Pardon me for not
properly dissecting the propers for this week. You all know how busy people are
every December, and since I'm still gaining experience and learning the
"tricks" on how to handle work. But I still would do my best in
squeezing my creative juices--or whatever was left of it this week--to give you
a "no frills" but insightful reflection to consider in your homilies
(for the priests who read this, if ever there are) and in your personal
preparations for Mass come Sunday.
Let's do this.
Let's do this.
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Ordinary Form (Year
A)
Is.
35:1-6a, 10 (1-10)
The land that was
desolate and impassable shall be glad, and the wilderness shall rejoice, and
shall flourish like the lily. It shall bud forth and blossom, and shall rejoice
with joy and praise: the glory of Libanus is given to it: the beauty of Carmel,
and Saron, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the beauty of our God.
Strengthen ye the feeble hands, and confirm the weak knees. Say to the
fainthearted: Take courage, and fear not: behold your God will bring the
revenge of recompense: God himself will come and will save you. Then shall the
eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then
shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall be free:
(for waters are
broken out in the desert, and streams in the wilderness. And that which was dry
land, shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water. In the dens
where dragons dwelt before, shall rise up the verdure of the reed and the
bulrush. And a path and a way shall be there, and it shall be called the holy
way: the unclean shall not pass over it, and this shall be unto you a straight
way, so that fools shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor shall any
mischievous beast go up by it, nor be found there: but they shall walk there
that shall be delivered.)
And the redeemed of
the Lord shall return, and shall come into Sion with praise, and everlasting
joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow
and mourning shall flee away.
Ps.
146:(5)6-7, 8-9, 9-10
R:
Lord, come and save us.
Blessed is he who
hath the God of Jacob for his helper, Who keepeth truth for ever:
who executeth
judgment for them that suffer wrong:
who giveth food to
the hungry.
The Lord looseth
them that are fettered:
The Lord
enlighteneth the blind.
The Lord lifteth up
them that are cast down:
The Lord loveth the
just.
The Lord keepeth the
strangers.
He will support the
fatherless and the widow:
and the ways of
sinners he will destroy.
The Lord shall reign
for ever:
thy God, O Sion,
unto generation and generation.
James
5:7-10
Be patient,
brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the
precious fruit of the earth: patiently bearing till he receive the early and
latter rain. Be you therefore also patient and strengthen your hearts: for the
coming of the Lord is at hand. Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that
you may not be judged. Behold the judge standeth before the door. Take, my
brethren, for example of suffering evil, of labour and patience, the prophets
who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Mt.
2:1-11
[At that time:] When
John had heard in prison the works of Christ: sending two of his disciples he
said to him: Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another? And Jesus
making answer said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen.
The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead
rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he that
shall not be scandalized in me. And when they went their way, Jesus began to
say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to
see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed
in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the
houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea I tell you, and
more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my
angel before my face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Amen I say to you,
there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the
Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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Extraordinary Form
Purple
or Rose
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1st Class
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[STATION AT ST.
PETER'S (VATICAN)]
On
this day the Church urges us to gladness in the middle of this time of
expectation and penitence: the coming of Jesus approaches more and more. St.
John, the holy precursor, announces to the Jews the coming of the Savior.
"The Savior," he says to them, "lives already among us, though
unknown. He will soon appear openly." Now is the time for fervent prayers
and for imploring Jesus to remain with us by His mercy. Let us prepare the way
for Him by repentance and by a worthy reception of the Sacraments. All the
prayers of this Mass are filled with that which the Church wishes our souls to
be possessed at the approach of the Savior.
INTROIT ¤ Phil. 4. 4-6
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Gaudete
in Domino semper: iterum dico gaudete. Modestia vestra nota sit omnibus
hominibus: Dominus enim prope est. Nihil solliciti sitis: sed in omni
oratione petitiones vestrae innotescant apud Deum. -- Benedixisti, Domine,
terram tuam: acertisti captivitatem Iacob. V.: Gloria Patri et Filio et
Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in saecula
saeculorium. Amen. Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico gaudete. Modestia
vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus: Dominus enim prope est. Nihil solliciti
sitis: sed in omni oratione petitiones vestrae innotescant apud Deum.
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Rejoice
in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all
men: for the Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing by
prayer let your petitions be made known to God. -- (Ps. 84. 2). Lord, Thou hast blessed Thy land: Thou hast
turned away the captivity of Jacob. V.: Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice.
Let your modesty be known to all men: for the Lord is nigh. Be nothing
solicitous: but in every thing by prayer let your petitions be made known to
God.
