March 8
St. John of
God, Confessor
Nothing in John's early life foreshadowed his future sanctity. He ran
away as a boy from his home in Portugal, tended sheep and cattle in Spain, and
served as a soldier against the French, and afterwards against the Turks. When
about forty years of age, feeling remorse for his wild life, he resolved to
devote himself to the ransom of the Christian slaves in Africa, and went
thither with the family of an exiled noble, which he maintained by his labor.
On his return to Spain he sought to do good by selling holy pictures and books
at low prices. At length the hour of grace struck. At Granada a sermon by the
celebrated John of Avila shook his soul to its depths, and his expressions of
self-abhorrence were so extraordinary that he was taken to the asylum as one mad.
There he employed himself in ministering to the sick. On leaving he began to
collect homeless poor, and to support them by his work and by begging. One
night St. John found in the streets a poor man who seemed near death, and, as
was his wont, he carried him to the hospital, laid him on a bed, and went to
fetch water to wash his feet. When he had washed them, he knelt to kiss them,
and started with awe: the feet were pierced, and the print of the nails bright
with an unearthly radiance. He raised his eyes to look, and heard the words,
"John, to Me thou doest all that thou doest to the poor in My name: I
reach forth My hand for the alms thou givest; Me dost thou clothe, Mine are the
feet thou dost wash." And then the gracious vision disappeared, leaving St.
John filled at once with confusion and consolation. The bishop became the
Saint's patron, and gave him the name of John of God. When his hospital was on
fire, John was seen rushing about uninjured amidst the flames until he had
rescued all his poor. After ten years spent in the service of the suffering,
the Saint's life was fitly closed. He plunged into the river Xenil to save a
drowning boy, and died, 1550, of an illness brought on by the attempt, at the
age of fifty-five.
TUESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK
IN LENT
ST. JOHN OF GOD, CONFESSOR
COMMEMORATION
FOR FERIA OF LENT
STATION
AT ST. LAURENCE IN DAMASO
DOUBLE - WHITE VESTMENTS
Missa
‘Os justi’
Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul and with
thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.
INTROIT
Psalm 36:
30-31
Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus
loquetur judicium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius. Ps. Noli æmulari in
malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem. Gloria Patri.
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his
tongue shall speak judgment: the law of his God is in his heart. Ps. Be not
emulous of evildoers: nor envy them that work iniquity. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
O God, who didst cause blessed John, when burning with
love of Thee, to walk unscathed through flames, and who by him didst enrich Thy
Church with a new religious order: grant through the help of his merits, that
our vices may be healed by the fire of Thy love, and that we may receive
remedies unto eternal life. Through our Lord.
COMMEMORATION
FERIA IN LENT
May the sacred practice of fasting, we beseech You, O
Lord, win for us increased holiness of life and the continuing help of Your
mercy. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE
Ecclesiasticus
31: 8-11
Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish:
and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures.
Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his
life. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory
everlasting. He that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed: and
could do evil things, and hath not done them: Therefore are his goods
established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his
alms.
GRADUAL
Psalm 91: 13,
14
The Just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall
grow up like the cedar of Libanus in the house of the Lord. To show forth Thy
mercy in the morning, and Thy truth in the night.
TRACT
Psalm 111: 1-3
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall
delight exceedingly in His commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth:
the generation of the righteous shall be blessed. Glory and wealth shall be in
his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.
GOSPEL
Matthew 22.
34-46
At that time the Pharisees came to Jesus, and one of
them, a doctor of the law, asked Him, tempting Him: Master, which is the great
commandment of the law? Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy
whole soul and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first
commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets. And
the Pharisees being gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying: What think you of Christ, whose son is He?
They say to Him: David’s. He saith to them: How then doth David, in spirit, call Him
Lord, saying: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit on my right hand until I make Thy
enemies Thy footstool? If David then call Him Lord, how is He his son? And
no man was able to answer Him a word; neither durst any man, from that day
forth, ask Him any more questions.
OFFERTORY
Psalm 88: 25
My truth and My mercy shall be with him: and in My
name shall his horn be exalted.
SECRET
In memory of Thy Saints, O Lord, we offer Thee the
sacrifice of praise, by which we trust to be freed from both present and future
evils. Through our Lord.
COMMEMORATION
FERIA IN LENT
May this offering, O Lord, we beseech You, wipe away
our sins, and make holy the minds and bodies of Your servants for celebrating
this Sacrifice. Through our Lord.
PREFACE FOR
LENT
It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto
salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto Thee,
O holy Lord, Father almighty and everlasting God. Who by the fasting of the
body dost curb our vices, elevate our minds and bestow virtue and reward;
through Christ our Lord. Through whom the angels praise Thy majesty, the
dominions worship it, and the powers stand in awe. The heavens and the heavenly
hosts, with the blessed seraphim join together in celebrating their joy. With
these we pray Thee join our voices also, while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION
Matthew 24:
46-47
Blessed is that servant, whom when his Lord shall come
he shall find watching: amen I say to you, he shall place him over all his
goods.
POSTCOMMUNION
Refreshed by meat and drink from heaven, O God, we
humbly entreat Thee, that we may be protected by the prayers of him in whose
memory we have partaken. Through our Lord.
COMMEMORATION
FERIA IN LENT
May the reception of this sacrament, O Lord, cleanse
us from guilt and bring us to the kingdom of heaven. Through our Lord.
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