Samedi 09 Mai 2020

BLANC

La Vierge Marie consolatrice des affligés, patronne principale du Luxembourg

’Heureux ceux qui pleurent, car ils seront consolés !’’ Depuis trois siècles, la foi d’un peuple fait l’expérience de cette béatitude en invoquant Marie. Le 8 décembre 1624, les élèves des jésuites de Luxembourg placèrent au pied d’une croix située en bordure de vieille une statue de la Vierge auprès de laquelle on vint prier. La statue fut ensuite honorée dans une chapelle où les pèlerins affluèrent après la peste de 1636. Le 20 février 1678, la Vierge Marie, consolatrice des affligés, fut solennellement proclamée ‘’Dame, Patronne et Protectrice perpétuelle’’ du pays. Après la Révolution française, la statue fut placée dans l’ancienne église des jésuites, qui devait devenir cathédrale et centre d’un culte qui, aujourd’hui encore, attire des foules nombreuses.

Saint Pacôme ; saints Isaïe et Tudi

A 20 ans, Pacôme (vers 292-348) fut enrôlé dans l’armée romaine. A Thèbes, alors qu’il est emprisonné avec les autres conscrits récalcitrants, des chrétiens charitables viennent leur rendre visite et leur apporter à manger. Une fois libéré, Pacôme se fait baptiser et se met au service des pauvres  et des malades. Il se fera ensuite ermite pendant sept ans.

Antienne  d’ouverture : 1P2, 9

Nous sommes le peuple qui appartient à Dieu ; nous sommes chargés d’annoncer les merveilles de celui qui nous a appelés des ténèbres à son admirable lumière, alléluia.

 

Prière  d’ouverture :

Dieu qui nous a recréés par le baptême, fais-nous vivre toujours davantage du mystère pascal : que ta grâce nous accorde de porter beaucoup de fruits et de parvenir aux joies de la vie éternelle. Par Jésus.

 

1ère lecture : Ac 13, 44-52

Le sabbat qui suivait la première prédication de Paul à Antioche de Pisidie, presque toute la ville se rassembla pour entendre la parole du Seigneur. Quand les Juifs virent les foules, ils s’enflammèrent de jalousie ; ils contredisaient les paroles de Paul et l’injuriaient. Paul et Barnabé leur déclarèrent avec assurance : « C’est à vous d’abord qu’il était nécessaire d’adresser la parole de Dieu. Puisque vous la rejetez et que vous-mêmes ne vous jugez pas dignes de la vie éternelle, eh bien ! nous nous tournons vers les nations païennes. C’est le commandement que le Seigneur nous a donné : J’ai fait de toi la lumière des nations pour que, grâce à toi, le salut parvienne jusqu’aux extrémités de la terre. » En entendant cela, les païens étaient dans la joie et rendaient gloire à la parole du Seigneur ; tous ceux qui étaient destinés à la vie éternelle devinrent croyants. Ainsi la parole du Seigneur se répandait dans toute la région. Mais les Juifs provoquèrent l’agitation parmi les femmes de qualité adorant Dieu, et parmi les notables de la cité ; ils se mirent à poursuivre Paul et Barnabé, et les expulsèrent de leur territoire. Ceux-ci secouèrent contre eux la poussière de leurs pieds et se rendirent à Iconium, tandis que les disciples étaient remplis de joie et d’Esprit Saint.

 

Psaume : 97 (98), 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

R/ La terre tout entière a vu le salut que Dieu nous donne.

  1. Chantez au Seigneur un chant nouveau, car il a fait des merveilles ; par son bras très saint, par sa main puissante, il s’est assuré la victoire.
  2. Le Seigneur a fait connaître sa victoire, et révélé sa justice aux nations ; il s’est rappelé sa fidélité, son amour, en faveur de la maison d’Israël.
  3. La terre tout entière a vu la victoire de notre Dieu. Acclamez le Seigneur, terre entière, sonnez, chantez, jouez !

 

Acclamation :

Alléluia. Alléluia. Si vous demeurez dans ma parole, vous êtes vraiment mes disciples ; alors vous connaîtrez la vérité, dit le Seigneur. Alléluia. (Jn 8, 31b- 32)

 

