by L'équipe de publication | Jan 22, 2024 | Evangelium
SAinT ILDEPHONSUS
Green/Red/White
St. Ildephonsus is highly regarded in Spain and closely associated with devotion to the Blessed Virgin which he fostered by his famous work concerning her perpetual virginity.
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, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 2 Samuel 6:12-15,17-19
David went and brought the ark of God up from Obed-edom’s house to the Citadel of David with great rejoicing. When the bearers of the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fat sheep. And David danced whirling round before the Lord with all his might, wearing a linen loincloth round him. Thus David and all the House of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with acclaim and the sound of the horn. They brought the ark of the Lord in and put it in position inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered holocausts before the Lord, and communion sacrifices. And when David had finished offering holocausts and communion sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Hosts. He then distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israelites, men and women, a roll of bread to each, a portion of dates, and a raisin cake. Then they all went away, each to his own house.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23(24):7-10
R/ Who is the king of glory? He, the Lord, he is the king of glory.
- O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory!
- Who is the king of glory? The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, the Lord, the valiant in war.
- O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory!
- Who is he, the king of glory? He, the Lord of armies, he is the king of glory.
- Who is the king of glory? He, the Lord, he is the king of glory.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps118:135
Alleluia, alleluia! Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your decrees. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 3:31-35
The mother and brothers of Jesus arrived and, standing outside, sent in a
message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, ‘Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you.’ He replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person 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
Some people erroneously consider Jesus not caring so much for his mother and extended family. However, he demonstrates here that he has not come to set up a kingdom built on blood and lineage but on truth and the spirit. Studies have shown that we naturally gravitate to the familiar – our race, our ethnic group, and our family members. However, therein lies our Achilles heel, as that is where, unguarded, racism, tribalism and nepotism breed. When Jesus was interrupted somehow embarrassingly from his preaching to attend to his family, he used the opportunity to let his listeners know the kind of faith family he had come to establish: those who do the will of God. Humanity’s only sustainable pathway is building a society where merit counts. There is no peace without justice.
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 21, 2024 | Agenda Biblique
Saint Vincent Pallotti
VERT
Fondateur dès 1835 de l’œuvre de l’Apostolat Catholique, aujourd’hui Union de l’Apostolat Catholique, et dans laquelle est incluse la Société de l’Apostolat Catholique (Pallottins), il invitait chacun à tout faire pour la plus grande gloire de Dieu et pour son propre salut ainsi que le salut des autres.
Antienne d’ouverture : Cf. Ps 95
Chantez au Seigneur un chant nouveau, chantez au Seigneur terre entière : la splendeur et l’éclat, la puissance et la beauté brillent dans son Temple saint.
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu éternel et tout-puissant, dirige notre vie selon ton amour afin qu’au nom de ton fils bien-aimé, nous portions des fruits en abondance. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : 2 S 5, 1-7. 10
En ces jours-là, toutes les tribus d’Israël vinrent trouver David à Hébron et lui dirent : « Vois ! Nous sommes de tes os et de ta chair. Dans le passé déjà, quand Saül était notre roi, c’est toi qui menais Israël en campagne et le ramenais, et le Seigneur t’a dit: “Tu seras le berger d’Israël mon peuple, tu seras le chef d’Israël. » Ainsi, tous les anciens d’Israël vinrent trouver le roi à Hébron. Le roi David fit alliance avec eux, à Hébron, devant le Seigneur. Ils donnèrent l’onction à David pour le faire roi sur Israël. Il avait trente ans quand il devint roi, et il régna quarante ans: à Hébron il régna sur Juda pendant sept ans et demi; et à Jérusalem il régna trente-trois ans, et à Jérusalem il régna trente-trois ans, à la fois sur Israël et sur Juda. Le roi avec ses hommes marcha sur Jérusalem contre les habitants de la région, les Jébuséens. On lui dit : « Tu n’entreras pas ici : des aveugles et des boiteux suffiraient à te repousser. » Autrement dit : David n’entrera pas ici. Mais David s’empara de la forteresse de Sion – c’est la Cité de David. David devint de plus en plus puissant. Le Seigneur, Dieu des armées, était avec lui.
Psaume : 88 (89), 20, 21-22, 25-26
R/ Ton amour et ta fidélité sont avec lui, Seigneur.
Autrefois, tu as parlé à tes amis, dans une vision tu leur as dit: « J’ai donné mon appui à un homme d’élite, j’ai choisi dans ce peuple un jeune homme.
« J’ai trouvé David, mon serviteur, je l’ai sacré avec mon huile sainte; et ma main sera pour toujours avec lui, mon bras fortifiera son courage.
