by L'équipe de publication | Aug 3, 2023 | Evangelium
SAINT John Mary Vianney,
Priest
He was the son of a peasant farmer, and a slow and unpromising candidate for the priesthood. He was eventually ordained on account of his devoutness rather than any achievement or promise. He was a noted preacher, and a celebrated confessor.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 131: 9
Your priests, O Lord, shall be clothed with justice; your holy ones shall ring out their joy.
Collect
Almighty and merciful God, who made the Priest Saint John Vianney wonderful in his pastoral zeal, grant, we pray, that through his intercession and example we may in charity win brothers and sisters for Christ and attain with them eternal glory. 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: Leviticus 23:1,4-11,15-16,27,34-37
The Lord spoke to Moses. He said: “These are the Lord’s solemn festivals, the sacred assemblies to which you are to summon the sons of Israel on the appointed day. The fourteenth day of the first month, between the two evenings, is the Passover of the Lord; and the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of Unleavened Bread for the Lord. For seven days you shall eat bread without leaven. On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must do no heavy work. For seven days you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord. The seventh day is to be a day of sacred assembly; you must do no work.” The Lord spoke to Moses. He said: “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them: ‘When you enter the land that I give you, and gather in the harvest there, you must bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest, and he is to present it to the Lord with the gesture of offering, so that you may be acceptable. The priest shall make this offering on the day after the Sabbath. From the day after the Sabbath, the day on which you bring the sheaf of offering, you are to count seven full weeks. You are to count fifty days, to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then you are to offer the Lord a new oblation. The tenth day of the seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. You are to hold a sacred assembly. You must fast, and you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord. The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of Tabernacles for the Lord, lasting seven days. The first day is a day of sacred assembly; you must do no heavy work. For seven days you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly, you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord. It is a day of solemn meeting; you must do no heavy work. These are the solemn festivals of the Lord to which you are to summon the children of Israel, sacred assemblies for the purpose of offering burnt offerings, holocausts, oblations, sacrifices and libations to the Lord, according to the ritual of each day.’”
Psalm 80(81):3-6,10-11
R/ Ring out your joy to God our strength.
Raise a song and sound the timbre, the sweet-sounding harp and the lute; blow the trumpet at the new moon, when the moon is full, on our feast.
For this is Israel’s law, a command of the God of Jacob. He imposed it as a rule on Joseph, when he went out against the land of Egypt.
Let there be no foreign god among you, no worship of an alien god. I am the Lord your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
Gospel Acclamation: cf.1Th2:13
Alleluia, alleluia! Accept God’s message for what it really is: God’s message, and not some human thinking. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58
Coming to his home town, Jesus taught the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were astonished and said, “Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? His sisters, too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?” And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house”, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O Lord, we pray, the offerings placed on your altar in commemoration of blessed N., so that, as you brought him glory, you may, through these sacred mysteries, grant to us your pardon. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Mt 24: 46-47
Blessed is the servant whom the Lord finds watching when he comes. Amen I say to you: He will put that servant in charge of all his property.
Prayer after Communion
May partaking at the heavenly table, almighty God, confirm and increase strength from on high in all who celebrate the feast day of blessed N., that we may preserve in integrity the gift of faith and walk in the path of salvation you trace for us. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
We are certainly shocked at the attitude of the people of Nazareth. They were so sure they knew Jesus well; they thought they knew everything about him that they could not admit anything new. The denial of Jesus by his neighbours prompts us to ask the following questions: Am I sure that I know Jesus well? Couldn’t I know him better? Have I lost my disposition to be “surprised” by Jesus, by his way of acting and by what he expects from me? May we have the grace to open ourselves to his presence and not remain deaf to his call.
by L'équipe de publication | Aug 1, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
SAINT Pierre Julien,
saint eusebe, Eveque
Il fut d’abord prêtre séculier. En 1839, il entra chez les pères Maristes. Il quitta cette congrégation en 1856 suite aux apparitions de la Vierge Marie qui le chargeait de fonder un Institut sacerdotal voué à l’adoration perpétuelle du Saint Sacrement. Ses dernières années de vie furent marquées par de grandes incompréhensions entre ses religieux et lui.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 67, 6-7.
