So how was your
Christmas so far, everyone? I hope you are all fine out there as we continue to
celebrate the Christmas Octave. (And as for those who don't know what an Octave
is, it is the eight-day festivity following a great solemnity such as Christmas,
Easter, and even Pentecost, just like the Jewish Hanukkah.)
This week is the
final Sunday of the Calendar Year. In the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, we
will commemorate the Feast of the Holy Family; while in the Extraordinary Form,
we celebrate the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas. And as exposed in the Gospels
of both Forms, we find Jesus, the omnipotent God Incarnate, as a helpless
infant in the arms of Mary and in the custody of Joseph. Thiis is as far as He
can go to know our miseries and deliver us from evil.
Without further ado,
let's begin.
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READINGS AND PROPERS
Ordinary
Form (Feast of the Holy Family, Year A)
First
Reading:
Ecclus.
3:2-6, 12-14 (2-14)
God hath made the
father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers,
hath confirmed it upon the children. He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon
for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard
in the prayer of days. And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth
up a treasure. He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children,
and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard. He
that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the
father, shall be a comfort to his mother.
(He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and
will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world. Honour thy
father, in work and word, and all patience, that a blessing may come upon thee
from him, and his blessing may remain in the latter end. The father's blessing
establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the
foundation. Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory
to thee. For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a father
without honour is the disgrace of the son.)
Son, support the old
age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life; And if his understanding
fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when thou art in thy
strength: for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotten. For good
shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother. And in justice thou shalt be
built up, and in the day of affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins
shall melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather.
Responsorial:
Ps.
128:1-2, 3, 4-5
R:
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways.
Blessed are all they
that fear the Lord:
that walk in his
ways.
For thou shalt eat
the labours of thy hands:
blessed art thou,
and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife as a
fruitful vine,
on the sides of thy
house.
Thy children as
olive plants,
round about thy
table.
Behold, thus shall
the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
May the Lord bless
thee out of Sion:
and mayst thou see
the good things of Jerusalem
all the days of thy
life.
Second
Reading:
Col.
3:12-21
Brethren: put ye on,
as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity,
humility, modesty, patience: Bearing with one another and forgiving one
another, if any have a complaint against another. Even as the Lord hath
forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is
the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts,
wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful. Let the word of
Christ dwell in you abundantly: in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your
hearts to God. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, be
subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives
and be not bitter towards them. Children, obey
your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, provoke not your children to indignation, lest they be discouraged.
Gospel:
Mt.
2:13-15, 19-23 (13-23)
At that time: after
the wise men departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph,
saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be
there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the
child to destroy him. Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night,
and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod: That it
might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.
(Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise
men, was exceeding angry: and sending killed all the menchildren that were in
Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under,
according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then
was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: A voice in
Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children,
and would not be comforted, because they are not.)
But when Herod was
dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, Saying:
Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For
they are dead that sought the life of the child. Who arose, and took the child
and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archclaus
reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither:
and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee. And coming he
dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by
the prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene.
Extraordinary
Form (Sunday within the Octave of the Christmas)
INTROIT ¤ Wisdom 18. 14-15
Dum
medium silentium tenerent omnia, et nox in suo cursu medium iter haberet,
omnipotens sermo tuus, Domine, de coelis a regalibus sedibus venit. --
Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est: indutus est Dominus fortitudinem, et
praecinxit se. V.: Gloria Patri . . . -- Dum medium silentium . . .
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While
all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her
course, Thine almighty Word, O Lord, leaped down from heaven from Thy royal
throne. -- (Ps.92. 1). The Lord hath
reigned, He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and
hath girded Himself. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . -- While all things
were in quiet silence . . .
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COLLECT.--O almighty and everlasting God,
direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure; that in the Name of Thy
beloved Son we may deserve to abound in good works: Who with Thee liveth and
reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end.
EPISTLE ¤ Gal. 4. 1-7
Lesson
from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Galatians.
