves me – at a mere rumour of my orders, they obey. The children of strangers beg for my favour; they hide away and tremble where they hide. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 17 (18) |
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| The Lord lives, my blessed Helper. Let the God of my salvation be exalted. God, you give me my revenge, you subject peoples to my rule, you free me from my enraged enemies. You raise me up from those who attack me, you snatch me from the grasp of the violent. And so I will proclaim you among the nations, Lord, and sing to your name. Time and again you save your king, you show your loving kindness to your anointed, to David and his descendants for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Reading | Jeremiah 3:1 - 4:4 © |
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| If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry someone else, may she still go back to him? Has not that piece of land been totally polluted? And you, who have prostituted yourself with so many lovers, you would come back to me? – it is the Lord who speaks. Lift your eyes to the bare heights and look! Is there a single place where you have not offered your body? You waited by the roadside for clients like an Arab in the desert. You have polluted the country with your prostitution and your vices: this is why the showers have been withheld, the late rains have not come. And you maintained a prostitute’s bold front, never thinking to blush. Even then did you not cry to me, “My father! You, the friend of my youth! Will he keep his resentment for ever, will he maintain his wrath to the end?” That was what you said, and still you went on sinning, you were so obstinate. And I was thinking: How I wanted to rank you with my sons, and give you a country of delights, the fairest heritage of all the nations! I had thought you would call me: My father, and would never cease to follow me. But like a woman betraying her lover, the House of Israel has betrayed me – it is the Lord who speaks. A noise is heard on the bare heights: the weeping and entreaty of the sons of Israel, because they have gone so wildly astray, and forgotten the Lord their God. ‘Come back, disloyal sons, I want to heal your disloyalty.’ ‘We are here, we are coming to you, for you are the Lord our God. The heights are a delusion after all, so is the tumult of the mountains. ‘The Lord our God is, after all, the saving of Israel. The Thing of Shame has devoured what our ancestors worked for since our youth (their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters). Let us lie down in our shame, let our dishonour be our covering, for we have sinned against the Lord our God (‘we and our ancestors since our youth until today; and we have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God).’ ‘If you wish to come back, Israel – it is the Lord who speaks – it is to me you must return. Do away with your abominations and you will have no need to avoid me. If you swear, “As the Lord lives!” truthfully, justly, honestly, the nations will bless themselves by you, and glory in you. For thus speaks the Lord to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Clean your ground thoroughly, sow nothing among thorns. Circumcise yourselves for the Lord; off with the foreskin of your hearts (men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem), lest my wrath should leap out like a fire, and burn with no one to quench it, in return for the wickedness of your deeds.’ |
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| Reading | From the Instructions of St Columbanus |
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| You, God, are everything to us | |
| My brethren, let us follow this call. We are called to the source and fountain of life, by the Life who is not just the fountain of living water but also the fountain of eternal life, the fountain of light, the fountain and source of glory. From this Life comes everything: wisdom, life, eternal light. The Creator of life is the fountain from which life springs; the Creator of light is the fountain of light. So let us leave this world of visible things. Let us leave this world of time and head for the heavens. Like fish seeking water, like wise and rational fish let us seek the fountain of light, the fountain of life, the fountain of living water. Let us swim in, let us drink from the water of the spring welling up into eternal life. Merciful God, righteous Lord, grant that I may reach that fountain. There let me join the others who thirst for you, drinking living water from the living stream that flows from the fountain of life. Overwhelmed by its sweetness let me cling close to it and say “How sweet is the spring of living water that never runs dry, the spring that wells up into eternal life!”