Adorons Dieu dans sa sainte demeure. Il fait habiter les siens tous ensemble dans sa maison, c’est lui qui donne force et puissance à son peuple.
Prière d’ouverture
Tu protèges, Seigneur, ceux qui comptent sur toi, sans toi rien n’est fort et rien n’est saint. Multiplie pour nous tes gestes de miséricorde afin que, sous ta conduite, en faisant un bon usage des biens qui passent, nous puissions déjà nous attacher à ceux qui demeurent. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Exode 34, 29-35
Lorsque Moïse descendit de la montagne du Sinaï, ayant en mains les deux tables du Témoignage, il ne savait pas que son visage rayonnait de lumière depuis qu’il avait parlé avec le Seigneur. Aaron et tous les fils d’Israël virent arriver Moïse: son visage rayonnait. Comme ils n’osaient pas s’approcher, Moïse les appela. Aaron et tous les chefs de la communauté vinrent alors vers lui, et il leur adressa la parole. Ensuite, tous les fils d’Israël s’approchèrent, et il leur transmit tous les ordres que le Seigneur lui avait donnés sur la montagne du Sinaï. Quand il eut fini de leur parler, il mit un voile sur son visage. Et, lorsqu’il se présentait devant le Seigneur pour parler avec lui, il enlevait son voile jusqu’à ce qu’il soit sorti. Alors, il transmettait aux fils d’Israël les ordres qu’il avait reçus, et les fils d’Israël voyaient rayonner son visage. Puis il remettait le voile sur son visage jusqu’à ce qu’il rentre pour parler avec le Seigneur.
Psaume : 98 (99), 5, 6, 7, 9
Exaltez le Seigneur notre Dieu, prosternez-vous au pied de son trône, car il est saint !
Moïse et le prêtre Aaron, Samuel, le Suppliant, tous, ils suppliaient le Seigneur, et lui leur répondait.
Dans la colonne de nuée, il parlait avec eux ; ils ont gardé ses volontés, les lois qu’il leur donna.
Exaltez le Seigneur notre Dieu, prosternez-vous devant sa sainte montagne, car il est saint, le Seigneur notre Dieu.
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Je vous appelle mes amis, dit le Seigneur, car tout ce que j’ai entendu de mon Père, je vous l’ai fait connaître. Alléluia. (Jn 15, 15b)
Évangile : Mt 13, 44-46
En ce temps-là, Jésus disait aux foules: « Le royaume des Cieux est comparable à un trésor caché dans un champ; l’homme qui l’a découvert le cache de nouveau. Dans sa joie, il va vendre tout ce qu’il possède, et il achète ce champ. Ou encore : Le royaume des Cieux est comparable à un négociant qui recherche des perles fines. Ayant trouvé une perle de grande valeur, il va vendre tout ce qu’il possède, et il achète la perle. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Accepte, Seigneur, ces offrandes prélevées pour toi sur tes propres largesses. Que ces mystères très saints, où ta grâce opère avec puissance, sanctifient notre vie de tous les jours et nous conduisent aux joies éternelles. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : 102
Bénis le Seigneur, ô mon âme, n’oublie aucun de ses bienfaits.
Prière après la communion
Nous avons communié, Seigneur, à ce sacrement, mémorial de la passion de ton Fils. Fais servir à notre salut le don que lui-même nous a légué dans son immense amour. Lui qui.
Méditation
Quelle est ma perle, ce que j’aime par-dessus tout ? Quel est ce trésor caché pour lequel je sacrifierai tout ? La parabole du trésor et de la perle de ce jour, m’invite à une introspection profonde et vraie. Quelle est l’option fondamentale de ma vie ? À quoi le monde ressemblerait-il si la perle que je cherche était de servir les pauvres et les exclus, si je travaillais à semer la paix et la justice ? Jésus dit que le monde serait alors comme le Royaume de Dieu.
by L'équipe de publication | Aug 1, 2023 | Evangelium
SAINT Eusebius of Vercelli
He was born in Sardinia around 340 and was made the first bishop of Vercelli in Piedmont. He was a strong supporter of orthodoxy, and in 355 was sent into exile by the Emperor for refusing to sign the condemnation of St Athanasius that had been passed by the Council of Milan.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 67: 6-7,
God is in his holy place, God who unites those who dwell in his house; he himself gives might and strength to his people.
