by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Apr 23, 2020 | Agenda Biblique
BLANC / ROUGE
Saint Fidèle de Sigmaringen, prêtre et martyr
Fils du bourgmestre de Sigmaringen sur le haut Danube, Marc Rey (1578-1622) est surnommé, pendant ses études, le ‘’philosophe chrétien’’. Précepteur de trois princes, puis avocat à Colmar, il entre à trente-cinq ans chez les Capucins où il prend le nom de Fidèle. Missionnaire ardent, il cherche à ramener les chrétiens à l’unité et meurt pour la foi catholique en Suisse, après avoir pardonné à ses meurtriers.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ap 5, 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
Puisque tu as voulu, Seigneur, que ton Fils fût crucifié pour nous afin de nous arracher au pouvoir de Satan, fais que nous puissions recevoir la grâce de la résurrection. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : Ac 5, 34-42
En ces jours-là, comme les Apôtres étaient en train de comparaître devant le Conseil suprême, intervint un pharisien nommé Gamaliel, docteur de la Loi, qui était honoré par tout le peuple. Il ordonna de les faire sortir un instant, puis il dit : « Vous, Israélites, prenez garde à ce que vous allez faire à ces gens-là. Il y a un certain temps, se leva Theudas qui prétendait être quelqu’un, et à qui se rallièrent quatre cents hommes environ ; il a été supprimé, et tous ses partisans ont été mis en déroute et réduits à rien. Après lui, à l’époque du recensement, se leva Judas le Galiléen qui a entraîné beaucoup de monde derrière lui. Il a péri lui aussi, et tous ses partisans ont été dispersés. Eh bien, dans la circonstance présente, je vous le dis : ne vous occupez plus de ces gens-là, laissez-les. En effet, si leur résolution ou leur entreprise vient des hommes, elle tombera. Mais si elle vient de Dieu, vous ne pourrez pas les faire tomber. Ne risquez donc pas de vous trouver en guerre contre Dieu. » Les membres du Conseil se laissèrent convaincre ; ils rappelèrent alors les Apôtres et, après les avoir fait fouetter, ils leur interdirent de parler au nom de Jésus, puis ils les relâchèrent. Quant à eux, quittant le Conseil suprême, ils repartaient tout joyeux d’avoir été jugés dignes de subir des humiliations pour le nom de Jésus. Tous les jours, au Temple et dans leurs maisons, sans cesse, ils enseignaient et annonçaient la Bonne Nouvelle : le Christ, c’est Jésus.
Psaume : 26 (27), 1, 4, 13-14
R/ J’ai demandé une chose au Seigneur : habiter sa maison.
- Le Seigneur est ma lumière et mon salut ; de qui aurais- je crainte ? Le Seigneur est le rempart de ma vie ; devant qui tremblerais- je ?
- J’ai demandé une chose au Seigneur, la seule que je cherche : habiter la maison du Seigneur tous les jours de ma vie, pour admirer le Seigneur dans sa beauté et m’attacher à son temple.