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The Gloria in Excelsis is omitted.
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COLLECT
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Aurem
tuam, quaesumus Domine, precibus nostris accommoda: et mentis nostrae
tenebras gratiae tuae visitationis illustra. Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo
Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.
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Incline
Thine ear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to our petitions: and, by the grace of
Thy visitation, enlighten the darkness of our minds. Who livest and reignest,
with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
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EPISTLE ¤ Phil 4. 4-7
Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the
Philippians.
Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad
Philippenses.
["The
Lord is nigh," says St. Paul, "rejoice in the Lord." May our
faith and hope in Jesus Christ our Lord, always increase!]
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Fratres:
Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete. Modestia vestra nota sit
omnibus hominibus: Dominus prope est. Nihil soliciti sitis: sed in omni
oratione, et obsecratione, cum gratiarum actione, petitiones vestrae
innotescant apud Deum. Et pax Dei, quae exsuperat omnem sensum, custodiat
corda vestra et intelligentias vestras, in Christo Iesu Domino nostro.
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Brethren,
Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known
to all men. The Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing, by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known
to God. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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GRADUAL ¤ Ps. 72. 2, 3, 6
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Qui
sedes, Domine, super Cherubim, excita potentiam tuam, et veni. V.: Qui regis
Israel, intende: qui deducis velut ovem, Ioseph.
Alleluia,
alleluia. V.: Excita, Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni ut salvos facias nos.
Alleluia.
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Thou,
O Lord, that sittest upon the Cherubim, stir up Thy might and come. V.: Give
ear, O Thou that rulest Israel: that leadest Joseph like a sheep.
Alleluia,
alleluia. V.: Stir up, O Lord, Thy might, and come to save us. Alleluia.
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When on the Ferias of Advent the Mass of the Sunday
is used, the Alleluia and
its verses are not said, but only the Gradual.
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GOSPEL ¤ John 1. 19-28
† Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. John.
† Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Ioannem.
[St.
John, the precursor of Our Lord, announces the coming of the Messias, tells
of His majesty and greatness, and effaces himself before Him, for "he
gives testimony of the true Light, who is Jesus."]
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In
illo tempore: Miserunt Iudaei ab Ierosolymis sacerdotes et levitas ad
Ioannem, ut interrogarent eum: Tu quis es? Et confessus est, et non negavit:
et confessus est: Quia non sum ego Christus. Et interrogaverunt eum: Quid
ergo? Elias es tu? Et dixit: Non sum. Propheta es tu? et respondit: Non.
Dixerunt ergo ei: Quis es, ut reponsum demus his qui miserunt nos? Quid dicis
de te ipso? Ait: Ego vox clamantis in deserto: Dirigite viam Domini, sicut
dixit Isaias Propheta. Et qui missi fuerant, erant ex Pharisaeis. Et
interrogaverunt eum, et dixerunt ei: Quid ergo baptizas, si tu non es
Christus, neque Elias, neque Propheta? Respondit eis Ioannes, dicens: Ego
baptizo in aqua: medius autem vestrum stetit, quem vos nescitis. Ipse est,
qui post me venturus est, qui ante me factus est: cuius ego non sum dignus ut
solvam eius corrigiam calceamenti. Haec in Bethania facta sunt trans
Iordanem, ubi erat Ioannes baptizans.
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At
that time the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and levites to John, to ask
him: Who art thou? And he confessed, and did not deny: and he confessed: I am
not the Christ. And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I
am not. Art thou the Prophet? And he answered: No. They said therefore unto
him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What
sayest thou of thyself? He said: I am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Isaias.
And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said
to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the
Prophet? John answered them, saying: I baptize with water: but there hath
stood one in the midst of you whom you know not. The same is He that shall
come after me, who is preferred before me: the latchet of whose shoe I am not
worthy to loose. These things were done in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where
John was baptizing.
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OFFERTORY ¤ Ps. 84. 2, 3
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Benedixisti,
Domine, terram tuam: avertisti captivitatem Iacob: remisisti iniquitatem
plebis tuae.
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Lord,
Thou hast blessed Thy land: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob:
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people.
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SECRET
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Devotionis
nostrae tibi, quaesumus Domine, hostia iugiter immoletur: quae et sacri
peragat instituta mysterii, et salutare tuum in nobis mirabiliter operetur.
Per Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in
unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.
