Thursday 16th May

Saint Simon Stock

(c.1165 – 1265)`

White

He became a Carmelite, and in 1245 or 1247 was elected the sixth general of the order. As a result of Simon’s work, Pope Innocent IV placed the order under the special protection of the Holy See. After this the order grew greatly, especially in England.

Entrance Antiphon : Heb 4: 16

With boldness let us approach the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace as a timely help, alleluia.

Collect

May your Spirit, O Lord, we pray, imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts, that he may give us a mind pleasing to you and graciously conform us to your will. 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 : Acts 22:30,23:6-11

Since the tribune wanted to know what precise charge the Jews were bringing, he freed Paul and gave orders for a meeting of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin; then he brought Paul down and stood him in front of them. Now Paul was well aware that one section was made up of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, so he called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees. It is for our hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’ As soon as he said this a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was split between the two parties. For the Sadducees say there is neither resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, while the Pharisees accept all three. The shouting grew louder, and some of the Scribes from the Pharisees’ party stood up and protested strongly, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?’ Feeling was running high, and the tribune, afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered his troops to go down and haul him out and bring him into the fortress. Next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome.’

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm15:1-2,5,7-11

R/  Preserve me, Lord, I take refuge in you.

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God. O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize.’

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart. I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my body shall rest in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay.

You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness for ever.

Gospel Acclamation : cf.Jn16:7,13

Alleluia, alleluia! I will send you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will lead you to the complete truth. Alleluia!

Gospel : John 17:20-26

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me. I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me and that I have loved them as much as you loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me. I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.’

Prayer over the Offerings

Graciously sanctify these gifts, O Lord, we pray, and, accepting the oblation of this spiritual sacrifice, make of us an eternal offering to you. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon : Jn 16: 7

I tell you the truth, it is for your good that I go; for if I do not go away, the Paraclete will not come to you, says the Lord, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion

May the mysteries we have received, O Lord, we pray, enlighten us by the instruction they bring and restore us through our participation in them, that we may merit the gifts of the Spirit. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

Jesus prays for the unity of Christians. He prays that all those who believe in his message may be one, just as he and his heavenly Father are together. More than ever, we Christians need unity. We are divided into countless denominations and Churches, and we quarrel with each other and criticise each other. It is time for us to put aside our differences and focus on what unites us: our faith in the name of Jesus. Let us dialogue with each other and, with one voice, proclaim and defend the values of the Christian message in the world. Let us pray and work for the unity of all Christians.

Mercredi 15 mai

Sainte DENISE

Blanc

Elle fut martyrisée vers 250 en Turquie tout simplement parce que les gardes du Proconsul s’étaient rendus compte qu’elle était chrétienne.

Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 26, 7-9

Tous les peuples, battez des mains, acclamez Dieu par vos cris de joie. Alléluia.

Prière  d’ouverture

Dieu d’infinie bonté, nous t’en prions: accorde à ton Eglise rassemblée par l’Esprit Saint de se dévouer de tout cœur à ton service, et d’être unie dans l’accomplissement de ta volonté. Par Jésus.