- J’en suis sûr, je verrai les bontés du Seigneur sur la terre des vivants. « Espère le Seigneur, sois fort et prends courage ; espère le Seigneur. »
Acclamation :
Alléluia. Alléluia. L’homme ne vit pas seulement de pain, mais de toute parole qui sort de la bouche de Dieu. Alléluia. (Mt 4, 4b)
Evangile :Jn 6, 1-15
En ce temps-là, Jésus passa de l’autre côté de la mer de Galilée, le lac de Tibériade. Une grande foule le suivait, parce qu’elle avait vu les signes qu’il accomplissait sur les malades. Jésus gravit la montagne, et là, il était assis avec ses disciples. Or, la Pâque, la fête des Juifs, était proche. Jésus leva les yeux et vit qu’une foule nombreuse venait à lui. Il dit à Philippe : « Où pourrions- nous acheter du pain pour qu’ils aient à manger ? » Il disait cela pour le mettre à l’épreuve, car il savait bien, lui, ce qu’il allait faire. Philippe lui répondit : « Le salaire de deux cents journées ne suffirait pas pour que chacun reçoive un peu de pain. » Un de ses disciples, André, le frère de Simon- Pierre, lui dit : « Il y a là un jeune garçon qui a cinq pains d’orge et deux poissons, mais qu’est-ce que cela pour tant de monde ! » Jésus dit : « Faites asseoir les gens. » Il y avait beaucoup d’herbe à cet endroit. Ils s’assirent donc, au nombre d’environ cinq mille hommes. Alors Jésus prit les pains et, après avoir rendu grâce, il les distribua aux convives ; il leur donna aussi du poisson, autant qu’ils en voulaient. Quand ils eurent mangé à leur faim, il dit à ses disciples : « Rassemblez les morceaux en surplus, pour que rien ne se perde. » Ils les rassemblèrent, et ils remplirent douze paniers avec les morceaux des cinq pains d’orge, restés en surplus pour ceux qui prenaient cette nourriture. À la vue du signe que Jésus avait accompli, les gens disaient : « C’est vraiment lui le Prophète annoncé, celui qui vient dans le monde. » Mais Jésus savait qu’ils allaient venir l’enlever pour faire de lui leur roi ; alors de nouveau il se retira dans la montagne, lui seul.
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 : Rm 4, 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.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Apr 23, 2020 | Evangelium
friday 24 April 2020
St Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1578 – 1622)
He was born in Sigmaringen in Germany. He joined the Capuchin Friars at the age of 35 and led a harsh life of prayer and vigils. He was murdered by a Calvinist mob at Seewis on 24 April 1622.
White/Red
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, hope and light of the sincere, we humbly entreat you to dispose our hearts to offer you worthy prayer and ever to extol you by dutiful proclamation of your praise. 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 5:34-42
One member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee called Gamaliel, who was a doctor of the Law and respected by the whole people, stood up and asked to have the apostles taken outside for a time. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin, ‘Men of Israel, be careful how you deal with these people. There was Theudas who became notorious not so long ago. He claimed to be someone important, and he even collected about four hundred followers; but when he was killed, all his followers scattered and that was the end of them. And then there was Judas the Galilean, at the time of the census, who attracted crowds of supporters; but he got killed too, and all his followers dispersed. What I suggest, therefore, is that you leave these men alone and let them go. If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will not only be unable to destroy them, but you might find yourselves fighting against God.’ His advice was accepted; and they had the apostles called in, gave orders for them to be flogged, warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name. They preached every day both in the Temple and in private houses, and their proclamation of the Good News of Christ Jesus was never interrupted.
Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14
R/ There is one thing I ask of the Lord, to live in the house of the Lord.
- The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?
- There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long, to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to savour the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple.
- I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! We know that Christ is truly risen from the dead: have mercy on us, triumphant King. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 6:1-15
Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover. Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.
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
The Jewish Sahedrin was not prepared to accept the truth from the apostles. However, one of them, Gamaliel, tried to let them know that they cannot fight God. So, he called on the Sanhedrin to let the apostles be; if what they were saying and doing came from God, it would stay’; if not it would bubble off. In our Gospel, Jesus fed so many thousands with just five loaves and two fish. This miracle shows the power of God over natural laws and his concern for others. If we therefore open our hearts to him, he will come into our lives and he will act. For God nothing is impossible!
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Apr 22, 2020 | Evangelium
thursday 23 April 2020
St George (- c.303)
St Adalbert of Prague
He was martyred at Lydda (now in Israel) in about 303, during the persecution of Diocletian. His cult spread quickly through both the East and the West.
White/Red
Entrance Antiphon; 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 for the salvation of the world brought about the paschal sacrifice, be favourable to the supplications of your people, so that Christ our High Priest, interceding on our behalf, may by his likeness to ourselves bring us reconciliation, and by his equality with you free us from our sins. 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 5:27-33
When the officials had brought the apostles in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation. ‘We gave you a formal warning’ he said ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.’ In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’ This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.
Psalm 33(34):2,9,17-20
R/ This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
1) I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him.
2) The Lord turns his eyes to the just and his ears to their appeal. They call and the Lord hears and rescues them in all their distress.
