NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST - MASS PROPERS

      St. Francis of Assisi 

St. Francis, the son of a merchant of Assisi, was born in that city in 1182. Chosen by God to be a living manifestation to the world of Christ's poor and suffering life on earth, he was early inspired with a high esteem and burning love of poverty and humiliation. The thought of the Man of Sorrows, Who had not where to lay His head, filled him with holy envy of the poor, and constrained him to renounce the wealth and worldly station which he abhorred. The scorn and hard usage which he met with from his father and townsmen when he appeared among them in the garb of poverty were delightful to him. "Now," he exclaimed, "I can say truly, 'Our Father Who art in heaven.'" But divine love burned in him too mightily not to kindle like desires in other hearts. Many joined themselves to him, and were constituted by Pope Innocent III. into a religious Order, which spread rapidly throughout Christendom. St. Francis, after visiting the East in the vain quest of martyrdom, spent his life like his Divine Master — now in preaching to the multitudes, now amid desert solitudes in fasting and contemplation. During one of these retreats he received on his hands, feet, and side the print of the five bleeding wounds of Jesus. With the cry, "Welcome, sister Death," he passed to the glory of his God October 4, 1226.

NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

COMMEMORATION OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Semi-Double / Green Vestments

       Missa – ‘Salus populi’

How camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment?

INTROIT

Psalm 77: 1

Salus pópuli ego sum, dicit Dóminus: de quacúmque tribulatióne clamáverint ad me, exáudiam eos: et ero illórum Dóminus in perpétuum. Ps. Atténdite, pópule meus, legem meam: inclinàte aurem vestram in verba oris mei. Glória Patri.

I am the salvation of the people, saith the Lord: in whatever tribulation they shall cry to Me, I will hear them; and I will be their Lord for ever. Ps. Attend, O My people, to My law; incline your ears to the words of My mouth. Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

Almighty and merciful God, in Thy goodness keep us, we beseech Thee, from all things hurtful; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may accomplish those things which belong to Thy service.  Through our Lord.

Second Collect – Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi

O God, Who, by the merits of blessed Francis, didst increase Thy Church by bringing forth a new progeny, grant us to imitate him in despising earthly things and ever to rejoice in partaking of heavenly gifts. Through our Lord.

EPISTLE

Lesson is taken from the epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians

Ephesians 4: 23-28

Brethren: Be ye renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak ye the truth every man with his neighbour, for we are members one of another. Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger. Give not place to the devil. He that stole, let him now steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have something to give to him that suffereth need.

GRADUAL

Ps 140: 2

Let my prayer be directed as incense in Thy sight, O Lord. The lifting up of my hands as evening sacrifice.

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, alleluia. Give glory to the Lord, and call upon His name: declare His deeds among the nations. Alleluia.

How camest thou in hither, not having on a wedding garment?

GOSPEL

The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

Matthew 22: 1-14

At that time: Jesus spoke to the chief priests and the Pharisees in parables, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king, who made a marriage for his son; and he sent his servants, to call them that were invited to the marriage, and they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying: Tell them that were invited: Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my beeves and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come ye to the marriage. But they neglected: and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise; and the rest laid hands on his servants, and having treated them contumeliously, put them to death. But when the king had heard of it, he was angry; and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city. Then he saith to his servants: The marriage indeed is ready, but they that were invited were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, call to the marriage. And his servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found, both bad and good; and the marriage was filled with guests. And the king went in to see the guests; and he saw there a man who had not a wedding garment: and he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having on a wedding garment? but he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

OFFERTORY

Ps. 137: 7

If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, Thou wilt quicken me, O Lord; and Thou wilt stretch forth Thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.

SECRET

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that these gifts, which we offer in the sight of Thy majesty, may be unto us for salvation. Through our Lord.

Second Secret – Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi

Sanctify, O Lord, the gifts dedicated to Thee and, by the intercession of blessed Francis, cleanse us from all stain of sin. Through our Lord.

PREFACE OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

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, ever-lasting God: Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, are 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:

THE SANCTUS

SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria Tua. Hosanna in excelsis.  Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

COMMUNION

Psalm 118: 4-5

Thou hast commanded Thy commandments to be kept most diligently: O that my ways may be directed to keep Thy justifications.

POSTCOMMUNION

May the healing power of Thy grace, O Lord, mercifully rid us of all perversity of heart, and make us ever cleave to Thy commandments. Through the same Lord

Second Postcommunion – Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi

Let Thy heavenly grace, we beseech Thee, O Lord, enrich Thy Church, which Thou hast willed to enlighten by the glorious merits and example of blessed Francis, Thy confessor. Through our Lord.