SAINTE ANGELA MERICI, VIRGIN
Psalter III
GREEN//WHITE
She was born in Desenziano, in Lombardy, in about 1470. She became a Franciscan tertiary and set up a school to instruct girls in Christanity and good works. In 1535 she founded the Ursulines, an order of nuns devoted to giving a Christian education to girls from poor families. She died in 1540.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 95: 1, 6
O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19
David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David amid festivities. As soon as the bearers of the ark of the Lord had advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the Lord with abandon, as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn. The ark of the Lord was brought in and set in its place within the tent David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. When he finished making these offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. He then distributed among all the people, to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel, a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake. With this, all the people left for their homes.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10
R/ Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
- Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in!
- Who is this king of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.
- Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in!
- Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory.
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 11:25
Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 3:31-35
The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept our offerings, O Lord, we pray, and in sanctifying them grant that they may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 33: 6
Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, receiving the grace by which you bring us to new life, we may always glory in your gift. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Whoever does the will of God is my mother, brother and sister.” We all know people who reject their biological parents because they received no love or care from them. On the other hand, we have friends whom we refer to as brothers or sisters because the affection they show to us. Clearly, love can build bonds which are even stronger than family ties. This is also true of our relationship with God; God has only one begotten Son, but we become his sons and daughters if we love him and do his will. David loved God so much that he offered him sacrifices and danced to glorify his name. Mary loved God so much that she surrendered herself to his will by accepting to be the mother of his Son Jesus. She treasured the Word of God her heart and meditated on it; she followed Jesus right to the foot of the cross, and she joined the first Christian community in constant prayer. Let David and Mary be our models; supported by their prayers, may we learn to love and God and obey his will like tem, and we shall be true children of God.