Wednesday, September 16, 2026

EMBER WEDNESDAY - MASS PROPERS


    


EMBER WEDNESDAY IN SEPTEMBER
Traditional day of fast and partial abstinence.
       STATION AT ST. MARY MAJOR
                 Violet vestments


INTROITUS - Psalm 80:2,3,4,5,6
Exsultate Deo, adjutóri nostro: jubiláte Deo Jacob, súmite psalmum jucundúm cum cíthara: canit in initio mensis tuba quia præceptum in Israel est, et judicium Deo Jacob. Ps. 80:6. Testimonium in Joseph posuit illud, cum exiret de terra it illud, cum exiret de terra Aegypti audivit. Gloria Patri.

INTROIT - Psalm 80:2,3,4,5,6
Rejoice to God our helper: sing aloud to the God of Jacob: take a pleasant psalm with the harp; below the trumpet in the beginning of the month, for it is a commandment in Israel, and a judgment to the God of Jacob. Ps. He ordained it for a testimony in Joseph, when he came out of Egypt: he heard a tongue which he knew not. Glory be to the Father.

The Gloria is not said. After the Kyrie eleison is said:
ORATIO
Oremus.
Flectamus genua.
Levate. 
Misericordiae tuæ remediis, quæsumus Domine, fragilitas nostra subsistat: ut, quæ sua conditione atteritur, tua clementia reparetur. Per Dominum nostrum.

COLLECT
Let us pray.
Let us kneel.
Arise.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, that our weakness may be upheld by Thy healing mercy, so that what of itself is falling into ruin may be restored by Thy clemency. Through our Lord.


LESSON - Amos 9:13-15
Haec dicit Dóminus Deus: Ecce, dies véniunt: et comprehéndet arátor messórem, et calcátor uvæ mitténtem semen: et stillábunt montes dulcédinem, et omnes colles culti erunt. Et convértam captivitátem pópuli mei Israël: et ædificábunt civitátes desértas et inhabitábunt: et plantábunt víneas et bibent vinum eárum: et fácient hortos et cómedent fructus eórum. Et plantábo eos super humum suam: et non evéllam eos ultra de terra sua, quam dedi eis: dicit Dóminus, Deus tuus.

Thus saith the Lord God: Behold the days come, when the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seeds, and the mountains shall drop sweetness, and every hill shall be tilled. And I will bring back the captivity of My people Israel, and they shall build the abandoned cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine of them; and shall make gardens, and eat the fruits of them: and I will plant them upon their own land: and I will no more pluck them out of the their land which I have given them; saith the Lord thy God.

GRADUAL - Psalm 112: 5-7
Quis sicut Dominus Deus noster, qui in altis havitat: et humilia respicit in coelo et in terra? Suscitans a terra inopem et de stercore erigens pauperem.

Who is as the Lord our God, Who dwelleth on high, and looketh down on the low thing in heaven and in earth? Raised up the needy from the earth, and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill.

COLLECT
Praesta, quæsumus, Domine, familæ tuæ supplicanti ut, dum a ciis corporalibus se abstinet. Per Dominum nostrum.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to Thy suppliant household, that while they abstain from bodily food, they may likewise refrain from sin in their minds. Through our Lord.

 

