Saint Patrick (385 – 461)
Psalter: Week II
Purple
He was born in Roman Britain around the end of the 4th century, and died in Ireland about the middle of the 5th century. He is remembered for his simplicity and pastoral care of people.
Entrance Antiphon: cf. Ps.95:2–3
Proclaim the salvation of God day by day; tell among the nations his glory.
Collect
O God, who chose the Bishop Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the peoples of Ireland, grant, through his merits and intercession, that those who glory in the name of Christian may never cease to proclaim your wondrous deeds to all. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 1 Peter 4:7-11
Everything will soon come to an end, so, to pray better, keep a calm and sober mind. Above all, never let your love for each other grow insincere, since love covers over many a sin. Welcome each other into your houses without grumbling. Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourselves at the service of others. If you are a speaker, speak in words which seem to come from God; if you are a helper, help as though every action was done at God’s orders; so that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ, since to him alone belong all glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 95(96):1-3,7-8,10
R/ Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
O sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
Proclaim his help day by day, tell among the nations his glory and his wonders among all the peoples.
Give the Lord, you families of peoples, give the Lord glory and power; give the Lord the glory of his name.
Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’ The world he made firm in its place; he will judge the peoples in fairness.
Gospel Acclamation: Lk4:17
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’ Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.
Prayer over the Offerings
Lord, accept this pure sacrifice which, through the labours of Saint Patrick, your grateful people make to the glory of your name. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Lk.22:29-30
I confer a kingdom on you just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Strengthen us, O Lord, by this sacrament, so that we may profess the faith taught by Saint Patrick and proclaim it by our way of living. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
Confirm the hearts of your faithful, O Lord, we pray, and strengthen them by the power of your grace, that they may be constant in making supplication to you and sincere in love for one another. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus reveals a ‘two-fold’ dynamic of mercy: ‘asking God for mercy on us’ and ‘opening our hearts to extend mercy to others as well’. Jesus encourages us to apply this dual aspect of mercy to everyone without limitations, emphasising that “the measure with which you will measure others will be measured out to you”. This implies that if we judge others using our limited standards, we, too, may face condemnation. We are urged to unclench our unforgiving grip on judgement and open our hearts to others, recognising that we might face a harsher judgement if we hold others to the same standard we set for ourselves.