FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST – Mass Propers

                Dom Guéranger  – The Liturgical Year

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

“O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of your only Son, have confirmed by the testimony of the fathers of the mysteries of faith, and by the voice out of the cloud of light have served admirably in advance the perfect adoption of children; visit us in your merciful goodness the heirs workforce in this King of glory, making us partakers of the same glory that shines in him “. Noble formula that summarizes the prayer of the Church and gives us his thoughts on this feast of testimony and hope.

However, it should be noted first that the memory of the glorious Transfiguration has already represented for the sacred cycle; twice, the second Sunday of Lent and the previous Saturday, the story has gone before us. What to say, except that this solemnity is to less historical fact already known that the permanent mystery attached to it, the less personal favor honored that Simon Peter and the son of Zebedee as the fulfillment of august message that they were then responsible for the Church? Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man be risen from the dead. The Church was born of the open of the Man-God on the cross side, was not to meet with him face to face here on earth; when raised from the dead, he would have sealed his alliance with her ​​in the Holy Spirit sent from heaven for it is faith alone that was to feed his love. But, by the alternate view testimony, nothing is missing its legitimate aspirations to know.

         

Because of this, it is for her one day of his mortal life again, making truce to the common law of suffering and darkness he had set himself to save the world, he let his natural flow in the glory that filled his soul blessed. King of the Jews and Gentiles proved the mountain where his quiet splendor eclipsed forever the wrath of Sinai; Testament of the everlasting covenant declared, either in the enactment of a law of bondage engraved on the stone, but in demonstration of the legislator himself, coming in the guise of the Bridegroom rule by grace and beauty of the hearts. Prophecy and law, who prepared his ways in the centuries of waiting, Elijah and Moses, starting from different points met with him as faithful mails to destination; doing homage to the common Lord of their mission brought to completion, they faded before him at the Father’s voice saying, This is my beloved Son! Three witnesses, allowed more than all others, attended the solemn scene: a disciple of the faith, the love, and the other son of thunder which was the first seal blood apostolic faith and love. In accordance with the order and all propriety, they religiously kept the secret of King, until the day that it involved could receive the first communication of their predestined mouths.

On August 6  was that day forever precious to the Church? More than one doctor says the sacred rites. At least it was appropriate that the wealthy souvenir barrel preferably celebrated in the month of Eternal Wisdom, shine of the uncreated light, spotless mirror of the infinite goodness, it was she who, spreading through on the lips of the Son of Man, in fact today the most beautiful of his brothers, and dictates more melodious than ever cantor inspired accents the wedding song: My heart has uttered a good word, Christ ‘ is the King that I dedicate my song.

Today, seven months since the Epiphany fully express the mystery in which the first announcement lit so sweet rays Cycle in its infancy; by virtue of the sevenfold revealed by new beginnings for the blessed hope that we celebrate when children ourselves with Jesus child, grew up as the Man-God and the Church; and it established in the ineffable peace of full growth which gives the husband, calls all his son to grow as it by the contemplation of the Son of God to the measure of age Perfect Christ . Therefore understand the recovery date, in the Sacred Liturgy, formulas and songs of the glorious Theophany. Arise, O Jerusalem! Be illuminated; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. This is because, on the mountain, with the Lord is glorified as the bride, resplendent itself the glory of God.

For while “his face shone like the sun, says the Gospel of Jesus, his garments became white as snow”. Now these clothes, as a burst of snow, observes St. Mark, there was no fuller that can also make the white on earth, what are they if not the just inseparable of the Man-God and his royal ornament, otherwise the seamless robe which is the Church, and that the gentle sovereign celebrated yesterday continues to weave his Son from the purest wool, the finest linen has ever found the strong woman? Also, although the Lord passed through the torrent of pain, either personally already entered no return in glory, the mystery of the Transfiguration radiant will be complete at the time of the last of elected, having himself gone through the laborious preparation of the divine Fuller and tasted death, in his resurrection has joined the head worshiped. Face of Christ, rapture of heaven, it is then that you will shine all glory, all beauty, all love. Expressing God in direct likeness of the Son by nature, you will extend the complacency of the Father to reflect his Word constituting the adopted son, and playing in the Holy Spirit until the last fringes of the mantle that fills below him the temple.