Collect
O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure. 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: Exodus 34:29-35
When Moses came down from the mountain of Sinai – as he came down from the mountain, Moses had the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands – he did not know that the skin on his face was radiant after speaking with the Lord. And when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, the skin on his face shone so much that they would not venture near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron with all the leaders of the community came back to him; and he spoke to them. Then all the sons of Israel came closer, and he passed on to them all the orders that the Lord had given him on the mountain of Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever he went into the Lord’s presence to speak with him, Moses would remove the veil until he came out again. And when he came out, he would tell the sons of Israel what he had been ordered to pass on to them, and the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he returned to speak with the Lord.
Psalm 98(99):5-7,9
R/ You are holy, O Lord our God.
Exalt the Lord our God; bow down before Zion, his footstool. He the Lord is holy. Among his priests were Aaron and Moses, among those who invoked his name was Samuel. They invoked the Lord and he answered.
To them he spoke in the pillar of cloud. They did his will; they kept the law, which he, the Lord, had given.
Exalt the Lord our God; bow down before his holy mountain for the Lord our God is holy.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps 118: 105
Alleluia, alleluia! Your word is a lamp for my steps and a light for my path. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 13:44-46
Jesus said to the crowds: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, we pray, the offerings which we bring from the abundance of your gifts, that through the powerful working of your grace these most sacred mysteries may sanctify our present way of life and lead us to eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 102 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all his benefits.
Prayer after Communion
We have consumed, O Lord, this divine Sacrament, the perpetual memorial of the Passion of your Son; grant, we pray, that this gift, which he himself gave us with love beyond all telling, may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
What is my pearl, that thing which I love above all? What is that hidden treasure for which I would sacrifice everything? Today’s parable of the treasure and the pearl invites me to a deep and true introspection. What have I set as a fundamental option in my life? What would the world be like if the pearl I seek were to serve the poor and the excluded? What if I worked to sow peace and justice? Jesus says that the world would then be like the Kingdom of God.
by L'équipe de publication | Jul 31, 2023 | Agenda Biblique
SAINT Alphonse-Marie de Liguori, Evêque et Docteur de l’Église
D’abord brillant avocat napolitain, Alphonse (1696-1787), devenu prêtre à trente ans, se voue à la prédication parmi les pauvres et fonde la congrégation du Très Saint Rédempteur, destinée à évangéliser les campagnes. Nommé évêque de Sainte-Agathe-des-Goths dans la région de Naples, il doit abandonner la direction de sa congrégation.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 67, 6-7. 36
Adorons Dieu dans sa sainte demeure. Il fait habiter les siens tous ensemble dans sa maison, c’est lui qui donne force et puissance à son peuple.