3) The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirit is crushed he will save. Many are the trials of the just man but from them all the Lord will rescue him.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Christ has risen, he who created all things, and has granted his mercy to men. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 3:31-36
John the Baptist said to his disciples: ‘He who comes from above is above all others; he who is born of the earth is earthly himself and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven bears witness to the things he has seen and heard, even if his testimony is not accepted; though all who do accept his testimony are attesting the truthfulness of God, since he whom God has sent speaks God’s own words: God gives him the Spirit without reserve. The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him. Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life: the anger of God stays on him.’
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
Dear brothers and sisters, both St George and St Adalbert showed great courage and trust in God. They witnessed to their faith and stood their grounds against heretics and those who taught the wrong doctrine. Today, in the midst of a cacophony of various religious movements in our society, each of us must be ready to set the record straight and teach the right doctrine as we received from the Church. Unfortunately we have some Christians, especially our youth, who leave the Catholic church and go into some deleterious sects and cults. Many come back to their senses when the harm has already been done; but some never ever get it straight again.
In our First Reading, the Apostles make it clear to the Jewish leaders that obedience to God comes before obedience to man. The will of God must always be done even if this will set us against the best of our friends. There is a price to pay for being a good disciple of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist tells his disciples that there is someone coming after him, the Lamb of God , who is greater and more important. Anyone who believes in this Lamb of God will have eternal life. We admire the humility of John who gave the right place to Jesus. He, John is only the harbinger, the forerunner, not the Messiah himself. Many of us lack the humility of readily accepting to play second fiddle. But John teaches us that there is greatness in sincere humility.
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Apr 22, 2020 | Agenda Biblique
BLANC / ROUGE
Saint Georges, martyr
Celui que les Orientaux appellent ‘’le grand martyr’’ fut décapité à Lydda (Lod) en Palestine, vers 303. Sa légende le montre triomphant d’un dragon et en fait le type du chevalier affrontant les forces du mal. Il est le patron de l’Angleterre depuis le temps des Croisades.
Antienne d’ouverture : Ps 67, 8-9
Dieu, quand tu sortis à la tête de ton peuple, quand tu marchas dans le désert, la terre trembla, les cieux mêmes fondirent en face de Dieu. Alléluia.
Prière d’ouverture :
Accorde-nous, Dieu très bon, de voir fructifier tout au long de notre vie les grâces que nous offre le temps pascal. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture : Ac 5, 27-33
En ces jours-là, le commandant du Temple et son escorte, ayant amené les Apôtres, les présentèrent au Conseil suprême, et le grand prêtre les interrogea : « Nous vous avions formellement interdit d’enseigner au nom de celui-là, et voilà que vous remplissez Jérusalem de votre enseignement. Vous voulez donc faire retomber sur nous le sang de cet homme ! » En réponse, Pierre et les Apôtres déclarèrent : « Il faut obéir à Dieu plutôt qu’aux hommes. Le Dieu de nos pères a ressuscité Jésus, que vous aviez exécuté en le suspendant au bois du supplice. C’est lui que Dieu, par sa main droite, a élevé, en faisant de lui le Prince et le Sauveur, pour accorder à Israël la conversion et le pardon des péchés. Quant à nous, nous sommes les témoins de tout cela, avec l’Esprit Saint, que Dieu a donné à ceux qui lui obéissent. » Ceux qui les avaient entendus étaient exaspérés et projetaient de les supprimer.
Psaume : 33 (34), 2.9, 17-18, 19-20
R/Un pauvre crie ; le Seigneur entend.
- Je bénirai le Seigneur en tout temps, sa louange sans cesse à mes lèvres. Goûtez et voyez : le seigneur est bon ! Heureux qui trouve en lui son refuge !
- Le Seigneur affronte les méchants pour effacer de la terre leur mémoire. Le Seigneur entend ceux qui l’appellent : de toutes leurs angoisses, il les délivre.
- Il est proche du cœur brisé, il sauve l’esprit abattu. Malheur sur malheur pour le juste, mais le Seigneur chaque fois le délivre.
