THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS OF THE SERVITE ORDER
Psalter II | GREEN
In the early thirteenth century seven young Florentines formed a confraternity of laymen devoted to the praise of Mary. In 1233, after a vision on the feast of the Assumption, they took up the life of hermits on Monte Senario outside Florence. They went preaching through the whole of Tuscany and founded the order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Servites, whose foundation was approved by the Pope in 1304.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 30:3-4
Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.
Collect
O God, who teach us that you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you. 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: James 1:12-18
Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him. No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19
R/ Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
- Blessed the man whom you instruct, O Lord, whom by your law you teach, Giving him rest from evil days.
- For the Lord will not cast off his people, nor abandon his inheritance; But judgment shall again be with justice, and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
- When I say, “My foot is slipping,” your mercy, O Lord, sustains me; When cares abound within me, your comfort gladdens my soul.
Saint Biography
In the early thirteenth century seven young Florentines formed a confraternity of laymen devoted to the praise of Mary. In 1233, after a vision on the feast of the Assumption, they took up the life of hermits on Monte Senario outside Florence. They went preaching through the whole of Tuscany and founded the order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Servites, whose foundation was approved by the Pope in 1304.
Gospel Acclamation: John 14:23
Alleluia, alleluia. Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 8:14-21
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Prayer over the Offerings
May this oblation, O Lord, we pray, cleanse and renew us and may it become for those who do your will the source of eternal reward. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 77: 29-30
They ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them; they were not disappointed in what they craved.
Prayer after Communion
Having fed upon these heavenly delights, we pray, O Lord, so that we may always long for that food by which we truly live. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation.” Temptation is not sin; it is an invitation to sin. Temptation does not come from God, for God does not want us to sin; it comes from the Evil One, who seeks to lead us astray. He tempts us through our desires, which in themselves are not bad but can lead us into sin. We all possess bodily urges, as well as aspirations to social, political and economic advancement and recognition. The devil tempts us by proposing means of satisfying these desires which are quick and effective, but which go contrary to what God expects of us. We can see this with the Pharisees; in their desire to observe the Law of Moses, they got carried away by the desire for self-aggrandisement, and as a result they became more interested in showing off their piety than teaching love and justice. This was why Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the yeast of the scribes and Pharisees, that is, of their teaching. May God grant us the wisdom to see the devil’s plans to mislead us and the courage to resist temptation and remain faithful to Jesus.