1ère lecture : Act, 20, 28-38

En ces jours-là, Paul faisait ses adieux aux Anciens de l’Église d’Éphèse. Il leur disait : « Veillez sur vous-mêmes, et sur tout le troupeau dont l’Esprit Saint vous a établis responsables, pour être les pasteurs de l’Église de Dieu, qu’il s’est acquise par son propre sang. Moi, je sais qu’après mon départ, des loups redoutables s’introduiront chez vous et n’épargneront pas le troupeau. Même du milieu de vous surgiront des hommes qui tiendront des discours pervers pour entraîner les disciples à leur suite. Soyez donc vigilants, et souvenez-vous que, durant trois ans, nuit et jour, je n’ai cessé, dans les larmes, de reprendre chacun d’entre vous. Et maintenant, je vous confie à Dieu et à la parole de sa grâce, lui qui a le pouvoir de construire l’édifice et de donner à chacun l’héritage en compagnie de tous ceux qui ont été sanctifiés. Je n’ai convoité ni l’argent ni l’or ni le vêtement de personne. Vous le savez bien vous-mêmes : les mains que voici ont pourvu à mes besoins et à ceux de mes compagnons. En toutes choses, je vous ai montré qu’en se donnant ainsi de la peine, il faut secourir les faibles et se souvenir des paroles du Seigneur Jésus, car lui-même a dit : Il y a plus de bonheur à donner qu’à recevoir. » Quand Paul eut ainsi parlé, il s’agenouilla et pria avec eux tous. Tous se mirent à pleurer abondamment ; ils se jetaient au cou de Paul et l’embrassaient ; ce qui les affligeait le plus, c’est la parole qu’il avait dite: « Vous ne verrez plus mon visage.» Puis on l’accompagna jusqu’au bateau.

Psaume : 67 (68), 29-30, 33.34c.35a, 36

R/ Royaumes de la terre, chantez pour le Seigneur.

ou : Alléluia !

Ton Dieu l’a commandé : « Sois fort! » Montre ta force, Dieu, quand tu agis pour nous ! De ton palais, qui domine Jérusalem, on voit des rois t’apporter leurs présents.

Royaumes de la terre, chantez pour Dieu, jouez pour le Seigneur. Voici qu’il élève la voix, une voix puissante ; rendez la puissance à Dieu.

Redoutable est Dieu dans son temple saint, le Dieu d’Israël ; c’est lui qui donne à son peuple force et puissance. Béni soit Dieu!

Acclamation

Alléluia. Alléluia. Ta parole, Seigneur est vérité, dans cette vérité, sanctifie-nous. Alléluia. (Cf. Jn 17, 17a)

Évangile : Jean 17, 11b-19

En ce temps-là, les yeux levés au ciel, Jésus priait ainsi : « Père saint, garde mes disciples unis dans ton nom, le nom que tu m’as donné, pour qu’ils soient un, comme nous-mêmes. Quand j’étais avec eux, je les gardais unis dans ton nom, le nom que tu m’as donné. J’ai veillé sur eux, et aucun ne s’est perdu, sauf celui qui s’en va à sa perte de sorte que l’Écriture soit accomplie. Et maintenant que je viens à toi, je parle ainsi, dans le monde, pour qu’ils aient en eux ma joie, et qu’ils en soient comblés. Moi, je leur ai donné ta parole, et le monde les a pris en haine parce qu’ils n’appartiennent pas au monde, de même que moi je n’appartiens pas au monde. Je ne prie pas pour que tu les retires du monde, mais pour que tu les gardes du Mauvais. Ils n’appartiennent pas au monde, de même que moi, je n’appartiens pas au monde. Sanctifie-les dans la vérité : ta parole est vérité. De même que tu m’as envoyé dans le monde, moi aussi, je les ai envoyés dans le monde. Et pour eux je me sanctifie moi-même, afin qu’ils soient, eux aussi, sanctifiés dans la vérité. »

Prière  sur  les  offrandes

Accepte, Seigneur notre Dieu, le sacrifice que tu nous as dit de t’offrir, et par ces mystères célébrés pour ta gloire, daigne poursuivre en tes serviteurs ton œuvre de sanctification et de salut. Par Jésus.

Antienne de la communion

« Quand il viendra le Défenseur que je vous enverrai, dit le Seigneur, lui, l’Esprit d vérité qui procède du Père, il témoignera en ma faveur, et vous aussi, vous rendrez témoignage », alléluia.

Prière  après  la  communion

Que notre communion à ce mystère, Seigneur, ne cesse d’ajouter à ta grâce : qu’elle nous purifie de plus en plus et nous dispose à mieux recevoir un si grand bienfait. Par Jésus.