Acclamation :
Alléluia. Alléluia. Thomas, parce que tu m’as vu tu crois, dit le Seigneur. Heureux ceux qui croient sans avoir vu. Alléluia. (Jn 20, 29
Evangile : Jn 3, 31-36
En ce temps-là, Jésus disait à Nicodème : « Celui qui vient d’en haut est au- dessus de tous. Celui qui est de la terre est terrestre, et il parle de façon terrestre. Celui qui vient du ciel est au-dessus de tous, il témoigne de ce qu’il a vu et entendu, et personne ne reçoit son témoignage. Mais celui qui reçoit son témoignage certifie par là que Dieu est vrai. En effet, celui que Dieu a envoyé dit les paroles de Dieu, car Dieu lui donne l’Esprit sans mesure. Le Père aime le Fils et il a tout remis dans sa main. Celui qui croit au Fils a la vie éternelle ; celui qui refuse de croire le Fils ne verra pas la vie, mais la colère de Dieu demeure sur lui. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Que nos prières montent vers toi, Seigneur, avec ces offrandes pour le sacrifice ; dans ta bonté, purifie-nous et nous correspondrons davantage aux sacrements de ton amour. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion : Mt 28, 20
«Je suis avec vous, dit le Seigneur, tous les jours jusqu’à la fin des temps », Alléluia.
Priere après la communion :
Dieu tout-puissant, dans la résurrection du Christ, tu nous recrées pour la vie éternelle ; multiplie en nous les fruits du sacrement pascal : fais-nous prendre des forces neuves à cette nourriture qui apporte le salut. Par Jésus
by Jude Thaddeus Langeh Basebang | Apr 21, 2020 | Evangelium
wednesday 22 April 2020
St. Abdiesus
He was a deacon in the Christian community of Persia who was caught up in the persecutions conducted by King Shapur II.
White
Entrance Antiphon Cf. Ps 17: 50; 21: 23
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will tell of your name to my kin, alleluia.
Collect
As we recall year by year the mysteries by which, through the restoration of its original dignity, human nature has received the hope of rising again, we earnestly beseech your mercy, Lord, that what we celebrate in faith we may possess in unending love. 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 5:17-26
The high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Prompted by jealousy, they arrested the apostles and had them put in the common gaol. But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out, ‘Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.’ They did as they were told; they went into the Temple at dawn and began to preach. When the high priest arrived, he and his supporters convened the Sanhedrin – this was the full Senate of Israel – and sent to the gaol for them to be brought. But when the officials arrived at the prison they found they were not inside, so they went back and reported, ‘We found the gaol securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked the door we found no one inside.’ When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered what this could mean. Then a man arrived with fresh news. ‘At this very moment’ he said, ‘the men you imprisoned are in the Temple. They are standing there preaching to the people.’ The captain went with his men and fetched them. They were afraid to use force in case the people stoned them.
Psalm 33(34):2-9
R/ This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
1) I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad.
2) Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name. I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free.
3) Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called, the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress.
4) The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia! Christ has risen and shone upon us whom he redeemed with his blood. Alleluia!
Gospel: John 3:16-21
Jesus said to Nicodemus: ‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved. No one who believes in him will be condemned; but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already, because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son. On these grounds is sentence pronounced: that though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions should be exposed; but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.’
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who by the wonderful exchange effected in this sacrifice have made us partakers of the one supreme Godhead, grant, we pray, that, as we have come to know your truth, we may make it ours by a worthy way of life. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Jn 15: 16, 19
I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, and have appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass from former ways to newness of life. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Dear brothers and sisters prompted by jealousy, some members of the Jewish Sanhedrin decided that the apostles be arrested and imprisoned. And they did, but when they put them in prison, they were miraculously released at night. No one can fight God because in the end, the will of God will always triumph. For those who trust in God, everything always works out for the good. That is why in the Gospel, we are told that God so loved us that he sent His only Son to die for us. We can never measure this love; but we can be sure that as long as we put our trust in God, there is nothing that we need to fear. Unfortunately, many Christians are still found wanting in this respect. Somehow, we seem to fret just when we should put our hope and trust in God. We get intimidated by human forces and we shy out of various challenges to witness to Christ. May the readings of today put new spirit and courage in each one of us.