. O Lord, you yourself are that spring, always and for ever to be desired, always and for ever to be drunk from. Christ our Lord, give us this water as the Samarian woman once asked you, so that in us also it can be a spring of living water welling up into eternal life. It is an enormous gift I am asking – everyone knows that – but you, King of glory, have given great gifts in the past and made great promises. Nothing, after all, is greater than you; and yet you have given yourself to us and given yourself for us. Therefore we beg you that we should come to full knowledge of the thing that we love; for we pray to be given nothing other than you yourself. You are everything to us, our light, our light, our health and strength, our food, our drink, our God. Jesus, our Jesus, I beg you to fill our hearts with the breath of your Spirit. Pierce our souls with the sword of your love so that each of us can say truthfully in his heart, “Show me the one with whom my soul is in love, for by love I am wounded”. Lord, let me bear such wounds in my soul. Blessed is the soul that is wounded by such love and, thus wounded, seeks the fountain and drinks, thirsts even while it drinks: it seeks by loving, and the very wound of love brings it healing. May Jesus Christ, our righteous God and Lord, our true and healing doctor, deign to wound our innermost hearts with that healing wound. With the Father and the Holy Spirit he is one, for ever and for ever. Amen. |
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| Concluding Prayer |
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| O God, through you your faithful are united and of one will. Grant to your people that they may love what you have taught and desire what you have promised: in this changeable world may our hearts be fixed on where true joy comes from. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 Feria |
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Collect: Father, help us to seek the values that will bring us lasting joy in this changing world. In our desire for what you promise make us one in mind and heart. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Thursday of the Twenty-First Week of Ordinary Time
Old Calendar: St. Rose of Lima, virgin; Saints Felix and Adauctus, martyrs; St. Fiacre
Sts. Felix and Adauctus were two Roman martyrs under the Diocletian persecution. They are buried in the cemetery of Commodilla at the gates of Rome on the Ostian Way. St. Fiacre, who is in the Roman Martyrology, is from the diocese of Meaux and is the patron saint of gardeners. According to the Tridentine Calendar today is the feast of St. Rose of Lima. The General Roman Calendar now celebrates her feast on August 23.
In the year 304 Felix was living piously and happily, doing the work of a Christian priest in Rome, when he was captured, along with many other Christians at the start of the persecutions under the Emperor Diocletian. First he was savagely tortured. Then he was sentenced to be beheaded, for no torture sufficed to make him give up his Christian beliefs. Felix was led to the place of execution. So noble and apparently unconcerned did he seem at the prospect of imminent death that one of the crowd who had so far kept secret his own Christianity, shouted out: 'I too follow and believe the same commandments that this man confesses. I too follow and believe in the same Jesus Christ. And I too will give away my life to further his cause.'
The Roman soldiers rushed to seize the man, and he too was beheaded alongside Saint Felix. Unfortunately no-one even gathered his name. He was therefore dubbed 'Adauctus', which simply means 'the additional one'.
Both martyrs were reverently buried in the cemetery of Commodilla on the Ostian Way. By the time the list of martyrs known as the Depositio Martyrum was compiled in the year 354, they were simply known as 'Felix and Adauctus'.
About thirty years later Pope Damasus ordered that their tomb be restored and he put an inscription over it.
Excerpted from A Calendar of Saints by James Bentley
St. Fiacre (also known as Fiachra; Fiachrach; Fiacrius; Fiaker and Fevre) was a hermit at Kilfiachra, Ireland. He left to go to France, and then lived as a solitary at Breuil, Brie, on land given him by St. Faro, bishop of Meaux. Fiacre built a hospice for travelers, attracted many disciples, was known for his charity and aid to the poor, and was consulted by many for his spiritual wisdom. His miracles of healing became legendary. He is the patron saint of gardeners and the cabdrivers of Paris, whose vehicles are called fiacres, since the first coach for hire in Paris was located near the Hotel Saint-Fiacre. He is mentioned in Roman Martyrology for this day. Excerpted from Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
Patron: Gardeners; herbalist; florists; potters; needlemakers; cab drivers; against hemorrhoids; against syphilis; barrenness; box makers; fistula; hosiers; pewterers; taxi drivers; sterility; tile makers; against venereal disease.
Symbols: Spade and open book; rosary; birds; spade.
