Holy Mary, Disciple of the Lord
Sancta Maria, discipula Domini
Lent is a "journey" for the faithful, during which they "more diligently listen to the word of God and devote themselves to prayer with greater earnestness" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, art. 109), and during which they are ready to bear the Cross with greater zeal, so that with minds and hearts renewed they may reach a more worthy celebration of the Easter festival. In this way they show themselves true disciples of Christ, hearing his words and seeking to make them their own (cf. Luke 8, 15), following in his footsteps in self-denial (cf. Matthew 16, 24), and striving to stand by his Cross in faithful witness (cf. John 19, 26).
Hence, if during Lent for a reasonable cause Mass is celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the present formulary is suitable. In it the Mother of the Lord is presented as one who shows us "the example of a disciple, who is faithful to the words of life" (Collect). Our Lady is the one who by a unique gift of God was the Mother of Christ, and above all was his "first and most perfect . . . disciple" (Marialis Cultus, no. 35).
This Mass underlines the importance of "the word of God" or "the word of salvation" in the life of Christ's disciples (cf. Collect, Prayer after Communion). It begs divine wisdom for them (cf. Prayer over the Offerings), extols the most holy Law of the Lord and the just judgements of the Lord (Responsorial Psalm, cf. Psalm 19, 8-11), and sets before the eyes of the faithful our Lady keeping the words of the Lord in her heart (cf. Entrance Antiphon, Gospel, Luke 2, 41-52), so that they may imitate her example (cf. Prayer after Communion).
Among the texts of the Mass pride of place must go to the Preface ("His Mother, the Virgin Mary in her glory, is rightly called blessed . . ."), for in it we hear the voice of Christ echoing the praise of the woman in the crowd ("Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed!") in his reply: "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it!" (Luke 11, 27-28). It recalls the explanation by St. Augustine of the Gospel passage "Who is my mother?" (Mark 3, 33): "Holy Mary clearly carried out the will of the Father, and therefore it is a greater thing for her to be a disciple of Christ than to be his mother. she is more blessed in being a disciple of Christ than in being the Mother of Christ" (Sermo 25, 7: Patrologiae cursus completus: Series latina 38, 937).
Entrance Antiphon
How favored are you, Mary!
You received the angel's message
and became the Mother of God's Word.
How favored are you, for you kept in your heart
those words from heaven and became the disciple of God's Word.
Beata es, Maria, quæ nuntium Angeli suscipiens,
facta es mater divini Verbi;
beata tu, quæ cælestia verba tacita conferens,
facta es divini Verbi discipula.
COLLECT
Lord our God, through the Blessed Virgin Mary
you have shown us the example of a disciple,
who is faithful to the words of life;
open our hearts to receive your saving word,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
it may speak to us in our daily lives
and bring forth a rich harvest of holiness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Domine Deus noster,
qui in beata Virgine Maria exemplar nobis dedisti
discipuli verba vitæ fideliter custodientis,
aperi, quresumus, corda nostra
ad suscipiendum verbum salutis,
quod, Spiritus Sancti virtute,
in nobis cotidie resonet et uberrimos germinet fructus.
Per Dominum.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading
My heart delighted in wisdom
A reading from the book of Sirach
When I was young and innocent,
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer
I prayed for her before the temple,
and I will seek her until the end,
and she flourished as a grape soon ripe.
My heart delighted in her,
My feet kept to the level path
because from earliest youth I was familiar with her.
In the short time I paid heed,
I met with great instruction.
Since in this way I have profited,
I will give my teacher grateful praise.
I became resolutely devoted to her—
the good I persistently strove for.
At first acquaintance with her, I gained understanding
such that I will never forsake her.
My whole being was stirred to seek her;
therefore I have made her my prize possession.
The LORD has rewarded me with lips,
with a tongue for praising him.
The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 19, 8-9. 10-11, 15
R. (see John 6, 63c) Your words, Lord, are spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye. R.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb. R.
Let the words of my mouth be acceptable,
the thoughts of my heart before you,
LORD, my rock and my redeemer. R.
Alleluia
see Luke 2, 19
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is the Virgin Mary who kept the word of God
and pondered it in her heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 2, 41-52
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to 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.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor
before God and man.
Or:
Matthew 12, 46-50
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord God,
look with favor on the gifts
we offer with grateful hearts
on this memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
mother and disciple of your Son;
grant that through these gifts we may receive
grace and wisdom in abundance,
for these are beyond our human strength.
Through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE
His Mother, the Virgin Mary in her glory,
is rightly called blessed,
for she received your Son in her virginal womb,
but she is even more blessed
because, as a disciple of the incarnate Word,
she eagerly sought to know your will
and faithfully carried it out.
With the whole company of Angels of heaven
we praise you with one voice:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is the Virgin Mary who kept the word of God
and pondered it in her heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 2, 41-52
Do whatever he tells you
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to 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.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor
before God and man.
The gospel of the Lord.
Or:
Matthew 12, 46-50
Extending his hands toward the disciples, he said: Here are my mother and my brothers
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,
his mother and his brothers appeared outside,
wishing to speak with him.
Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside,
asking to speak with you.”
But he said in reply to the one who told him,
“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”
And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father
is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
The gospel of the Lord.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord God,
look with favor on the gifts
we offer with grateful hearts
on this memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
mother and disciple of your Son;
grant that through these gifts we may receive
grace and wisdom in abundance,
for these are beyond our human strength.
Through Christ our Lord.
Propitius intuere, Domine, munera tibi gratanter oblata
in memoria beatæ Virginis, Filii tui matris et discipulæ;
et concede ut gratiam et sapientiam,
quas nostris viribus obtinere non præsumimus,
per ea abundanter consequamur.
Per Christum.
PREFACE
How Blessed is Mary, Disciple of the Incarnate Word
(Beata Virgo, incarnati Verbi discipula, felix prædicatur)
The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R. It is right and just.
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
His Mother, the Virgin Mary in her glory,
is rightly called blessed,
for she received your Son in her virginal womb,
but she is even more blessed
because, as a disciple of the incarnate Word,
she eagerly sought to know your will
and faithfully carried it out.
With the whole company of Angels of heaven
we praise you with one voice:
Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salutare,
nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere:
Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens æterne Deus,
per Christum Dominum nostrum.
Cuius mater, gloriosa Virgo Maria,
iure proclamatur beata,
quia Filium tuum castis meruit generare visceribus;
sed merito felicior prredicatur,
quia, incarnati Verbi facta discipula,
voluntatem tuam sedula quæsivit
et adimplevit fidelis.
Et ideo, cum innumeris Angelis,
una te magnificamus voce, dicentes:
Holy, Holy, Holy....
Communion Antiphon
Luke 11, 28
Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it!
Beati qui audiunt verbum Dei et custodiunt!
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord God,
filled with the joy that comes from this Sacrament,
we ask that by imitating the Blessed Virgin Mary
we may be true disciples of Christ,
eagerly hearing his words
and putting them into practice.
Through Christ our Lord.
filled with the joy that comes from this Sacrament,
we ask that by imitating the Blessed Virgin Mary
we may be true disciples of Christ,
eagerly hearing his words
and putting them into practice.
Through Christ our Lord.
Repleti, Domine, sacramentis et gaudiis,
te suppliciter imploramus,
ut, beatæ Virginis exempla sectantes,
veri inveniamur Christi discipuli,
qui eius verba seduli audiant et cust6diant fideles.
Qui vivit.
No comments:
Post a Comment