[Now that the Son of God has emancipated us from the tutorship of
the Old Law, we are no longer servants but sons of God.]
Brethren,
as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he
be Lord of all: but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by
the father: so we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements
of the world. But when the fulness of the time
was come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, that He might
redeem them who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts,
crying: Abba, Father. Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son; and if a
son, an heir also through God.
GRADUAL ¤ Ps. 44. 3, 2
Speciosus
forma prae filiis hominum: diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis. V.: Eructavit
cor meum verbum bonum, dico ego opera mea Regi: lingua mea calamus scribae,
velociter scribentis.
Alleluia,
alleluia. V.: Dominus regnavit, decorem induit: induit Dominus fortitudinem
et praecinxit se virtute. Alleluia.
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Thou
art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in Thy lips. V.:
My heart hath uttered a good word, I speak my words to the king: my tongue is
the pen of a scrivener, that writeth swiftly.
Alleluia,
alleluia. V.: The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is
clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself. Alleluia
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GOSPEL ¤ Luke 2. 33-40.
†
Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
[The evangelist tells us of the glorious mission which the future
has in store for this Child of Bethlehem, the manifestation of which commences
today in the Temple.]
At
that time Joseph and Mary the mother of Jesus were wondering at those things
which were spoken concerning Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His
Mother: Behold, this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many
in Israel: and for a sign which shall be contradicted: and thine own soul a
sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed. And there
was one Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she
was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her
virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not
from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she, at the
same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord: and spoke of Him to all that
looked for the redemption of Israel. And after they had performed all things
according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city
Nazareth. And the Child grew and waxed strong,
full of wisdom: and the grace of God was in Him.
OFFERTORY ¤ Ps. 92. 1, 2
Deus
firmavit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur: parata sedes tua, Deus, ex tunc,
a saeculo tu es.
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God
hath establised the world, which shall not be moved: Thy throne, O God, is
prepared from of old, Thou art from everlasting.
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SECRET.--Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God,
that the offering made in the sight of Thy Majesty may obtain for us the grace
of loving devotion, and the reward of a blessed eternity. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost: One God, world without end.
PREFACE
Preface of the Nativity
Vere
dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias
agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus: Quia per incarnati
Verbi mysterium nova mentis nostrae oculis lux tuae claritatis infulsit: ut,
dum visibiliter Deum cognoscimus, per hunc in invisibilum amorem rapiamur. Et
ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni
militai coelestis 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 at all
times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father
almighty, everlasting God, for through the Mystery of the Word made flesh,
the new light of Thy glory hath shone upon the eyes of our mind, so that
while we acknowledge God in visible form, we may through Him be drawn to the
love of things invisible. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with
Throne and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing
the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
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SPECIAL FORM OF COMMUNICANTES
Communicantes for Christmas
Communicantes,
et diem sacratissimum celebrantes, quo beatae Mariae intemerata virginitas
huic mundo edidit Salvatorem: sed et memoriam venerantes, in primis ejusdem
gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genetricis ejusdem Dei et Domini nostri
Jesu Christi: sed et . . .
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Communicating,
and keeping this most holy day, on which the spotless virginity of blessed
Mary brought forth a Savior to this world; and also reverencing the memory
first of the same glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of the same our God and
Lord Jesus Christ: as also . . .
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COMMUNION ¤ Matt. 2. 20
Tolle
Puerum, et Matrem ejus, et vade in terram Israel: defuncti sunt enim, qui
quaerebant animam Pueri.
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Take
the Child and His Mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead
who sought the life of the Child.
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POSTCOMMUNION.--By the working of this Mystery,
O Lord, may our vices be cleansed, and our just desires fulfilled. Through our
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of
the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end.
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REFLECTIONS
AND INSIGHTS
The readings and
propers of this Sunday is all about the concept of what a family is and how it
should be patterned after the Holy Family. God designed in the very beginning
that man should "Go forth and multiply…" and to "fill the earth
and subdue it" (Gen. 1:28). Furthermore, both
Church and State recognizes the importance of the family as the most basic unit
of society, and how integral they are in the salvation of souls and in the
development of mankind, respectively.