Méditation

Par cette prière belle et profonde le Christ opère une prise de conscience pour tout disciple tel qu’il soit, contemporain ou non,  de l’identité réelle du fidèle du Seigneur. Ayant pour dénominateur commun la Sainte Trinité, le chrétien se sait appeler à vivre dans un monde qui n’est plus le sien. Gagné au Christ, il œuvre à son tour pour l’avènement du règne de Dieu ou à la transformation du monde en une unité parfaite de l’Amour malgré les persécutions et les souffrances de l’ennemi. O Dieu tu es mon Dieu, je te cherche dès l’aube. Amen !

Wednesday 15th May

Saint Isidore the Farmer

(1070 – 1130)

`

White

He was born near Madrid to very poor parents. He was a labourer and later a bailiff on the estates of a landowner called Juan de Vargas. He was noted for his piety. He died on 15 May 1130.

Entrance Antiphon: Ps 46: 2           

All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy, alleluia.

Collect  

Graciously grant to your Church, O merciful God, that, gathered by the Holy Spirit,

she may be devoted to you with all her heart and united in purity of intent. 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 : Acts 20:28-38

Paul addressed these words to the elders of the Church of Ephesus: ‘Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers, to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood. I know quite well that when I have gone, fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the flock. Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them. So be on your guard, remembering how night and day for three years I never failed to keep you right, shedding tears over each one of you. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace that has power to build you up and to give you your inheritance among all the sanctified. ‘I have never asked anyone for money or clothes; you know for yourselves that the work I did earned enough to meet my needs and those of my companions. I did this to show you that this is how we must exert ourselves to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”’ When he had finished speaking he knelt down with them all and prayed. By now they were all in tears; they put their arms round Paul’s neck and kissed him; what saddened them most was his saying they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:29-30,33-36

R/           Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God.

Show forth, O God, show forth your might, your might, O God, which you have shown for us. For the sake of your temple high in Jerusalem may kings come to you bringing their tribute.

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, praise the Lord who rides on the heavens, the ancient heavens. He thunders his voice, his mighty voice. Come, acknowledge the power of God.

His glory is on Israel; his might is in the skies. God is to be feared in his holy place. He is the Lord, Israel’s God. He gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God!

Gospel Acclamation : Mt28:19,20

Alleluia, alleluia! Go, make disciples of all the nations. I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.  Alleluia!

Gospel : John 17:11-19

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us. While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost, and this was to fulfil the Scriptures. But now I am coming to you and while still in the world I say these things to share my joy with them to the full. I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world. I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.’

Prayer over the Offerings 

Accept, O Lord, we pray, the sacrifices instituted by your commands, and through the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate as our dutiful service, graciously complete the sanctifying work by which you are pleased to redeem us. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon: Jn 15: 26-27            

When the Paraclete comes, whom I will send you, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me, and you also will bear witness, says the Lord, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion 

May our partaking of this divine Sacrament, O Lord, constantly increase your grace within us, and, by cleansing us with its power, make us always ready to receive so great a gift. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

Jesus prays for his apostles, whom he will entrust with leading his Church. In the same way, Paul advises the elders of the Church of Ephesus, urging them to watch over the flock entrusted to their care and pray with them. The leaders of the Church have the difficult task of providing for the spiritual needs of Christians. They must teach them sound doctrine and cultivate the love of the Word of God. They have to govern them and get them to live and work together in love and unity. They have to sanctify them by giving them the sacraments. In addition, they have to show them the example of a holy life. Let us pray for them so that they may accomplish their mission faithfully.

Mardi 14 mai

Saint  MATTHIAS,

Apôtre

Rouge

Après l’Ascension du Seigneur, Matthias est élu pour remplacer Judas et compléter le nombre des Douze. Avant l’élection, Pierre rappelle quelle est la mission essentielle des Apôtres, afin de définir les conditions que doit remplir l’élu. Les Douze doivent témoigner que Jésus, cet homme dont ils ont partagé la vie avant qu’il ne meure crucifié, a été ressuscité par Dieu dont il partage maintenant la gloire.