Often Portrayed as: man carrying a spade and a basket of vegetables beside him surrounded by pilgrims and blessing the sick.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 56 (57) |
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| Morning prayer in time of affliction |
| Have mercy on me, God, have mercy. My soul flies to you for refuge. I will hide in the shelter of your wings until the time of ambush is past. I will cry to God the Most High, to the God who cares for me. He will send help from heaven to set me free. He will disgrace those who trample me underfoot. He will send forth his mercy and faithfulness. My soul lies among lion-cubs that would devour the children of men. Their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues are pointed swords. May you be exalted above the heavens, O God; let your glory cover the whole earth. They prepared a trap for my feet; my soul was bent double under its burden; they dug a pit in front of me – but they fell into it themselves. My heart is ready, God. My heart is ready. I will offer you music and song. Awake, my glory, awake, lyre and harp. I will awaken the dawn. I will proclaim you among the peoples, Lord, and make music for you among the nations, for your mercy reaches as high as the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. May you be exalted above the heavens, O God; let your glory cover the earth. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Jeremiah 31 |
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| The joy of those whom God sets free | |
| All you nations, listen to the word of the Lord, proclaim it in the farthest islands: “He who scattered his people Israel has brought them back together. He will care for them as a shepherd tends his flock”. For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and freed him from the hand of his conqueror. They will come and sing praises on Mount Sion, they will flood in to receive the good things of the Lord, grain, and wine, and oil, and the young of both herd and flock. Their spirit will be like a richly watered garden, and they will hunger no more. The young girl will dance for joy, young men and old men too. “I will turn their weeping into gladness”, says the Lord, “I will comfort them and give them joy after sorrow. I will overwhelm my priests with rich food, and my good things will fill my people to overflowing”. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Psalm 47 (48) |
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| Thanksgiving for the safety of the people |
| The Lord is great and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain is a beautiful sight, the joy of all the earth. Mount Sion is at its northernmost edge, the city of the great king. Here among its palaces, God has shown himself as its refuge. For the kings assembled, made alliance against it – but when they saw it, they were amazed. Panic took them and they scattered. Trembling took hold of them, pain like that of childbirth. With the east wind you will destroy the ships of Tarshish. What we had heard, we saw in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God has founded for ever. We ponder your mercy, O God, as we stand in your temple. Your name, O Lord, and your praise will reach to the ends of the earth. Your right hand delivers justice. Let Mount Sion be glad and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgements. Go round Sion, see it all, count every tower. Feel its strength, visit its palaces, so that you can tell the next generation – Here is God, our God, here he remains for ever; and for ever he will lead us and guide us. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Short reading | Isaiah 66:1 - 2 © |
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| Thus says the Lord: With heaven my throne and earth my footstool, what house could you build me, what place could you make for my rest? All of this was made by my hand and all of this is mine – it is the Lord who speaks. But my eyes are drawn to the man of humbled and contrite spirit, who trembles at my word. | |
| Canticle | Benedictus |
|---|---|
| The Messiah and his forerunner | |
| Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| Almighty and ever-living God, we pray to you in your majesty morning, noon and night: erase from our hearts the shadow of sin, and fill them with the true light, which is Christ. He lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
| Mt 24:42-51 | ||
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| # | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
| 42 | Watch ye therefore, because you know not what hour your Lord will come. | vigilate ergo quia nescitis qua hora Dominus vester venturus sit |
| 43 | But this know ye, that, if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open. | illud autem scitote quoniam si sciret pater familias qua hora fur venturus esset vigilaret utique et non sineret perfodiri domum suam |
| 44 | Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come. | ideoque et vos estote parati quia qua nescitis hora Filius hominis venturus est |
| 45 | Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath appointed over his family, to give them meat in season? | quis putas est fidelis servus et prudens quem constituit dominus suus supra familiam suam ut det illis cibum in tempore |
| 46 | Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come he shall find so doing. | beatus ille servus quem cum venerit dominus eius invenerit sic facientem |
| 47 | Amen I say to you: he shall place him over all his goods. | amen dico vobis quoniam super omnia bona sua constituet eum |
| 48 | But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord is long a coming: | si autem dixerit malus servus ille in corde suo moram facit dominus meus venire |
| 49 | And shall begin to strike his fellow servants and shall eat and drink with drunkards: | et coeperit percutere conservos suos manducet autem et bibat cum ebriis |
| 50 | The lord of that servant shall come in a day that he hopeth not and at an hour that he knoweth not: | veniet dominus servi illius in die qua non sperat et hora qua ignorat |
| 51 | And shall separate him and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | et dividet eum partemque eius ponet cum hypocritis illic erit fletus et stridor dentium |
Blessed Ildefonso Cardinal Schuster, Bishop, O.S.B.