According to the doctrine of the Angel of the school, in fact, the adoption of the children of God, which consists of an image consistent with the Son of God by nature, occurs in two ways: first, by the grace of this life, and that is imperfect compliance; Then the glory of the country, and this is the perfect compliance, according to the words of St. John: “We are now children of God, and yet what we will not yet appear; we know that when Jesus shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see Him as He is “.

     

The eternal word: You are my Son I have begotten you today, had two echoes in time, the Jordan and on Tabor; And God never [repeats, did not in this exception to the rule to say that once he says. For though the language in the two circumstances are identical, they do not have the same goal, always says St. Thomas, but to show how different this man participates in the likeness of the eternal sonship. At the baptism of the Lord, which was declared the mystery of the first regeneration, as in his Transfiguration shows us the second the whole Trinity appeared: the Father in the voice heard, the Son in his humanity, the Holy Spirit of First as a dove, and then in the bright cloud; for if in baptism confers innocence that is designated by the simplicity of the dove in the resurrection it will give elected clarity of glory and refreshment of all evil, that is served by the bright cloud.          

But without waiting for the day when our Savior desired renew our bodies themselves under the glorious light of her divine body, even down here already, the mystery of the Transfiguration radiant occurs in our souls. It is this life it was written, and that today the Church sings: The God who shined in the darkness hath shined in our hearts, to enlighten the science of clarity of God through Jesus Christ’s face. Tabor, holy and divine mountain that rivaled with the heavens, how not to repeat with Peter, we are good to live your top! Because your top is love charity, which dominates the middle of the virtues as you carried off in grace, height, perfume, on the other mountains of Galilee which also saw Jesus passing, speaking, pray, work wonders, but do not experience the intimacy of the perfect. It was after six days observed the Gospel, and therefore in the rest of the seventh, which already borders on the eighth of the resurrection, that Jesus is revealed to privileged meet his love. The kingdom of God is within us; when leaving asleep while remembering the way we rise by prayer above works and concerns of the world, we are given to enter with the God-man in the cloud there, staring directly glory, has provided the exile, are changed clarity clarity through the power of his Spirit in his own image.

“So, exclaims St. Ambrose, up to the mountain; beseech the Word of God to show us in its splendor, in its beauty; it strengthens, it progresses fortunately he reigns in our souls. For deep mystery! On your measure, the Word decreases or grows in you. If you do win it higher than the top human thought, Wisdom does not appear to you; The Word shows you like a body without glamor glory “.

If the vocation which is revealed to you this day is so great and holy spot, “revere God’s call, in turn restates Andrew of Crete: Do not ignore thyself, does not disdain a gift so great, neither make thyself unworthy of grace, do not be so loose in your life than to lose this treasure of heaven. Leave the earth to the earth, and the dead bury their dead; despising everything that happens, all that goes out with the century and the flesh was inseparably Christ to heaven that is under way in this world to you. Help yourself of fear and desire, to rule and failure to keep love. Gives you a whole; be flexible to the Word in the Holy Spirit, for the continuation of this blessed and pure: your deification, with the enjoyment of property unspeakable. By the zeal of virtue, by the contemplation of truth, by wisdom, comes to wisdom, principle of all and which remain all things “.