Mon amour et ma fidélité sont avec lui, mon nom accroît sa vigueur; j’étendrai son pouvoir sur la mer et sa domination jusqu’aux fleuves. »
Acclamation
Alléluia, alléluia ! Notre Sauveur, le Christ Jésus, a détruit la mort; il a fait resplendir la vie par l’Évangile. Alléluia. (2 Tm 1, 10)
Évangile : Mc 3, 22-30
En ce temps-là, les scribes, qui étaient descendus de Jérusalem, disaient: «Ce Jésus est possédé par Béelzéboul; c’est par le chef des démons qu’il expulse les démons.» Les appelant près de lui, Jésus leur dit en parabole: « Comment Satan peut-il expulser Satan ? Si un royaume est divisé contre lui-même, ce royaume ne peut pas tenir. Si les gens d’une même maison se divisent entre eux, ces gens ne pourront pas tenir. Si Satan s’est dressé contre lui-même, s’il est divisé, il ne peut pas tenir; c’en est fini de lui. Mais personne ne peut entrer dans la maison d’un homme fort et piller ses biens, s’il ne l’a d’abord ligoté. Alors seulement il pillera sa maison. Amen, je vous le dis : Tout sera pardonné aux enfants des hommes: leurs péchés et les blasphèmes qu’ils auront proférés. Mais si quelqu’un blasphème contre l’Esprit Saint, il n’aura jamais de pardon. Il est coupable d’un péché pour toujours. » Jésus parla ainsi parce qu’ils avaient dit : « Il est possédé par un esprit impur. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Dans ta bonté, Seigneur, accepte notre offrrande : qu’elle soit sanctifiée et serve à notre salut. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion :
Ensemble, approchez du Seigneur: resplendissez de sa lumière et sur votre visage il n’y aura plus d’ombre.
Prière après la communion
Permets, nous t’en prions, Dieu tout-puissant, qu’ayant recu de toi la grace d’une nouvelle vie, nous puissions nous en émerveiller toujours. Par Jésus.
Méditation
« Si un royaume est divisé contre lui-même, ce royaume ne peut pas tenir ». Si, par analogie, nous appliquons cette vérité à notre condition chrétienne, la question serait de savoir si nous sommes entiers à la suite du Christ ou si nous sommes plutôt en écartèlement sur plusieurs sollicitations spirituelles ? Cette dernière attitude est contriste l’Esprit Saint et ne peut nous apporter sérénité et épanouissement. Dieu est Dieu, il ne faut pas l’acoquiner avec ce qui n’est pas Dieu ou qui n’est pas de lui.
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 21, 2024 | Evangelium
SAinT VINCENT, DEACON, MARTYR
(- 304) Green
He was born in Huesca and became a deacon of the church of Saragossa (Zaragoza). He was tortured to death in Valencia, in the persecution of Diocletian. After his death, his cult spread rapidly through the Roman Empire.
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, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-7,10
All the tribes of Israel then came to David at Hebron. ‘Look’ they said ‘we are your own flesh and blood. In days past when Saul was our king, it was you who led Israel in all their exploits; and the Lord said to you, “You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you shall be the leader of Israel.”’ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a pact with them at Hebron in the presence of the Lord, and they anointed David king of Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years. He reigned in Hebron over Judah for seven years and six months; then he reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years. David and his men marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites living there. These said to David, ‘You will not get in here. The blind and the lame will hold you off.’ (That is to say: David will never get in here.) But David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the Citadel of David. David grew greater and greater, and the Lord, the God of Hosts, was with him.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 88(89):20-22,25-26 R/ My truth and my love shall be with him.
- Of old you spoke in a vision. To your friends the prophets you said: ‘I have set the crown on a warrior, I have exalted one chosen from the people.
- I have found David my servant and with my holy oil anointed him. My hand shall always be with him and my arm shall make him strong.
- My truth and my love shall be with him; by my name his might shall be exalted. I will stretch out his hand to the Sea and his right hand as far as the River.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps24:4,5
Alleluia, alleluia! Teach me your paths, my God, make me walk in your truth. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 3:22-30
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying,
‘Beelzebul is in him’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house. ‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’
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
Today’s Gospel responds to the scribes’ criticism of Jesus, which reads, “Beelzebul is in him’… ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.” Jesus corrects their illogical thinking by asking, “How can Satan drive out Satan? A house that is split up against itself will not be able to stand. The hostility of the religious establishment in Jesus’ day is the subject of this chapter of Mark’s Gospel. This conflict frequently appears in the Gospel and develops into a motif leading to his tragic death. In these encounters, Jesus can fend off the scribes’ and Pharisees’ enmity.
The only way to triumph over the enemy is to remain united with Jesus.
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 20, 2024 | Evangelium
3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B
PSAlTER WEEk iii
SAINT AGNES
Green
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, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Jonah 3:1-5,10
The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour. And God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24(25):4-6,7b-9 R/ Lord, make me know your ways.
- Lord, make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your paths. Make me walk in your truth, and teach me: for you are God my saviour.