I first came to know of Blessed Cardinal Schuster by reading his Liber sacramentorum, Historical and Liturgical Notes on the Roman Missal. It is hard to find now. I hope that, in the wake of Summorum Pontificum, it will be reprinted and, once again, become widely available.
Our Contemporary
The Benedictine calendar of the saints, like that of the Universal Church, grows as the Church makes her pilgrim way through history. In recent years a number of holy Benedictines have been glorified by the Church and Christ has been glorified through them.
I have the impression that as we all advance in age the saints are coming closer and closer to our own lifetimes. This is certainly the case of the Blessed Ildefonso Cardinal Schuster, the Benedictine monk and archbishop of Milan whom we remember today. He died on August 30th, 1954.
If you were to look at photos of Cardinal Schuster — and there are many of them — you would see the serene face of a gentle ascetic. In his eyes there is something that suggests that he saw the invisible; his gaze is that of a man whose life was profoundly interior.
Essentially Adorers
Ildefonso Schuster, the son of a Roman tailor, the Abbot of Saint Paul–Outside–the–Walls, and the Cardinal–Archbishop of Milan, was at the same time a scholar learned in the Church’s liturgy, in history, in art, in catechesis, spirituality, and archeology; he was a shepherd of souls, a diplomat, and a peace–maker. Beneath the scarlet robes of a Prince of the Church, he remained a monk, a child of Saint Benedict. Thus was he able to say:
Before all other things, and even above all things, O Venerable Brothers, we are essentially adorers. “This is how one should regard us, as ministers of Christ” (1 Cor 4:1). After that we must also be ministers of the people, the salt of the earth, and fishers of men, etc. but first, it is absolutely necessary that we be true servants of God: Ministers of Christ . . . appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God (Heb 5:1).
The Devil Is Afraid of Holiness
As Cardinal–Archbishop, Blessed Schuster never failed to direct the energies of his priests toward the One Thing Necessary. A few days before his death he withdrew to the seminary he had built and there he delivered a final message to his seminarians, warning them of the futility of an apostolate without personal holiness:
I have no memento to give you apart from an invitation to holiness. It would seem that people are no longer convinced by our preaching; but faced with holiness, they still believe, they still fall to their knees and pray. People seem to live ignorant of supernatural realities, indifferent to the problems of salvation. But when an authentic saint, living or dead passes by, all run to be there. . Do not forget that the devil is not afraid of our [parish] sports fields and of our movie halls: he is afraid, on the other hand, of our holiness.
At the Altar
When Blessed Schuster celebrated Holy Mass, his entire being was absorbed in the Divine Mysteries. There are many eyewitness accounts of the impact of his priestly devotion on the faithful. Archbishop Marini, the Papal Master of Ceremonies writes that, “the greatness of Schuster, more than in his writings, was in fact in his witness as a master of the prayer of the Church in his capacity to manifest through his body and to extend into daily life the spirit drawn from the celebration of the liturgy.” Cardinal Giacomo Biffi says: “The simple folk ran to contemplate this slight and frail man who, in his liturgical vestments, became a giant.” Seeing him at the altar people recognized a man in communication with the invisible power of God.
There is no doubt that, if Cardinal Schuster were alive today, he would greatly rejoice in the Holy Father’s Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. One of Cardinal Schuster’s great works is his three volume Liber Sacramentorum, Historical and Liturgical Notes on the Roman Missal. He loved the Church of Rome, loved the Church of Milan, and loved their ancient liturgies because in them he recognized the heartbeat of the Bride of Christ and the true sound of her voice.
The Blessed Virgin Mary
Integral to Cardinal Schuster’s holiness was his tender life–long devotion to the Mother of God. Always guided by Sacred Scripture, by the Fathers, and by the liturgy, he exalted the role of the Virgin Mary as Co-Redemptrix and as Mediatrix of all graces in his preaching and in his writings. He presented the Marian feast of September 15th as “feast of the triumph of the Blessed Mother who, at the foot of the Cross, precisely by means of her cruel martyrdom, redeemed the human race together with her Son, and merited the triumph of her exaltation above all the choirs of Angels and Saints.”