Evangile : Jn 14, 7-14

En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à ses disciples : « Puisque vous me connaissez, vous connaîtrez aussi mon Père. Dès maintenant vous le connaissez, et vous l’avez vu. » Philippe lui dit : « Seigneur, montre- nous le Père ; cela nous suffit. » Jésus lui répond : « Il y a si longtemps que je suis avec vous, et tu ne me connais pas, Philippe ! Celui qui m’a vu a vu le Père. Comment peux- tu dire : “Montre-nous le Père” ? Tu ne crois donc pas que je suis dans le Père et que le Père est en moi ! Les paroles que je vous dis, je ne les dis pas de moi-même ; le Père qui demeure en moi fait ses propres œuvres. Croyez-moi : je suis dans le Père, et le Père est en moi ; si vous ne me croyez pas, croyez du moins à cause des œuvres elles-mêmes. Amen, amen, je vous le dis : celui qui croit en moi fera les œuvres que je fais. Il en fera même de plus grandes, parce que je pars vers le Père, et tout ce que vous demanderez en mon nom, je le ferai, afin que le Père soit glorifié dans le Fils. Quand vous me demanderez quelque chose en mon nom, moi, je le ferai. »

 

Prière  sur  les  offrandes :

Dans ta bonté, Seigneur, sanctifie ces dons ; accepte le sacrifice spirituel de cette Eucharistie, et fais de nous-mêmes une éternelle offrande à ta gloire. Par Jésus.

 

Antienne  de  communion : Jn 17, 24

Jésus priait ainsi : «Père, ceux que tu m’as donnés, je veux que là où je suis, eux aussi soient avec moi, et qu’ils contemplent la gloire que tu m’as donnée», alléluia.

 

Prière après la communion :

Nous venons de communier, Seigneur, au don sacré du corps et du sang de ton Fils, et nous te prions humblement : que cette Eucharistie, offerte en mémoire de lui, comme il nous a dit de le faire, augmente en nous la charité. Par Jésus.

SATURDAY 09 MAY 2020

saturday 09 May 2020

 

St. George Preca (1880 – 1962)

He founded the Society for Christian Doctrine in 1907. He composed the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary in 1957. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on 3 June 2007, being described as “Malta’s second father in faith” after St Paul.

 

White

 

Entrance Antiphon: Cf. 1 Pt 2: 9

O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light, alleluia.

 

Collect

O God, who in the celebration of Easter graciously give to the world the healing of heavenly remedies, show benevolence to your Church, that our present observance may benefit us for eternal life. 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 13:44-52

The next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said: I have made you a light for the nations, so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’ It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside. But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

 

Psalm 97(98):1-4

R/  All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

 

1)   Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation.

2)   The Lord has made known his salvation; has shown his justice to the nations. He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel.

3)   All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth, ring out your joy.

 

Gospel Acclamation: Rm 6:9

Alleluia, alleluia! Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again. Death has no power over him any more. Alleluia!

 

Gospel: John 14:7-14

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.’ Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.’ ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip,’ said Jesus to him, ‘and you still do not know me? ‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father, so how can you say, “Let us see the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason. I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.’

 

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 17: 24

Father, I wish that, where I am, those you gave me may also be with me, that they may see the glory that you gave me, alleluia.

 

Prayer after Communion

We have partaken of the gifts of this sacred mystery, humbly imploring, O Lord, that what your Son commanded us to do in memory of him may bring us growth in charity. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Meditation

To have seen Jesus is to have seen the Father. Jesus is the Word of God; he is God expressing himself and communicating himself to us. Philip speaks up and asks Jesus to “show” them his Father. Then they will believe in what Jesus is saying. Jesus must have been deeply disappointed that Philip could not and would not trust his word.  Philip wanted proof. He needed to see the Father himself. Then and only then would he believe. Though Philip had been with him for a long time, he did not still believe. What about us? How often do we ask Jesus for proof? At times we also want Jesus to send us a sign that clearly he is with us. Faith and trust are difficult in our human relationships and perhaps even more so in our relationship with God.

 

 

FRIDAY 08 MAY 2020

friday 08 May 2020

 

Blessed Catherine of Saint Augustine (1632 – 1668)

She was born in 1632 in France. She entered the Augustinian Hospitaller Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus in 1644. She spent her life ministering to the poor and sick in Quebec, and died there at the age of 36.

 

White

 

Entrance Antiphon: Rv 5: 9-10

You have redeemed us, Lord, by your Blood, from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us into a kingdom, priests for our God, alleluia.

 

Collect

O God, author of our freedom and of our salvation, listen to the voice of our pleading and grant that those you have redeemed by the shedding of your Son’s Blood may have life through you and, under your protection, rejoice for ever unharmed. 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 13:26-33

Paul stood up in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, held up a hand for silence and began to speak: ‘My brothers, sons of Abraham’s race, and all you who fear God, this message of salvation is meant for you. What the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did, though they did not realise it, was in fact to fulfil the prophecies read on every sabbath. Though they found nothing to justify his death, they condemned him and asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out everything that scripture foretells about him they took him down from the tree and buried him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and it is these same companions of his who are now his witnesses before our people. ‘We have come here to tell you the Good News. It was to our ancestors that God made the promise but it is to us, their children, that he has fulfilled it, by raising Jesus from the dead. As scripture says in the second psalm: You are my son: today I have become your father.’