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May
the Sacrifice of our devotion, we beseech Thee, O Lord, be continually
offered up to Thee, may it both complete the institution of the holy
Mysteries, and wondrously accomplish in us Thy salvation. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
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PREFACE
Preface of Advent
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Vere
dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias
agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus, per Christum Dominum
nostrum; quem, perdito humanum generi, Salvatorem misericors et fidelis
promisisti, cuius veritas instrueret inscios, sanctitas iustificaret impios,
virtus adiuvaret infirmos. Dum ergo prope est ut veniat quem missurus es, et
dies affulget liberationis nostrae, in hac promissionum tuarum fide piis
gaudiis exsultamus. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et
Dominationibus, cumque omni militiae caelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae
canimus, sine fine dicentes:
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It
is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should in all
times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty,
eternal God, through Christ our Lord. Whom Thou, clement and faithful,
promised as a Savior to the lost race of men; Whose truth instructed the
ignorant, Whose sanctity justified the impious, Whose virtues strengthened
the weak. Therefore while the advent approaches of Him Who was sent, and the
day of our liberation draws ever nearer, we exalt with pious joys in the
confidence of Thy promises. And therefore, with angels and archangels, with
Thrones and Dominations, and with all the host of the heavenly army, we sing
a hymn to Thy glory, ever saying:
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Or the celebrant may say:
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Preface of the Most Holy Trinity
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Vere
dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias
agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui cum unigenito Filio
tuo, et Spiritu Sancto, unus es Deus, unus es Dominus: non in unius singularitate
personae, sed in unius Trinitate substantiae. Quod enim de tua gloria,
revelante te, credimus, hoc de Filio tuo, hoc de Spiritu Sancto, sine
differentia discretionis sentimus. Ut in confessione verae, sempiternaeque
Deitatis, et in personis proprietas, et in essentia unitas, et in maiestate
adoretur aequalitas. Quam laudant Angeli atque Archangeli, Cherubim quoque ac
Seraphim: qui non cessant clamare quotidie, una voce dicentes:
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It
is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all
times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father
almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and
the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person,
but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of
Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost,
without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and
everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality
in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also
and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice
saying:
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COMMUNION ¤ Isaias 35. 4
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Dicite:
Pusillanimes confortamini, et nolite timere: ecce Deus noster veniet, et
salvabit nos.
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Say:
Ye fainthearted, take courage and fear not: behold our God will come, and
will save us.
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POSTCOMMUNION
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Imploramus,
Domine, clementiam tuam: ut haec divina subsidia a vitiis expiatos, ad festa
ventura nos praeparent. Per Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui
tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula
saeculorum.
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We
implore, O Lord, Thy mercy: that these divine helps may expiate our sins, and
prepare us for the approaching feast. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without
end.
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Reflections and Insights
Gaudete
in Domino semper. Rejoice in the Lord always.
This is
the opening line of the Introit for the Mass of the Third Sunday of Advent, and
the opening word also can be an alternate name for this week; hence, Gaudete
Sunday.
The
liturgy of this day has muted a little the penitent vigilance which Advent has
for its character. One of the highlights is the change in the color of the
priest's vestments: Pink can be a substitute to purple only for this Sunday.
The next time this happens will be on the Fourth Sunday of Lent (alternatively
known as "Laetare Sunday"). Extensively, the pink candle in the
Advent wreath is lit.
Again,
St. John the Baptist is featured in the Gospel readings of both Forms, but it
is now more of shifting the focus from him to Jesus. Last week, the Gospel
readings are exactly the same as this week; the only difference is that it is
now reversed.
The
wisdom of the Church on inserting a "lighter" tone of preparing for
Christmas (and more importantly, Easter) prompts us to always infuse the joy of
expectation in our vigilance.
In the
Ordinary Form, we read from the Prophecy of Isaiah a glorious expectation of
the coming of the Messiah; and on the Epistle of St. James, the prevention of
evil through eternal vigilance of ourselves. Thus, joy has a two-fold effect;
and in the Church, we experience both through the two most used Sacraments: the
Holy Mass for that glorious expectation, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation as
a preventive and restorative measure on our continuous quest for perfection and
holiness.
Now we ask:
Do I always take
note that joy is more than an emotion? That joy is followed by a prevention to
do evil that causes sorrow? Am I joyous as Mary, the Cause of all joy, (in this
context) as she is about to give birth to Jesus?
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Praying the Collect
[This is the section where I combine and condense the
Collects of both Forms to create a complimentary and integral prayer]
Incline Thine ear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to our
petitions: and, by the grace of Thy visitation, enlighten the darkness of our
minds. O God, who seest how Thy people faithfully await the feast of the
Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation
and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity
of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen.
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