ST. PETER OF ALCANTARA - MASS PROPERS

      St. Peter of Alcantara appears to St. Teresa of Avila

   St Peter of Alcantara, Confessor

Peter, while still a youth, left his home at Alcantara , in Spain, and entered a convent of Discalced Franciscans. He rose quickly to high posts in the Order, but his thirst for penance was still unappeased, and in 1539, being then forty years old, he founded the first convent of the “ Strict Observance.” The cells of the friars resembled graves rather than dwelling-places. That of St. Peter himself was four feet and a half in length, so that he could never lie down; he ate but once in three days; his sack cloth habit and a cloak were his only garments, and he never covered his head or feet. In the bitter winter he would open the door and window of his cell that, by closing them again, he might experience some sensation of warmth. Amongst those whom he trained to perfection was St. Teresa. He read her soul, approved of her spirit of prayer, and strengthened her to carry out her reforms. St. Peter died, with great joy, kneeling in prayer, October 18, 1562, at the age of sixty-three.

                October 19

    St Peter of Alcantara, Confessor

  Monday in the Twenty-First Week

            After Pentecost

    Double/White Vestments

    Missa 'Justus Ut Palma'

                                                 

INTROIT - Psalm 91: 13,14,2

Justus ut palma florebit: sicut cedrus Libani multiplicabitur: plantatus in domo Domini: in atriis domus Dei nostri. Ps. Bonum est confiteri Domino: et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime. Gloria Patri.

The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus: planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Ps. It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to Thy name, O Most High. Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

God, Who didst vouchsafe to make blessed Peter, Thy Confessor, glorious by the gift of a wonderful spirit of penance and most lofty contemplation: grant us, we beseech Thee, that, through his interceding merits, being mortified in the flesh, we may the more easily understand the things of heaven. Through Our Lord.

              St. Paul Preaching Among Ruins 

EPISTLE - Philippians 3: 7-12

Brethren, the things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ. Furthermore, I count all things to be but loss, for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as dung, that I may win Christ; and may be found in Him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God, justice in faith; that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings; being made conformable to His death, if by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead; not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus.

GRADUAL - Psalm 36: 30-31

The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment. The law of His God is in his heart: and his steps shall not be supplanted.

ALLELUIA - Psalm 111: 1

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments. Alleluia.

GOSPEL - Luke 12: 32-34

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom. Sell what you possess, and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in Heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

OFFERTORY - Psalm 20: 2-3

In Thy strength, O Lord, the just man shall joy, and in Thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly: Thou hast given him his heart’s desire.

SECRET 

Grant us, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the offering we humbly bring may be pleasing to Thee in honour of Thy Saints, and purify us alike in body and soul. Through Our Lord.

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, eternal God: through Christ our Lord. through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, Dominations worship, 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…

COMMUNION - Matthew 19: 28, 29

Amen I say to you, that you, who have left all things and followed Me, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.

POSTCOMMUNION

We beseech Thee, almighty God, that we, who have received heavenly nourishment, may thereby, at the intercession of blessed Peter, Thy Confessor, be defended against all adversity. Through our Lord.