Prière d’ouverture
Tu protèges, Seigneur, ceux qui comptent sur toi, sans toi rien n’est fort et rien n’est saint. Multiplie pour nous tes gestes de miséricorde afin que, sous ta conduite, en faisant un bon usage des biens qui passent, nous puissions déjà nous attacher à ceux qui demeurent. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Ex 33, 7-11 ; 34, 5b-9.28
En ces jours-là, à chaque étape, pendant la marche au désert, Moïse prenait la Tente et la plantait hors du camp, à bonne distance. On l’appelait: tente de la Rencontre, et quiconque voulait consulter le Seigneur devait sortir hors du camp pour gagner la tente de la Rencontre. Quand Moïse sortait pour aller à la Tente, tout le peuple se levait. Chacun se tenait à l’entrée de sa tente et suivait Moïse du regard jusqu’à ce qu’il soit entré. Au moment où Moïse entrait dans la Tente, la colonne de nuée descendait, se tenait à l’entrée de la Tente, et Dieu parlait avec Moïse. Tout le peuple voyait la colonne de nuée qui se tenait à l’entrée de la Tente, tous se levaient et se prosternaient, chacun devant sa tente. Le Seigneur parlait avec Moïse face à face, comme on parle d’homme à homme. Puis Moïse retournait dans le camp, mais son auxiliaire, le jeune Josué, fils de Noun, ne quittait pas l’intérieur de la Tente. Le Seigneur proclama lui-même son nom qui est : LE SEIGNEUR. Il passa devant Moïse et proclama: « LE SEIGNEUR, LE SEIGNEUR, Dieu tendre et miséricordieux, lent à la colère, plein d’amour et de vérité, qui garde sa fidélité jusqu’à la millième génération, supporte faute, transgression et péché, mais ne laisse rien passer, car il punit la faute des pères sur les fils et les petits-fils, jusqu’à la troisième et la quatrième génération. » Aussitôt Moïse s’inclina jusqu’à terre et se prosterna. Il dit : « S’il est vrai, mon Seigneur, que j’ai trouvé grâce à tes yeux, daigne marcher au milieu de nous. Oui, c’est un peuple à la nuque raide ; mais tu pardonneras nos fautes et nos péchés, et tu feras de nous ton héritage. » Moïse demeura sur le Sinaï avec le Seigneur quarante jours et quarante nuits ; il ne mangea pas de pain et ne but pas d’eau. Sur les tables de pierre, il écrivit les paroles de l’Alliance, les Dix Paroles.
Psaume : 102 (103), 6-7, 10-11, 12-13
R/ Le Seigneur fait œuvre de justice,
Le Seigneur fait œuvre de justice, il défend le droit des opprimés. Il révèle ses desseins à Moïse, enfants d’Israël ses hauts faits.
Le Seigneur est tendresse et pitié, lent à la colère et plein d’amour ; il n’est pas pour toujours en procès, ne maintient pas sans fin ses reproches.
Il n’agit pas envers nous selon nos fautes, ne nous rend pas selon nos offenses. Comme le ciel domine la terre, fort est son amour pour qui le craint.
Aussi loin qu’est l’Orient de l’Occident, il met loin de nous nos péchés ; comme la tendresse du père pour ses fils, la tendresse du Seigneur pour qui le craint !
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. La semence est la parole de Dieu, le semeur est le Christ; celui qui le trouve demeure pour toujours. Alléluia.
Évangile : Mt 13, 36-43
En ce temps-là, laissant les foules, Jésus vint à la maison. Ses disciples s’approchèrent et lui dirent : «Explique-nous clairement la parabole de l’ivraie dans le champ. » Il leur répondit : « Celui qui sème le bon grain, c’est le Fils de l’homme ; le champ, c’est le monde ; le bon grain, ce sont les fils du Royaume ; l’ivraie, ce sont les fils du Mauvais. L’ennemi qui l’a semée, c’est le diable; la moisson, c’est la fin du monde ; les moissonneurs, ce sont les anges. De même que l’on enlève l’ivraie pour la jeter au feu, ainsi en sera-t-il à la fin du monde. Le Fils de l’homme enverra ses anges, et ils enlèveront de son Royaume toutes les causes de chute et ceux qui font le mal; ils les jetteront dans la fournaise : là, il y aura des pleurs et des grincements de dents. Alors les justes resplendiront comme le soleil dans le royaume de leur Père. Celui qui a des oreilles, qu’il entende ! »
Prière sur les offrandes
Accepte, Seigneur, ces offrandes prélevées pour toi sur tes propres largesses. Que ces mystères très saints, où ta grâce opère avec puissance, sanctifient notre vie de tous les jours et nous conduisent aux joies éternelles. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : 102, 2
Bénis le Seigneur, ô mon âme, n’oublie aucun de ses bienfaits.
Prière après la communion
Nous avons communié, Seigneur, à ce sacrement, mémorial de la passion de ton Fils. Fais servir à notre salut le don que lui-même nous a légué dans son immense amour. Lui qui.