 

Psalm 2:6-11

R/  You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day.

 

1)   ‘It is I who have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain.’ I will announce the decree of the Lord: The Lord said to me: ‘You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day.

2)   ‘Ask and I shall bequeath you the nations, put the ends of the earth in your possession. With a rod of iron you will break them, shatter them like a potter’s jar.’

3)   Now, O kings, understand, take warning, rulers of the earth; serve the Lord with awe and trembling, pay him your homage.

 

Gospel Acclamation: Col 3:1

Alleluia, alleluia! Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Alleluia!

 

Gospel: John 14:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house; if there were not, I should have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too. You know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus said: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

Accept in compassion, Lord, we pray, the offerings of your family, that under your protective care they may never lose what they have received, but attain the gifts that are eternal. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon: Rm 4: 25

Christ our Lord was handed over for our transgressions and was raised again for our justification, alleluia.

 

Prayer after Communion

Keep safe, O Lord, we pray, those whom you have saved by your kindness, that, redeemed by the Passion of your Son, they may rejoice in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

 

 

Meditation

Jesus’ continuous use of encouraging words to overcome troubles and differences is a sign that there were many disagreements among the communities. “There are many rooms in my Father’s house” This wondrous promise gives our lives meaning. To know that there is a place for us in God’s own eternal home; what more do we need to feel fulfilled and at peace? It is therefore not necessary that everybody thinks the same way. The important thing is that all accept Jesus, the revelation of the Father, and that out of love for him, they have attitudes of understanding, service and love. Love and service are what unite the bricks and help the diverse communities to become a Church of brothers and sisters.

 

 

 

Vendredi 08 Mai 2020

BLANC

Saint Désiré, évêque

A l’époque mérovingienne, il contribua à rendra la Gaule chrétienne. Son épiscopat fut marqué par la conciliation et la paix. Il fut rappelé à Dieu en 550.

Antienne  d’ouverture : Ap5, 9-10

Seigneur, par ton sang tu as racheté pour Dieu des hommes de toute race, langue, peuple et nation. Tu en as fait pour notre Dieu un royaume de prêtres, alléluia.

 

Prière  d’ouverture :

Dieu à qui nous devons le salut et la liberté, écoute le cri de notre prière : puisque tu nous as rachetés par le sang de ton Fils, fais que nous puissions vivre de toi et trouver en toi le bonheur éternel. Par Jésus Christ…

 

1ère lecture: Ac 13, 26-33

En ces jours-là, Paul vint à Antioche de Pisidie. Dans la synagogue, il disait : « Vous, frères, les fils de la lignée d’Abraham et ceux parmi vous qui craignent Dieu, c’est à nous que la parole du salut a été envoyée. En effet, les habitants de Jérusalem et leurs chefs ont méconnu Jésus, ainsi que les paroles des prophètes qu’on lit chaque sabbat ; or, en le jugeant, ils les ont accomplies. Sans avoir trouvé en lui aucun motif de condamnation à mort, ils ont demandé à Pilate qu’il soit supprimé. Et, après avoir accompli tout ce qui était écrit de lui, ils l’ont descendu du bois de la croix et mis au tombeau. Mais Dieu l’a ressuscité d’entre les morts. Il est apparu pendant bien des jours à ceux qui étaient montés avec lui de Galilée à Jérusalem, et qui sont maintenant ses témoins devant le peuple. Et nous, nous vous annonçons cette Bonne Nouvelle : la promesse faite à nos pères, Dieu l’a pleinement accomplie pour nous, leurs enfants, en ressuscitant Jésus, comme il est écrit au psaume deux : Tu es mon fils ; moi, aujourd’hui, je t’ai engendré. »

 

Psaume : 2, 1.7bc, 8-9, 10-11

R/ Tu es mon fils ; moi, aujourd’hui, je t’ai engendré.

  1. Pourquoi ce tumulte des nations, ce vain murmure des peuples ? Le Seigneur m’a dit : « Tu es mon fils ;moi, aujourd’hui, je t’ai engendré.
  2. « Demande, et je te donne en héritage les nations, pour domaine la terre tout entière. Tu les détruiras de ton sceptre de fer, tu les briseras comme un vase de potier. »
  3. Maintenant, rois, comprenez, reprenez-vous, juges de la terre. Servez le Seigneur avec crainte, rendez-lui votre hommage en tremblant.