             

   Pope Saint Sixtus II, Saints Felicissimus and Agapitus, Martyrs

 There is also a commemoration of Pope Saint Sixtus, Saints Felicissimus and Agapitus, Martyrs. Pope St. Sixtus II, 24th Successor of St. Peter, effected the translation of the mortal remains of the man Christ chose as the first Sovereign Pontiff of His Church. Sixtus also introduced the Latin exclamation Deo gratias into the Ordinary of the holy Mass. He is also referred to as Xystus and is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass. He served in a basilica in Rome, which is called Saint Peter ad Vincula (in chains) was the first martyr actually put to death in the catacombs themselves. Under the Emperor Valerian (258) he was beheaded on his throne just as he finished Mass. His four deacons were put to death with him, and two others, Felicissimus and Agapitus, were decapitated the same day while St. Lawrence, the archdeacon, was put to death three days later.

FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 

Thursday in the Tenth week after Pentecost / 
Commemoration: St Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr, and Felicissimus and Agapitus – Martyrs

Missa ‘Illuxerunt Coruscationes’                               

INTROIT

Illuxérunt coruscatiónes, tuae orbi terrae: commota est, et contrémuit terra. (Ps. 38: 2, 3) Quam dilécta tabernácula tua, Dómine virtútum! concupíscit et déficit anima mea in atria Dómini. v. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancti sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et saecula saeculorum

 

Introit: Psalm 76: 19

Thy lightnings enlightened the world: the earth shook and trembled. (Ps. 83: 2, 3) How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. 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.

COLLECT

O God, Who in the glorious transfiguration of Thine only-begotten Son didst strengthen the sacraments of faith by the testimony of the fathers, and Who didst wonderfully foreshow the perfect adoption of Thy children by a voice coming down in a shining cloud, mercifully grant that we be made co-heirs of the King of glory Himself, and grant us to be sharers in that very glory. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God

 2nd COLLECT – Commemoration of Pope St. Sixtus II and Companion martyrs

O God, Who dost permit us to celebrate the birthday of Thy holy martyrs, Sixtus, Felicissimus, and Agapitus grant us to enjoy their companionship in everlasting beatitude. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God 

EPISTLE: 2 Peter 1: 16-19  

Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Peter the Apostle.

Dearly beloved, We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ; but having been made eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory: this voice coming down to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him. And this voice we heard brought from Heaven, when we were with Him in the holy mount. And we have the more firm prophetical word, where unto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.

GRADUAL:  Psalm 44: 3, 2

Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in Thy lips. My heart hath uttered a good word. I speak my works to the King.

Alleluia Wis. 7: 26

Alleluia, alleluia. He is the brightness of eternal light, the unspotted mirror, and the image of His goodness. Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Matthew 17: 9

The continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.

At that time, Jesus took Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringing them up into a high mountain apart: and He was transfigured before them. And His face did shine as the sun, and His garments became white as snow. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with Him. And Peter answering, said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them; and lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying “This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him.” And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face; and were very much afraid: and Jesus came and touched them, and said to them, “Arise, and fear not.” And they lifting up their eyes saw no one, but only Jesus. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, “Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead.” 

OFFERTORY - Psalm 111: 3

Glory and wealth are in His house: and His justice remaineth forever and ever. Alleluia.

SECRET

Sanctify, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gifts offered on the glorious transfiguration of Thine only-begotten Son, and by the splendors of that very illumination cleanse us from the stains of our sins. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.

2nd SECRET – Commemoration Secret of Pope St. Sixtus II and Companion Martyrs

We offer Thee, O Lord, the gifts of our devotion; may they be rendered both pleasing unto Thee, for the honor of Thy just ones, and to us, through Thy mercy, helpful to salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God

PREFACE FOR THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD

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 be through Him be drawn to the love of things invisible. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dóminations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:

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: Matthew 17: 9

Tell the vision you have seen to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead.

POSTCOMMUNION

Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that with the understanding of a purified mind we may follow those sacred mysteries of Thy Son’s transfiguration which we celebrate with our solemn office. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, For ever and ever.

    

POSTCOMMUNION  

Commemoration Postcommunion of Pope St. Sixtus II

Grant us, we beseech Thee; O Lord, by the intercession of Thy holy martyrs, Sixtus, Felicissimus, and Agapitus, that what we touch with our lips we may receive with a pure heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God…