Antienne  d’ouverture  : Ac 1,14

« Ce n’est pas vous qui m’avez choisi, dit le Seigneur, c’est moi qui vous ai choisis, je vous ai mis à cette place afin que vous partiez, que vous donniez du fruit, et que votre fruit demeure. »

Prière  d’ouverture

Dieu qui as choisi saint Matthias pour compléter le collège des Apôtres, accorde-nous, à sa prière, puisque ton amour nous appelle, d’être un jour au nombre des élus. Par Jésus Christ.

1ère lecture : Act 1, 15-17.20-26

En ces jours-là, Pierre se leva au milieu des frères qui étaient réunis au nombre d’environ cent vingt personnes, et il déclara : « Frères, il fallait que l’Écriture s’accomplisse. En effet, par la bouche de David, l’Esprit Saint avait d’avance parlé de Judas, qui en est venu à servir de guide aux gens qui ont arrêté Jésus : ce Judas était l’un de nous et avait reçu sa part de notre ministère. Il est écrit au livre des Psaumes: Que son domaine devienne un désert, et que personne n’y habite, et encore : Qu’un autre prenne sa charge. Or, il y a des hommes qui nous ont accompagnés durant tout le temps où le Seigneur Jésus a vécu parmi nous, depuis le commencement, lors du baptême donné par Jean, jusqu’au jour où il fut enlevé d’auprès de nous. Il faut donc que l’un d’entre eux devienne, avec nous, témoin de sa résurrection. » On en présenta deux : Joseph appelé Barsabbas, puis surnommé Justus, et Matthias. Ensuite, on fit cette prière : « Toi, Seigneur, qui connais tous les cœurs, désigne lequel des deux tu as choisi pour qu’il prenne, dans le ministère apostolique, la place que Judas a désertée en allant à la place qui est désormais la sienne. » On tira au sort entre eux, et le sort tomba sur Matthias, qui fut donc associé par suffrage aux onze Apôtres.

Psaume : 112 (113), 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R/ Le Seigneur l’a placé parmi les princes de son peuple. ou : Alléluia.(Ps 112, 8)

Louez, serviteurs du Seigneur, louez le nom du Seigneur ! Béni soit le nom du Seigneur, maintenant et pour les siècles des siècles!

Du levant au couchant du soleil, loué soit le nom du Seigneur! Le Seigneur domine tous les peuples, sa gloire domine les cieux.

Qui est semblable au Seigneur notre Dieu ? Lui, il siège là-haut. Mais il abaisse son regard vers le ciel et vers la terre.

De la poussière il relève le faible, il retire le pauvre de la cendre pour qu’il siège parmi les princes, parmi les princes de son peuple. 

Acclamation

Alléluia. Alléluia. C’est moi qui vous ai choisis du milieu du monde, afin que vous alliez, que vous portiez du fruit, et que votre fruit demeure, dit le Seigneur. Alléluia. (cf. Ac 1,22)

Évangile : Jean 15, 9-17

En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à ses disciples : « Comme le Père m’a aimé, moi aussi je vous ai aimés. Demeurez dans mon amour. Si vous gardez mes commandements, vous demeurerez dans mon amour, comme moi, j’ai gardé les commandements de mon Père, et je demeure dans son amour. Je vous ai dit cela pour que ma joie soit en vous, et que votre joie soit parfaite. Mon commandement, le voici : Aimez-vous les uns les autres comme je vous ai aimés. Il n’y a pas de plus grand amour que de donner sa vie pour ceux qu’on aime. Vous êtes mes amis si vous faites ce que je vous commande. Je ne vous appelle plus serviteurs, car le serviteur ne sait pas ce que fait son maître ; je vous appelle mes amis, car tout ce que j’ai entendu de mon Père, je vous l’ai fait connaître. Ce n’est pas vous qui m’avez choisi, c’est moi qui vous ai choisis et établis afin que vous alliez, que vous portiez du fruit, et que votre fruit demeure. Alors, tout ce que vous demanderez au Père en mon nom, il vous le donnera. Voici ce que je vous commande : c’est de vous aimer les uns les autres. » 

Prière  sur  les  offrandes

Reçois l’offrande que ton Église te présente, Seigneur, pour la fête de saint Matthias, et donne-nous d’y puiser plus de force de vigueur. Par Jésus.