Méditation
L’explication que Jésus donne à la parabole de l’ivraie en ce jour, nous invite à travailler à gagner le Ciel sur la terre en fructifiant les dons et les qualités que Dieu nous a donnés et semés en nous. Face à l’existence du mal qui ravage nos quotidiens de chrétien, et hante parfois nos jours et nos nuits au point de nous désorienter et de nous décourager, nous sommes appelés à vivre l’ordinaire de ce qui ne semble avoir aucune transcendance, sans attendre des situations extraordinaires qui n’arriveront peut-être jamais. Nous devons le faire en pensant à l’éternité et en aidant les autres à en faire autant!
by L'équipe de publication | Jul 31, 2023 | Evangelium
SAINT Alphonsus Liguori
He was a Neapolitan lawyer who became a priest. He preached in the rural districts around Naples. His bishop asked him to establish an order of missionaries to work in the countryside, and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists) was formally established in 1749. Alphonsus lived an exceptionally holy life.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Sir 15: 5
In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory.
Collect
O God, who constantly raise up in your Church new examples of virtue, grant that we may follow so closely in the footsteps of the Bishop Saint Alphonsus in his zeal for souls as to attain the same rewards that are his in heaven. 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: Exodus 33:7-11,34:5-9,28
Moses used to take the Tent and pitch it outside the camp, at some distance from the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting. Anyone who had to consult the Lord would go out to the Tent of Meeting, outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the Tent, all the people would rise. Every man would stand at the door of his tent and watch Moses until he reached the Tent; the pillar of cloud would come down and station itself at the entrance to the Tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. When they saw the pillar of cloud stationed at the entrance to the Tent, all the people would rise and bow low, each at the door of his tent. The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would turn back to the camp, but the young man who was his servant, Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the Tent. And the Lord descended in the form of a cloud, and Moses stood with him there. He called on the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness; for thousands he maintains his kindness, forgives faults, transgression, sin; yet he lets nothing go unchecked, punishing the father’s fault in the sons and in the grandsons to the third and fourth generation.” And Moses bowed down to the ground at once and worshipped. “If I have indeed won your favour, Lord,” he said, “let my Lord come with us, I beg. True, they are a headstrong people, but forgive us our faults and our sins, and adopt us as your heritage.” Moses stayed there with the Lord for forty days and forty nights, eating and drinking nothing. He inscribed on the tablets the words of the Covenant – the Ten Words.
Psalm 102(103):6-13
R/ The Lord is compassion and love.
The Lord does deeds of justice, gives judgement for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses and his deeds to Israel’s sons.
The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. His wrath will come to an end; he will not be angry for ever.
He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults. For as the heavens are high above the earth so strong is his love for those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west so far does he remove our sins. As a father has compassion on his sons, the Lord has pity on those who fear him.
Gospel Acclamation: 1P1:25
Alleluia, alleluia! The word of the Lord remains for ever: What is this word? It is the Good News that has been brought to you. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 13:36-43
Leaving the crowds, Jesus went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, “Explain the parable about the darnel in the field to us.” He said in reply, “The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!”
Prayer over the Offerings
Be pleased, O Lord, to enkindle our hearts with the celestial fire of your Spirit, just as you granted that Saint Alphonsus should celebrate these mysteries and by them offer himself to you as a holy sacrifice. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Lk 12: 42
Behold a faithful and prudent steward to give them their allowance of food at the proper time.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who gave us Saint Alphonsus to be a faithful steward and preacher of this great mystery, grant that your faithful may receive it often and, receiving it, praise you without end. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The explanation that Jesus gives to the parable of the tares on this day invites us to work towards gaining Heaven while on earth by bearing fruits from the gifts and qualities that God has sown in us. In the face of evil that ravages our daily lives as Christians, and which sometimes haunts our days and nights to the point of disorienting and discouraging us, we are called to lead ordinary lives that, though seemingly void of all transcendence, recognise and valorise God’s presence in ordinary events, without necessarily awaiting any extraordinary situations that may never occur. We must think of eternity and help others to do same!