- Remember your mercy, Lord, and the love you have shown from of old.
- In your love remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord.
- The Lord is good and upright. He shows the path to those who stray, He guides the humble in the right path, He teaches his way to the poor.
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Brothers: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.
Gospel Acclamation: Mk1:15
Alleluia, alleluia! The kingdom of God is close at hand: repent, and believe the Good News. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20
After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’ As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.
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
Christ came to earth to free humanity from sin and restore our relationship with God. This act of love explains to us the permanence of God’s love for us humans. After the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve, God did not abandon us. God promised from the beginning to save humanity from the evil one. In the Gospel, God calls us to repent and change. God is faithful, and this call seems always to be coming to us and inviting a response. Today we are to consider our call to follow Jesus and proclaim the kingdom of God. God is always faithful to us in unconditional love that keeps gently pulling us towards Godself with the sole requirement: “The kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News” In other words, Jesus is telling you and me, “repent, believe and embrace this good news of my unconditional love for you.”
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 20, 2024 | Evangelium
BlESSED CYPRIAN MICHAEL IWENE TANSI, PRiEST
SAinT FABIEN, POPE AnD MARTYR
SAinT SEBASTiAn, MARTYR,
Green/Red/White
Father Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi was born in Nigeria in 1903. He was brought up by the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) and trained as a teacher and a catechist. Later he decided to join the seminary and in 1937 he was ordained a priest. In 1950 he left his Diocese in order to go to England where he joined the Cistercian Abbey of Mount St Bernard, near Nottingham. He had been singled out as the ideal candidate to be trained in England and then return to establish a Trappist Monastery in the Diocese of Onitsha in Nigeria. Fr Tansi lived the monastic life with great faith and humility.
Entrance Antiphon
Where brothers unite to glorify God, there the Lord will give blessing.
Collect
O God, in the priest Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi you joined the apostolic zeal of a pastor to the way of life of a monk. Grant us by his intercession that persevering in prayer, we seek untiringly the coming of your kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son and our elder brother, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 2 Samuel 1:1-4,11-12,17,19,23-27
David returned from his rout of the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. On the third day a man came from the camp where Saul had been, his garments torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did homage. ‘Where do you come from?’ David asked him. ‘I have escaped from the Israelite camp’ he said. David said to him, ‘What happened? Tell me.’ He replied, ‘The people have fled from the battlefield and many of them have fallen. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.’ Then David took hold of his garments and tore them, and all the men with him did the same. They mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, for the people of The Lord and for the House of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. Then David made this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. Alas, the glory of Israel has been slain on your heights! How did the heroes fall? Saul and Jonathan loved and lovely, neither in life, nor in death, were divided. Swifter than eagles were they, stronger were they than lions. O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul who clothed you in scarlet and fine linen, who set brooches of gold on your garments. How did the heroes fall in the thick of the battle? O Jonathan, in your death I am stricken, I am desolate for you, Jonathan my brother. Very dear to me you were, your love to me more wonderful than the love of a woman. How did the heroes fall and the battle armour fail?
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 79:2-3,5-7
R/ Let your face shine on us, O Lord, and we shall be saved.
- O shepherd of Israel, hear us, you who lead Joseph’s flock, shine forth from your cherubim throne upon Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh. O Lord, rouse up your might, O Lord, come to our help.
- Lord God of hosts, how long will you frown on your people’s plea? You have fed them with tears for their bread, an abundance of tears for their drink. You have made us the taunt of our neighbours, our enemies laugh us to scorn.
Gospel : Mark 3:20-21
Jesus went home, and once more such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal. When his relatives heard of this, they set out to take charge of him, convinced he was out of his mind.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O Lord, we pray, the offerings made for the salvation of your people, so that through the intercession of blessed Cyprian Michael we may flee the enticements of sin and draw near to the company of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon
Those who keep God’s word with a good and perfect heart patiently bring forth fruit.
Prayer after Communion
Grant our request, we pray, O Lord our God, that, defended by the protection of blessed Cyprian Michael, we may live by this Sacrament of your wisdom in serenity and moderation. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Some students secondary and high school, who try to be prayerful and refuse to indulge themselves in useless activities, get ridiculed by their peers. Some are nicknamed “Holy Maria” or “St Joseph”. Jesus experienced more than ridicule. He was greatly misunderstood. Even his own family thought he was out of his mind. This is because he was disturbingly different: healing the sick, forgiving sinners, associating with outcasts, spending whole nights at prayer. He didn’t have any home of his own. He claimed God as his Father and he challenged the religious leaders of his day. He taught people to love their enemies and to do good to those who hurt them. He calls us to take the lowest place where the world encourages us to strive for success and praise. He basically goes against the current by the call to holiness. The qualities he seeks to form in us go against the world and expose us to ridicule. We are blessed if we have a share in the ridicule he experienced.