A Monk in the World
Although Blessed Ildefonso remained a monk through and through, the service of the Church plunged him into the midst of a very troubled world. Benito Mussolini, the founder of the Italian Fascist movement had already risen to power when Schuster was named to the See of Milan. Initially, Schuster, impressed by Mussolini’s role in the Lateran Pacts, attempted to work with him, but by 1938 the Cardinal was obliged to speak out against his policies. At the end of the war on April 25th, 1945, seeing in Mussolini a sinner in need of reconciliation, he sought him out in Northern Italy and urged him to make his peace with God and with man. Il Duce rejected the Cardinal’s pastoral overtures and, three days later, was assassinated by a band of Italian partisans.
The Primacy of Holiness
We have much to learn from Blessed Ildefonso Schuster. Like Saint Paul in today’s First Reading, Blessed Cardinal Schuster can say, “May the Lord multiply you, and make you abound in charity towards one another and towards all men” (1 Th 3:12). Not all of us can be scholars, historians, archaeologists, or diplomats, but all of us can be saints. The message of Blessed Cardinal Schuster is the absolute primacy of holiness within the confines of the cloister and outside it. Blessed Ildefonso Schuster pray for us that we, like you, may be essentially adorers, those “adorers in spirit and in truth whom the Father seeks” (Jn 4:23).
Posted by Father Mark on August 30, 2007 3:06 PM | Permalink
http://vultus.stblogs.org/2007/08/blessed_ildefonso_cardinal_sch.html
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No Sleeping on the Job
Matthew 24:42-51 Introductory Prayer: Lord God, open my mind to hear your word and receive it in my heart. Let it be for me the word that gives life and the sure guide for my steps this day and every day of my life. Let my contemplation of your word put me on the safe and sure path to eternal life with you. Petition: Lord, that I may understand the urgency of working diligently to do your will and accomplish the salvation of my soul. 1. Days and Hours. None of us knows how long we have to live, nor did Jesus reveal how long human history would continue before he came again for the Final Judgment. This should make us realize we need to be always ready to meet Our Lord, to have our actions true, and our conscience always clear. We need to be living as if each day were our last, as if our eternal happiness depended on the choices and actions of this very day. Every moment is precious and important in God’s eyes, and the one necessary thing is working to attain our salvation. This is more important than anything else we can accomplish in life. 2. True Prudence. The servant who is constant and steady, who does what he is supposed to do at each moment, is the truly prudent person. God wants us to be faithful and follow his will every single day. This is the path to holiness and union with God; there is no other way we can be close to God except by doing his will, out of love and gratitude. How do my actions today reflect loving obedience to God’s will? Am I putting God at the center of my life, or do I have him and his will relegated to the margins, only paying attention to what he wants of me from time to time? 3. A Long Delay. Often it can seem that God is distant and not involved in our lives. It can seem that he is not coming back anytime soon, and this can lead us to become distracted with many other things. Every day we need to renew our spirit of faith in God and in his constant presence, living each day to please him, no matter how long the delay seems to be. We need to live in his presence through faith in him and his revelation, which gives us direction on the way to walk through life and the decisions we need to make. We need to keep a lively, operative faith in God and in his presence every day. Conversation with Christ: Lord, teach me to pray with real faith in you and in your word which gives life. Help me believe in practice at every moment so that I can please you, do your will, and grow in holiness. Resolution: I will renew my faith each day, frequently making conscious and fervent acts of faith. |
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| Other Articles by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D. Printer Friendly Version |
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| Wake Up: Don't Waste Your Life | ||
1 Thes 3:7-13 / Mt 24:42-51
"He fell asleep at the wheel!" How often we've heard that said about people who lost contact with the realities of life or forgot how they needed to respond to them. It happens all the time, and it regularly damages or destroys businesses, political candidates, marriages, and just about anything else you can think of.
And it can happen to us. The routine business of life, making a living, raising a family, keeping an office running, can keep us so fully occupied that we lose sight of the bigger picture. We usually remember the daily "whats" of our lives, but we can easily forget the "whys," the reasons behind our big life choices. And when we forget those larger purposes, a time of wandering will surely follow. Life will pass us by and God's big dreams for us will not come true.