EPISTOLA - II Esdras 8:1-10
In diébus illis: Congregátus est omnis pópulus quasi vir unus ad platéam, quæ est ante portam aquárum: et dixérunt Esdræ scribæ, ut afférret librum legis Moysi, quam præcéperat Dóminus Israéli. Attulit ergo Esdras sacérdos legem coram multitúdine virórum et mulíerum, cunctísque qui póterant intellégere, in die prima mensis séptimi. Et legit in eo apérte in platéa, quæ erat ante portam aquárum, de mane usque ad médiam diem, in conspéctu virórum et mulíerum et sapiéntium: et aures omnis pópuli erant eréctæ ad librum. Stetit autem Esdras scriba super gradum lígneum, quem fécerat ad loquendum. Et apéruit librum coram omni pópulo: super univérsum quippe pópulum eminébat: et cum aperuísset eum, stetit omnis pópulus. Et benedíxit Esdras Dómino, Deo magno: et respóndit omnis pópulus: Amen, Amen: élevans manus suas: et incurváti sunt et adoravérunt Deum proni in terram. Porro levítæ siléntium faciébant in pópulo ad audiéndam legem: pópulus autem stabat in gradu suo. Et legérunt in libro legis Dei distíncte et apérte ad intellegéndum: et intellexérunt, cum legerétur. Dixit autem Nehemías, et Esdras sacérdos et scriba, et levítæ interpretántes univérso pópulo: Dies sanctificátus est Dómino, Deo nostro, nolíte lugére et nolíte flere. Et dixit eis: Ite, comédite pínguia et bíbite mulsum, et míttite partes his, qui non præparavérunt sibi: quia sanctus dies Dómini est, et nolíte contristári: gáudium étenim Dómini est fortitúdo nostra.



EPISTLE
In those days all the people were gathered together as one man, to the street which is before the water gate, and they spoke to Esdras the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. Then Esdras the priest brought the law before the multitude of men and women, and all those that could understand, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read it plainly in the street that was before the water gate, from the morning until mid-day, before the men and women, and all those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book. And Esdras the scribe stood upon a step of wood, which he made to speak upon. And he opened the book before all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he had opened it, all the people stood. And Esdras blessed the Lord the great God, and all the people answered: Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands: and they bowed down, and adored God, with their faces to the ground. Now the Levites made silence among the people to hear the law; and the people stood in their place: and they read in the book of the law of God distinctly and plainly to be understood; and they understood when it was read. And Nehemias, and Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Levites who interpreted to all the people said: This is a holy day to the Lord our God; do not mourn nor weep. And he said to them. Go eat fat meats and drink sweet wines, and send portions to them that have not prepared for themselves; because it is the holy day of the Lord, and be not sad, for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

GRADUALE - Psalm 32:12,6
Beata gens, cujus est Dominus Deus eorum populus, quem elegit Dominus in hereditatem sibi. Verbo Domini coeli firmati ejus: et spiritu oris ejus omnis virtus eorum.

GRADUAL
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom the Lord hat chosen for His inheritance. By the word of the Lord the heavens were established: and all the power of them by the spirit of His mouth.

EVANGELIUM - Mark 9:16-28
In illo témpore: Respóndens unus de turba, dixit ad Jesum: Magíster, áttuli fílium meum ad te, habéntem spíritum mutum: qui, ubicúmque eum apprehénderit, allídit illum, et spumat et stridet déntibus et aréscit: et dixi discípulis tuis, ut ejícerent illum, et non potúerunt. Qui respóndens eis, dixit: O generátio incrédula, quámdiu apud vos ero? quámdiu vos pátiar? Afférte illum ad me. Et attúlerunt eum. Et cum vidísset eum, statim spíritus conturbávit illum: et elísus in terram, volutabátur spumans. Et interrogávit patrem ejus: Quantum témporis est, ex quo ei hoc áccidit? At ille ait: Ab infántia: et frequénter eum in ignem et in aquas misit, ut eum pérderet. Sed si quid potes, ádjuva nos, misértus nostri. Jesus autem ait illi: Si potes credere, ómnia possibília sunt credénti. Et contínuo exclámans pater pueri, cum lácrimis aiébat: Credo, Dómine: ádjuva incredulitátem meam. Et cum vidéret Jesus concurréntem turbam, comminátus est spirítui immundo, dicens illi: Surde et mute spíritus, ego præcípio tibi, exi ab eo: et ámplius ne intróëas in eum. Et exclámans et multum discérpens eum, éxiit ab eo, et factus est sicut mórtuus, ita ut multi dícerent: Quia mórtuus est. Jesus autem tenens manum ejus, elevávit eum, et surréxit. Et cum in troísset in domum, discípuli ejus secréto interrogábant eum: Quare nos non potúimus ejícere eum? Et dixit illis: Hoc genus in nullo potest exíre nisi in oratióne et jejúnio.