In the history of
salvation, it is in the family that man fell from grace through Adam; and in
response, the Lord stripped off all of His glory and power to redeem mankind
through the family: Both in His first miracle in the wedding of Cana (through
the prompting of the Blessed Mother, of course) and, more importantly, in His
Incarnation in the womb of Mary and in His life as her Son, under the custody
of St. Joseph. The readings in the Ordinary Form are highlighting the role of
parents and children in Sacred Scriptures and how it was fulfilled and
substantiated in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
On the other hand,
in the Propers of the Extraordinary Form, this Sunday also emphasizes the
continuing festivity of the Nativity of the Lord through narrating the
Childhood of Christ, as proclaimed in the last part of the Gospel. Though the
verse about Jesus advancing in age and wisdom is very brief, it says a lot
about how He lived from the time He was found in the Temple until the beginning
of His public ministry: under the mantle of Mary and under the protection of
Joseph.
Jesus willed it to be a helpless child--to
depend Himself to Mary, His handmaid, and to Joseph, the Head of the House of
David--during the time that His life was in danger. I have inserted in the
Ordinary Form Gospel the passage about the massacre of the Holy Innocents to
highlight that only Jesus (and John the Baptist in ecclesiastical tradition)
survived the massacre. Jesus was brought to Egypt to escape Herod; and
Zecharias and Elizabeth hid John in the desert also to escape the same
"baby-killer". (We have to remember that John was six months older
than Jesus, and also falls under the "two-and-below" order.)
Now let's cut to the
chase here: Jesus, the Lord of Hosts and the Eternal Son of the Eternal Father,
became the very example of how children should
be in the sight of their parents; the Lawgiver at Sinai Himself
following the commandment He have promulgated through Moses: "Honour thy father and thy mother". We may
not notice it, but Christmas should be Christ-centered (as the whole world
ignores this concept), as well as it should also be family-centered; as the
Nativity scene is focused not only on the Child in the manger, but also in the
two closest figures near Him: Mary and Joseph--which the people of Israel
considered as His parents. As long as the three of them are there, we can put
the shepherds and the wise men aside (The angels cannot be discarded as they
are spirits, and the Child is of divine origin--because the Child is their
King!)
To compare it to how
we Filipinos (and just as other people) celebrate Christmas today, we celebrate
it in a partial manner without our focus on Christ's birth, only to be realized
in full if we integrate and enthrone the Infant Lord in the middle of our
celebrations and merry-making. So, it is much better if we celebrate Christmas
as a family focusing on the Holy Family and what transpired two millenia ago in
Bethlehem--that Christmas is a family
celebration as long as it is centered on Christ.
It is not yet too
late to realize this. We still have until January 1st to get into the true
meaning of Christmas--that God emptied Himself to take our human flesh and
reconcile us to His Father in heaven.
So this question is
now raised: Do I fulfill my duty as a child to my parents? to Mary, our Mother?
to Holy Mother Church? to our Father in heaven?
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PRAYING
THE COLLECT
O almighty and
everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure; that in the
Name of Thy beloved Son we may deserve to abound in good works. O Thou, who
were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously
grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in
the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of Thy house, delight one day in
eternal rewards.
Through our Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen.
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SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
The year is about to
end! I really think that we should sing the Te Deum when the clock strikes
midnight come New Year's Eve than hurt ourselves with firecrackers or make
unruly noise. Besides, chanting the Te Deum is also making (holy) noise; and by
doing this, you may gain a PLENARY INDULGENCE under the normal conditions (that
[1] you have gone to confession and done the penance given by the priest, [2]
prayed for the intention of the Holy Father, and [3] avoiding any sin, mortal
or venial, or any occasion of sin upon reception of the indulgence).
Year-ender
reflection will be out by December 31st, (hopefully) at 12:00 noon.
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