May 4
St.
Monica, Widow
Monica, the mother of St. Augustine,
was born in 332. After a girlhood of singular innocence and piety, she was
given in marriage to Patricius, a pagan. She at once devoted herself to his
conversion, praying for him always, and winning his reverence and love by the
holiness of her life and her affectionate forbearance. She was rewarded by
seeing him baptized a year before his death. When her son Augustine went astray
in faith and manners her prayers and tears were incessant. She was once very
urgent with a learned bishop that he would talk to her son in order to bring
him to a better mind, but he declined, despairing of success with one at once
so able and so headstrong. However, on witnessing her prayers and tears, he
bade her be of good courage; for it might not be that the child of those tears
should perish. By going to Italy, Augustine could for a time free himself from
his mother's importunities; but he could not escape from her prayers, which
encompassed him like the providence of God. She followed him to Italy, and
there by his marvelous conversion her sorrow was turned into joy. At Ostia, on
their homeward journey, as Augustine and his mother sat at a window conversing
of the life of the blessed, she turned to him and said, "Son, there is
nothing now I care for in this life. What I shall now do or why I am here, I
know not. The one reason I had for wishing to linger in this life a little
longer was that I might see you a Catholic Christian before I died. This has
God granted me superabundantly in seeing you reject earthly happiness to become
His servant. What do I here?" A few days afterwards she had an attack of
fever, and died in the year 387.
ST.
MONICA, WIDOW
COMMEMORATION FOR
ROGATION WEDNESDAY
VIGIL OF THE ASCENSION
Double – White vestments
MISSA
‘COGNOVI’
INTROIT
- Psalm 118: 75, 120
Cognovi, Domine, quia æquitas judicia tua, et in
veritate tua humiliasti me: confige timore tuo carnes meas, a mandatis tuis
timui. Ps 118. Beati immaculati in via: qui ambulant in lege Domini. Gloria
Patri.
I know, O Lord that Thy judgments are equity, and
in Thy truth Thou hast humbled me: pierce Thou my flesh with Thy fear, I am
afraid of Thy judgments.
Ps. Blessed are the undefiled in the way: who walk in the law of the Lord.
Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
O God, the consoler of them that mourn and the
health of them that hope in Thee, Who didst show Thine acceptance of blessed
Monica’s pious tears in the conversion of her son Augustine, grant us, by the
intercession of them both, to deplore our sins and find the mercy of Thy grace.
Through our Lord.
Collect
for Rogation Wednesday
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we,
who in our affliction put our trust in Thy mercy, may ever be defended by Thy
protection against all adversity. Through our Lord.
Vigil
of the Ascension
O God, from Whom all good things do come, grant
unto us, Thy suppliant people, that by Thine inspiration, we may think what is
right, and under Thy guidance perform the same. Through our Lord
EPISTLE
- I Timothy 5: 3-10
Lesson
from First Epistle of Saint Paul to Timothy
Dearly beloved: Honor widows that are widows
indeed. But if any widow have children, or grandchildren, let her learn first
to govern her own house, and to make a return of duty to her parents: for this
is acceptable before God. But she that is a widow indeed and desolate, let her
trust in God, and continue in prayers and supplications night and day. For she
that liveth in pleasures, is dead while she is living. And this give in charge,
that they may be blameless. But if any man have not care of his own, and
especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than
an infidel. Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who
hath been the wife of one husband, having testimony for her good works, if she
have brought up children, if she have received to harbor, if she have washed
the saints’ feet, if she have ministered to them that suffer tribulation, if
she have diligently followed every good work.
PASCHAL
ALLELUIA - Psalm 44: 5
Alleluia, alleluia. With thy comeliness, and thy
beauty, set out, proceed prosperously, and reign.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia. Because of truth, and meekness, and
justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
- Luke 7: 11-16
Continuation
of the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke
At that time, Jesus went into a city called Naim:
and there went with Him His disciples, and a great multitude. And when He came
nigh to the gate of the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only son
of his mother, and she was a widow, and many people of the city were with her.
And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said to her: Weep not. And He came near and touched the bier. And they that
carried it stood still. And He said: Young man, I say to thee, Arise. And he that was
dead, sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother. And there
came a fear on them all: and they glorified God, saying: A great Prophet is
risen up amongst us, and God has visited His people.
OFFERTORY
- Psalm 44: 3
Grace is poured abroad in thy lips: therefore God
hath blessed thee for ever and for ages of ages.
SECRET
May the offerings of thy holy people be accepted by
Thee, O Lord, in honour of Thy saints, through whose merits they know that they
have received aid in time of trouble. Through our Lord.
Rogation
Wednesday
May these oblations, O Lord, we beseech Thee, loosen
the bonds of our wickedness, and obtain for us the gifts of Thy mercy. Through
our Lord.
Vigil
of the Ascension
Accept, O Lord, the prayers and gifts of Thy
faithful people, that, through these rites of love and devotion we may pass to
the glory of heaven. Through our Lord.
PREFACE
OF EASTER
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
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus qui venit
in nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis.
COMMUNION
- Psalm 44: 8
Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity:
therefore God thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy
fellows. Alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
Having fed Thy family, O Lord, with holy gifts, we
beseech Thee, ever to comfort us by the intercession of her whose festival we
celebrate. Through our Lord.
Rogation
Wednesday
Favourably receive our prayers, O Lord, we beseech
Thee: may we in our distress be consoled by Thy gifts and grow in love
accordingly. Through our Lord.
Vigil
of the Ascension
Grant, O Lord, that we who have been fed with the
strengthening food of Your heavenly table, may desire what is right and obtain
what we desire. Through our Lord.
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