Jesus is sending us a wake-up call in today's gospel. The life and breath that God gives us so generously every day is a treasure that must not be frittered away. So, lest WE fall asleep at the wheel, we need to ask ourselves two key questions early and often.
First, what is God asking of me at THIS TIME in my life? How should I be SPENDING his gift? (The answer to this changes with the passage of time, so think twice before you give your answer.)
Second, how well am I doing at building my part of God's kingdom? Are my deeds measuring up to God's hopes for me?
Spend some quiet time with the Holy Spirit today; open your heart for some honest answers. And don't be afraid. The Spirit can build even on bad news.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 29 (30) |
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| Thanksgiving for rescue from death |
| Lord, I will give you all praise, for you have rescued me and not let my foes triumph over me. My Lord God, I cried to you and you healed me. Lord, you led my soul out from the underworld, gave me life so that I would not sink into the abyss. Sing to the Lord, his holy ones, and proclaim the truth of his holiness. His anger lasts a moment, but his favour for a lifetime. At night there are tears, but in the morning, joy. Once I was secure. I said, “I will never be shaken”. Lord, by your favour you had given me strength, set me high; but then you turned your face from me and I was shaken. I cried to you, Lord, and prayed to my God. “What use is my life, when I sink into decay? Will dust proclaim you, or make known your faithfulness?” The Lord heard and took pity on me. The Lord became my helper. You have turned my weeping into dancing, torn off my sackcloth and clothed me in joy, It is my glory to sing to you and never cease: Lord, my God, I will proclaim your goodness for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 31 (32) |
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| The joy of the forgiven |
| Blessed is he whose sins are forgiven, whose transgressions are hidden away. Happy the man to whom the Lord imputes no blame, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. While I kept silent, my bones grew old as I groaned all day long. While your hand lay heavy on me, by day and by night, my strength was dried up as if by summer heat. I made my sin known to you, and I did not hide my faults. I said “I will bear witness against myself before the Lord”, and you forgave the guilt of my sin. This is why every saint will pray to you in due time, and even in the great flood he will not be touched. You are my refuge, you will preserve me from trouble, you will surround me with cries of deliverance. I will give you understanding and teach you the path you are to follow; I will keep watch over you. Do not be like the horse and the mule, without understanding: if you approach them with bit or bridle, they will not come near. Many are the sufferings of the wicked, but the Lord’s mercy will protect those who trust in him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you just. Shout for joy, you upright of heart. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Apocalypse 11 |
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| The Judgement | |
| We thank you, Lord God Almighty, who are and who were, that you have taken up your great power and begun to reign. The nations were angered, but your anger came, the time for the dead to be judged, the time to reward the prophets and saints, your servants, and those who feared your name, both great and small. Now have come the salvation and might and kingdom of our God, and the power of his Anointed, for the accuser of our brethren has been brought down, who accused them day and night in the sight of God. But they vanquished him through the blood of the Lamb and through their own witness. They did not cling to life, even in the face of death. Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Short reading | 1 Peter 1:6 - 9 © |
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| This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls. | |
| Canticle | Magnificat |
|---|---|
| My soul rejoices in the Lord | |
| My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| O God, you send moon and stars to illuminate the night, and when night is over you send the dawn. Grant that we may pass through this night safely, unhindered by Satan, and that in the morning we may give you thanks in your presence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
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Thursday, August 30, 2007 Meditation 1 Thessalonians 3:7-15 Paul’s words to the Thessalonians here could appear to us as mere flattery. But that’s not what they are at all—he is reassured with them because earlier he had feared they had given into persecution and fallen away from their faith (1 Thessalonians 3:4-5). Now that Timothy has reported how they are standing firm in the Lord, Paul is delighted with the news, and he wants to encourage them to persevere. Even understanding that, we could still say, “Good for Paul. But what does this have to do with me?” Quite a lot, actually! Like the Thessalonians, we too have received the gift of faith. Through our baptism and confirmation, we have been given a treasure worthy of heaven, and it is up to us to persevere in the gospel we have heard. We have the same calling as the Thessalonians: to preserve this precious gift from the influences of world, our own fallen nature, and the devil. The best and surest way to keep our faith alive is to stay close to its source, the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s very