GOSPEL
At the time, one of the multitude answering said to Jesus: Master, I have brought my son to thee, having a dumb spirit. Who, wheresoever he taketh him, dasheth him, and he foameth, and gnasheth with the teeth, and pineth away; and I spoke to thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not. Who answering them, said: O incredulous generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him. And when he had seen him, immediately the spirit troubled him; and being thrown down upon the ground, he rolled about foaming. And he asked his father: How long time is it since this hath happened unto him? But he said: From his infancy: And oftentimes hath he cast him into the fire and into waters to destroy him. But if thou canst do any thing, help us, having compassion on us. And Jesus saith to him: If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And immediately the father of the boy crying out, with tears said: I do believe, Lord: help my unbelief. And when Jesus saw the multitude running together, he threatened the unclean spirit, saying to him: Deaf and dumb spirit, I command thee, go out of him; and enter not any more into him.  And crying out, and greatly tearing him, he went out of him, and he became as dead, so that many
said: He is dead. But Jesus taking him by the hand, lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples secretly asked him: Why could not we cast him out? And he said to them: This kind can go out by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.





OFFERTORIUM - Psalm 118:47-48
Meditabor in mandatis tuis quæ dilexi valde; et levabo manus meas ad mandata tua, quæ dilexit.

OFFERTORY
I will meditate on Thy commandments, which I will love exceedingly and lift up my hands to Thy commandments, which I have loved.

SECRETA
Haec hostia Domine, quæsumus, emundet nostra delicta: et ad sacrificium celbrandum, subditorum tibi corpora mentesque sanctificet. Per Dominum nostrum.

SECRET
May our fasts, we beseech Thee, O Lord, be acceptable unto Thee, and by expiating our sins, make us worthy of Thy grace, and bring us to Thine everlasting promises. Through our Lord.


PRAEFATIO COMMUNIS
Vere dignum et justum est, æquum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, æterne Deus: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli, coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti iubeas, deprecamur, supplici confessione dicéntes.

COMMON PREFACE
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, through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them, we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:

SANCTUS

COMMUNIO - II Esdras 8:10
Comedite pinguia, et bibite mulsum, et mittite partes his, qui non præparaverunt sibi: sanctus enim dies Domini est, nolite contristari: gaudium etenim Domini est fortitudo nostra.

COMMUNION
Eat fat meats, and drink sweet wine, and send portions to them that have not prepared for themselves; because it is the holy day of the Lord; for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

POSTCOMMUNIO
Sumentes, Dómine, dona coeléstia, supplíciter deprecámur: ut, quæ sédula servitúte, donánte te, gérimus, dignis sénsibus tuo múnere capiámus. Per Dominum nostrum.

POSTCOMMUNION 
In partaking of Your heavenly gifts, we humbly entreat You, O Lord, that by Your grace we may receive what, through Your bounty, we perform in diligent service. Through our Lord.




Sunday, September 13, 2026

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

 



Monday in the Sixteenth Week After Pentecost - Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

Double Major/Red Vestments     Missa “Nos autem"

 

INTROIT:   Galatians 6: 14

But it behooves us to glory in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ: in Whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection; by Whom we are saved and delivered, alleluia, alleluia.

Psalm – 66: 2

May God have mercy on us, and bless us; may He cause the light of His countenance to shine upon us, and may He have mercy on us. v. 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. But it behooves us…

 

Nos autem gloriári opórtet in Cruce Dómnni nostri Jesu Christi: in quo est salus, vita, et resurréctio nostra: per quem salváti, et liberáti sumus, allelúja, allelúja.

Psalm – 66: 2

 

Deus misereátur nostri, et benedícat nobis: illúminet vultum suum super nos, et misereátur nostri. V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Nos autem …

COLLECT

O God, Who dost gladden us this day by the annual solemnity of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, grant, we beseech Thee, that, as we have known its mystery on earth, we may deserve in heaven the reward which it had purchased. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, For ever and ever.

 

 


 

EPISTLE:   Philippians 2: 5-11

Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Philippians.

