FEAST OF ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI - MASS PROPERS

     

 St. Alphonsus Liguori

Alphonsus was born of noble parents near Naples, Italy, in 1696, and died in 1787. In the midst of many evils he appeared with a three-fold mission as Doctor, Bishop, and founder of a new religious Order. As Doctor he became the great teacher of Moral Theology; he found the middle way between the two extremes of the lax and the over rigorous, and by his ascetic writings he spread amongst the people Catholic piety, devotion to Our Lady, to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, to the Passion, and defended the supreme rights of the Church and of the Pope.

As apostle and bishop St. Alphonsus sought to imitate Our Divine Redeemer in His evangelizing journeys through the villages of Galilee and Judea. Hence he founded his own society of missionaries whom he destined to labor among the poor peasants and mountaineers rather than the inhabitants of the towns. As founder of a new Order, the saint has the merit of having adapted the scope of his work to the needs of the time, and of having brought it to completion in spite of innumerable difficulties. Although approved by the Pope, the King of Naples refused to permit the new Order to establish itself. St. Alphonsus himself was excluded from the houses of his own Order in the Kingdom of Naples. This schism existed until his death. After his death the whole scene changes; the rejected founder is raised to the altars, and his Congregation extends its boundaries beyond the confines of Italy and of Europe.

Pope Saint Stephen I

Pope Saint Stephen I, Martyr who by birth was a Roman. He was made Pope on May 3, 253, and governed the Church for three years. He decided the question of the validity of Baptism when administered by heretics, ordering that the tradition should be preserved according to which it was sufficient that they receive confirmation. He was murdered by the Emperor’s soldiers while seated in his episcopal chair in the catacombs, during the celebration of Mass, August 2, 257.

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Semi - Double / Green Vestments
Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church and Pope St. Stephen I, Martyr

INTROIT: Luke 4: 18; Psalm 77: 1

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, wherefore He hath anointed me, to preach the gospel to the poor, He hath sent me to heal the contrite of heart. (Ps. 77: 1) Attend, O My people, to My law: incline your ear to the words of My mouth. Glory be 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. Repeat The Spirit of the Lord…

COLLECT 

God, Who through blessed Alphonsus Mary, Thy confessor and bishop, fired with zeal for souls, didst cause Thy Church to bring forth a new progeny, we beseech Thee that, being taught by his wholesome precepts, and strengthened by his example, we may be enabled happily to come unto Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.

Commemoration of Pope St. Stephen I

O Eternal Shepherd, do Thou look favorably upon Thy flock, which we beseech Thee to guard and keep for evermore through the Blessed Stephen Thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, whom Thou didst choose to be the chief shepherd of the whole Church. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever.

EPISTLE: 2 Timothy 2: 1-7

Dearly beloved, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus, and the things which thou hast heard of me before many witnesses, the same commend to faithful men, who shall be fit to teach others also. Labor as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No man being a soldier to God, entangleth himself with worldly business: that he may please Him to whom he hath engaged himself. For he also that striveth for the mastery, is not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboreth, must first partake of the fruits. Understand what I say: for the Lord will give thee understanding in all things. Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL: Psalm 118: 52, 53; 39:11

I remembered, O Lord, Thy judgments of old, and I was comforted; a fainting hath taken hold of me because of the wicked that forsake Thy law.

(39:11) – I have not hid Thy justice within my heart. I have declared Thy truth and Thy salvation. Alleluia, alleluia.

ALLELUIA: Eccl. 49: 3, 4

He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation, and he took away the abominations of wickedness: and he directed his heart toward the Lord; and in the days of sinners he strengthened godliness. Alleluia.

GOSPEL:   Luke 10: 1-9

At that time, The Lord appointed also other seventy-two; and He sent them two and two before His face into every city and place whither He Himself was to come. And He said to them, “The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send laborers into His harvest. Go, behold I send you as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way. Into whatsoever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house: and if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall return to you. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house. And into what city whatsoever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you; and heal the sick that are therein; and say to them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”

OFFERTORY: Proverbs 3: 9, 27

Honor the Lord with thy substance, and give Him of the first of all thy fruits. Do not withhold him from doing good who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.

SECRET

O Lord Jesus Christ, burn our hearts thoroughly with the heavenly fire of this sacrifice for an odor of sweetness, Thou Who didst grant to blessed Alphonsus Mary both to celebrate these mysteries and, through them, to offer himself to Thee a holy victim. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God...

       

Commemoration Secret of Pope St. Stephen I

In Thy loving kindness, we beseech Thee, Lord, be moved by the offering of our gifts and enlighten Thy Church: that Thy flock may prosper everywhere and the shepherds, under Thy guidance, may be rendered acceptable to Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God

PREFACE   of the Apostles

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou would not desert Thy flock. O everlasting Shepherd; but through Thy blessed Apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of the glory, evermore saying:

COMMUNION: Ecclus 50: 1, 9

A great priest, who in his life propped up the house, and in his days fortified the temple as a bright fire, and frankincense burning in the fire.

POSTCOMMUNION

God, who didst cause blessed Alphonsus Mary, Thy confessor and bishop, faithfully to dispense and preach this divine mystery, grant, by his merits and prayers, that Thy faithful may both frequently receive it, and, receiving it, praise it forever. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.

Commemoration Postcommunion of Pope St. Stephen I

Since Thy Church has been nourished by the sacred repast, govern her in Thy clemency, we beseech Thee, O Lord, so that under the guidance of Thy mighty rule she may enjoy greater freedom and abiding integrity of religion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God…