simple, really. We can always approach him not just with reverence but also to talk to him as our friend, telling him about our cares and concerns. He loves it when we give him our burdens, not so that he can commiserate with us but so that he can refresh us (Matthew 11:30). And what can be more upbuilding than reading his word, which has the power to give us his healing, conviction, and comfort? But it’s not just for our own benefit that we need to stay rooted in Christ. As we grow stronger in the Lord, his light will increase in us, and we’ll become a source of encouragement to others, just as the Thessalonians were to Paul. We can’t take for granted how much our faith means to those close to us. Our kind words and loving example may be exactly what they need to see them through a trial or to give them a new perspective on life. And for those who don’t know the Lord, we may well be the only Bible they will read today! “Thank you, Lord, for the gift of faith. May I treasure it always, but never keep it on the shelf! Keep filling me, teaching me, and molding me, so that I can be an inspiration to my brothers and sisters in Christ!” Psalm 90:3-5,12-14,17; Matthew 24:42-51 |
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Do you ever look at the massive culture of death and feel that your prayers don't have much of an impact? Do you ever feel that your parish or diocese wouldn't miss you if you weren't there? St. Paul would argue that your faithfulness has a tremendous impact on the Church. He told the newly converted Thessalonian Christians that his missionary team could only keep flourishing if they stayed firm in the faith! (1 Thes 3:8) Elsewhere Paul said: "Who is weak that I am not affected by it?" (2 Cor 11:29) Once Paul had an open door to preach the gospel in Troas (2 Cor 2:12), but was in such a state of anxiety about whether or not the Christians in Corinth would stay firm in their faith that he was unable to minister there (2 Cor 2:13). When Paul learned from Titus that the Corinthians had indeed stayed firm in the faith, he was consoled and resumed his mission (2 Cor 7:6ff). We are intimately interconnected in the body of Christ. We are "living stones" (1 Pt 2:5) built into the Church. When we don't "stand firm" (1 Thes 3:8), others in the Church are impacted. We may be a stone that no one notices, but if we aren't firm, we weaken other living stones. When we stand firm, we strengthen other Christians. This is why St. Therese of Lisieux is a patroness of missions even though she never left her convent. Therefore, "put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm" (Eph 6:11).One Bread, One Body
<< Thursday, August 30, 2007 >>
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13
Psalm 90
Matthew 24:42-51
View Readings
MISSIONS AND YOU
"We shall continue to flourish only if you stand firm in the Lord." —1 Thessalonians 3:8
Prayer: Father, may I never give in to discouragement (2 Cor 4:1).
Promise: "Happy that servant whom his Master discovers at work on His return!" —Mt 24:46
Praise: Being in community has helped Roberta be a better Christian and also has helped her fellow Christians.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
| This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited. |
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 15 (16) |
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| The Lord, my inheritance |
| My body will rest in calm and hope. |
| Preserve me, Lord, I put my hope in you. I have said to the Lord “You are my Lord, in you alone is all my good”. As for the holy and noble men of the land, in them is all my delight. But for those who run to alien gods, their sorrows are many. I will not share in their libations of blood. I will not speak their names. You, Lord, are my inheritance and my cup. You control my destiny, the lot marked out for me is of the best, my inheritance is all I could ask for. I will bless the Lord who gave me understanding; even in the night my heart will teach me wisdom. I will hold the Lord for ever in my sight: with him at my side I can never be shaken. Thus it is that my heart rejoices, heart and soul together; while my body rests in calm hope. You will not leave my soul in the underworld. You will not let your chosen one see decay. You will show me the paths of life, the fullness of joy before your face, and delights at your right hand until the end of time. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| My body will rest in calm and hope. |
| Reading | 1 Thessalonians 5:23 |
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| May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you in every way and preserve your life and your soul and your body without blemish, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. | |
| Short Responsory | ? |
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| Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. |
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| Canticle | Nunc Dimittis |
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| Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. | |
| Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. | |
| Prayer | |
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| Let us pray. Lord our God, we are tired by the work of the day. Refresh us with peaceful sleep and, forever renewed by the help you give, let us always be dedicated to you in body and mind. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. |
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| May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. |
| A M E N |
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