Antienne  de  communion : Jn 16,4

« Voici mon commandement, dit le Seigneur : aimez-vous les uns les autres comme je vous ai aimés. »

Prière  après  la  communion

Ne cesse pas, Seigneur, de nous combler de tes dons : accorde-nous, à la prière de saint Matthias, d’avoir part à l’héritage des saints dans la lumlère. Par Jésus.

Méditation

Enfants de Dieu par le baptême nous le sommes ! Apôtres du christ de part notre baptême, nous le devenons. Ce qui fait le disciple, c’est ça parfaite conformité à l’Evangile du maître, c’est épouser pleinement les caractéristiques du maître. Or le Seigneur s’est fait proche de nous par amour pour le genre humain. Cet amour il le communique à chacun de nous et nous charge d’embraser le monde de ce feu d’amour Je vous laisse un commandement nouveau, aimer vous les uns les autres… Tel est pour le chrétien l’élément essentiel de la fraternité. Aide-moi Seigneur à aimer tous mes frères humains. Amen !           

Tuesday 14th May

Our Lady of Fatima

Saint John the Silent

red

He was not one of the Twelve; but after the treachery and death of Judas Iscariot, someone was needed to take his place. The choice fell on Matthias.

Entrance Antiphon : Jn 15: 16

It was not you who chose me, says the Lord, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit,  fruit that will last, alleluia.

Collect

O God, who assigned Saint Matthias a place in the college of Apostles, grant us, through his intercession, that, rejoicing at how your love has been allotted to us, we may merit to be numbered among the elect. 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 : Acts 1:15-17,20-26

One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers – there were about a hundred and twenty persons in the congregation: ‘Brothers, the passage of scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit, speaking through David, foretells the fate of Judas, who offered himself as a guide to the men who arrested Jesus – after having been one of our number and actually sharing this ministry of ours. Now in the Book of Psalms it says: Let someone else take his office. ‘We must therefore choose someone who has been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was travelling round with us, someone who was with us right from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us – and he can act with us as a witness to his resurrection.’ Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias, they prayed, ‘Lord, you can read everyone’s heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.’ They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112:1-8

R/            The Lord sets him in the company of the princes of his people.

Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! May the name of the Lord be blessed both now and for evermore!

From the rising of the sun to its setting praised be the name of the Lord! High above all nations is the Lord, above the heavens his glory.

Who is like the Lord, our God, who has risen on high to his throne yet stoops from the heights to look down, to look down upon heaven and earth?

From the dust he lifts up the lowly, from the dungheap he raises the poor to set him in the company of princes, yes, with the princes of his people.

Gospel Acclamation : cf.Jn15:16

Alleluia, alleluia! I chose you from the world to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last, says the Lord.  Alleluia!

Gospel : John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants any more, because a servant does not know his master’s business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me: no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name.  What I command you is to love one another.’

Prayer over the Offerings

Receive, O Lord, the offerings of your Church, reverently presented for the Feast of Saint Matthias, and through them strengthen us by the power of your grace. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon : Jn 15: 12

This is my commandment: love one another, as I love you, says the Lord, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion

Never cease, O Lord, we pray, to fill your family with divine gifts, and, through blessed Matthias’ intercession for us, graciously admit us to a share in the lot of the Saints in light. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

Matthias was called to replace Judas Iscariot and share in the apostles’ ministry. Jesus calls each one of us in the same way. He calls us and sends us into the world to bear fruits that will last: fruits of love, peace, justice, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. He calls in our various walks of life; wherever we find ourselves, he expects us to make him known. In every domain of human life – the family, the workplace, the social gathering, the “njangi house”, etc. – Jesus wants us to defend Christian values and fight against vices. May St. Matthias intercede for us so that we may be true ambassadors of Christ in our world.