Brethren let this mind be in you which was also in Jesus Christ: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a Name which is above all names:

(kneel) that in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

 

GRADUAL: Philippians 2: 8, 9

Christ became obedient for us unto death: even the death of the cross.

V. For which cause also God hath exalted Him and hath given Him a name which is above all names.

 

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, alleluia. V. Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the load that hangs thereon: to bear up the King and Lord of Heaven nought was worthy save thou, O holy cross. Alleluia.


GOSPEL: John 12: 31-36

The continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. John

At that time: Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews,

“Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself.”

(Now this He said, signifying what death He should die.) The multitude answered Him, “We have heard out of the law, that Christ abideth forever: and how sayest Thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is the Son of man?” Jesus therefore said to them,

“Yet a little while, the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, that the darkness overtake you not. And he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. Whilst you have the light, believe in the light; that you may be the children of light.”

 

OFFERTORY

Through the sign of the holy cross, protect Thy people, O Lord, from the snares of all enemies, that we may pay Thee a pleasing service, and our sacrifice be acceptable, alleluia.

 

SECRET

Being about to be fed with the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, through Whom the banner of the cross was sanctified, we beseech Thee O Lord, our God, that, as we have had the grace to adore it, so we may forever enjoy the effect of its salutary glory. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God.

 

PREFACE – Preface of the Holy Cross

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 didst establish the salvation of mankind on the tree of the Cross that whence death came, thence also life might rise again, and that he, who overcame by the tree, by the tree also might be overcome: Through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy majesty, the Dóminations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:

 

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:   Ps. 78: 2, 11

Through the sign of the cross deliver us from our enemies, O our God.

 

POSTCOMMUNION

Assist us mercifully, O Lord our God:  that we whom thou dost suffer to rejoice in honoring the Holy Cross, may be defended by the perpetual succour of the same.  Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

  




 HYMN

 

O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!

 

O sing, my tongue, the victory of the glorious

combat! Tell how was won the noble triumph

on the trophy of the Cross, and how

the world's Redeemer, when immolated,

conquered.

 

O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!

 

Our Creator compassionated his creature,

our First Parent, when being deceived,

he be came a victim of death by eating

the fatal fruit: and even then he chose

the Tree, whereby to make good the

evils brought on us by that other tree.

 

O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!

 

This was the plan designed for our salvation,

that sacrifice divine should foil the artifice

of Satan, the arch- seducer; and turn the

very instrument, wherewith the enemy

had wounded us, into our remedy.

 

O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!

 

When, therefore, the fullness of God's time

had come, the Son, by whom the world

was made, was sent from heaven; and

having clothed himself with our flesh,

in the Virgin's womb, he came among us.

 

O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!

 

He lies a weeping Babe in a little crib.

His Virgin Mother swathes his limbs with clothes.

The hands and feet of God are tied with bands!

 

O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!

 

Thirty years he lived on earth, and his mortal life

was nigh its end. He, our Redeemer, willingly

gave himself up to his Passion; He, the

Lamb of Sacrifice, was raised upon the Cross.

 

O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!

 

His drink is gall; his strength is gone; his tender

flesh is pierced with thorns, and nails, and spear;

and from it flows a stream of water and blood,

wherewith the earth and sea, the stars and

world, are washed.

 

O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!

 

Bow down thy branches, lofty Tree!

unstring thy sinews, soften thine inborn

hardness, and gently welcome the body

of our Almighty King!


O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!

 

Thou alone wast found worthy to bear the Victim

of the world! Thou wast the Ark that led this ship-

wrecked world into the haven of salvation!

The sacred Blood that flowed from the

Lamb covered and anointed thee.

 

O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!

 

To the Blessed Trinity be glory everlasting!

To the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

be equal praise! May heaven and earth

praise the Name of the Triune God! Amen.

 

O Faithful Cross! thou noblest of all trees.

No forest yields thy like, in leaf, or flower, or fruit.

Sweet is the Wood, that hath nails so sweet,

and bears so sweet a weight!