 

Acclamation :

Alléluia. Alléluia. Moi, je suis le Chemin, la Vérité et la Vie, dit le Seigneur. Personne ne va vers le Père sans passer par moi. Alléluia. (Jn 14, 6)

 

Evangile : Jn 14, 1-6

En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à ses disciples : « Que votre cœur ne soit pas bouleversé : vous croyez en Dieu, croyez aussi en moi. Dans la maison de mon Père, il y a de nombreuses demeures ; sinon, vous aurais- je dit : “Je pars vous préparer une place” ? Quand je serai parti vous préparer une place, je reviendrai et je vous emmènerai auprès de moi, afin que là où je suis, vous soyez, vous aussi. Pour aller où je vais, vous savez le chemin. » Thomas lui dit : « Seigneur, nous ne savons pas où tu vas. Comment pourrions-nous savoir le chemin ? » Jésus lui répond : « Moi, je suis le Chemin, la Vérité et la Vie ; personne ne va vers le Père sans passer par moi. »

Prière  sur  les  offrandes :

Reçois avec bonté, Seigneur, les offrandes de ton peuple : garde-le sous ta protection, pour qu’il ne perde aucun des biens que tu lui donnes, et qu’il découvre ceux qui demeurent toujours. Par Jésus.

 

Antienne  de  communion : Rm4,25

Le Christ, notre Seigneur, livré pour nos péchés, Dieu l’a ressuscité pour nous rendre saints, alléluia.

Prière  après  la  communion :

Ne cesse pas de protéger avec amour, Seigneur, ceux que tu as sauvés : la Passion de ton Fils les a rachetés, qu’ils mettent leur joie dans sa résurrection. Lui qui règne.

THURSDAY 07 MAY 2020

thursday 07 May 2020

 

St. John of Beverley (-721)

He was born in Yorkshire. He was celebrated for his scholarship as well as for his virtues. He was canonized in 1037.

 

White

 

Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 67: 8-9, 20

O God, when you went forth before your people, marching with them and living among them, the earth trembled, heavens poured down rain, alleluia.

 

Collect

O God, who restore human nature to yet greater dignity than at its beginnings, look upon the amazing mystery of your loving kindness, and in those you have chosen to make new through the wonder of rebirth may you preserve the gifts of your enduring grace and blessing. 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 13:13-25

Paul and his friends went by sea from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia where John left them to go back to Jerusalem. The others carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the sabbath and took their seats. After the lessons from the Law and the Prophets had been read, the presidents of the synagogue sent them a message: ‘Brothers, if you would like to address some words of encouragement to the congregation, please do so.’ Paul stood up, held up a hand for silence and began to speak: ‘Men of Israel, and fearers of God, listen! The God of our nation Israel chose our ancestors, and made our people great when they were living as foreigners in Egypt; then by divine power he led them out, and for about forty years took care of them in the wilderness. When he had destroyed seven nations in Canaan, he put them in possession of their land for about four hundred and fifty years. After this he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years, he deposed him and made David their king, of whom he approved in these words, “I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.” To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.”’

 

Psalm 88(89):2-3,21,22,25,27

R/  I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

 

1)    I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

2)   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.

3)   My truth and my love shall be with him; by my name his might shall be exalted. He will say to me: ‘You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me.’

Gospel Acclamation: cf. Rv 1:5

Alleluia, alleluia! You, O Christ, are the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, you have loved us and have washed away our sins with your blood. Alleluia!

 

Gospel: John 13:16-20

After he had washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus said to them: ‘I tell you most solemnly, no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him. ‘Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly. I am not speaking about all of you: I know the ones I have chosen; but what scripture says must be fulfilled: Someone who shares my table rebels against me. ‘I tell you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I am He. I tell you most solemnly, whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’

 

Prayer over the Offerings

May our prayers rise up to you, O Lord, together with the sacrificial offerings, so that, purified by your graciousness, we may be conformed to the mysteries of your mighty love. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon: Mt 28: 20

Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, alleluia.

 

Prayer after Communion

Almighty ever-living God, who restore us to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ, increase in us, we pray, the fruits of this paschal Sacrament and pour into our hearts the strength of this saving food. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Meditation

The gospel text is a periscope of the long conversation of Jesus with the disciples during the last supper. The five verses of today’s gospel draw two conclusions from the washing of the feet. Firstly, they speak of service as the principal characteristic of the followers of Jesus and secondly, they present Jesus as the revelation of the Father. The symbolic gesture of the washing of the feet consists in accepting Jesus as Messiah Servant, who gives Himself for others, and to reject a Messiah who comes as a glorious king. This gift of self, servant of all, is the key to understanding the gesture of the washing of the feet. This text underlines the virtue of humility. Jesus knew how to live with people who did not accept Him. What about me? How can I make my life a permanent service to others?