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Ribbon Placement:
Office of Readings for Saturday in the Octave of Easter
God, come to my assistance.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
HYMN
Ave Maria, gratia plena
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei
Amen.
English Translation:
Hail Mary, full of grace
Holy Mary, Mother of God
Amen.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Great is the Lord; his majesty is beyond measure, alleluia.
Psalm 145
I
I will give you glory, O God my King,
I will bless you day after day
Age to age shall proclaim your works,
They will speak of your terrible deeds,
The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Ant. Great is the Lord; his majesty is beyond measure, alleluia.
Ant. 2 The Lord has made known the glorious splendor of his kingdom, alleluia.
II
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
to make known to men your mighty deeds
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Ant. The Lord has made known the glorious splendor of his kingdom, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Let all creatures praise your holy name for ever, alleluia.
III
The Lord is faithful in all his words
The eyes of all creatures look to you
The Lord is just in all his ways
He grants the desires of those who fear him,
Let me speak the praise of the Lord,
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Ant. Let all creatures praise your holy name for ever, alleluia.
Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) A moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
God raised up Christ from the dead, alleluia.
READINGS
First reading
Do not be surprised, beloved, that a trial by fire is occurring in your midst. It is a test for you, but it should not catch you off guard. Rejoice instead, in the measure that you share Christ’s sufferings. When his glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly. Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God’s Spirit in its glory has come to rest on you.
See to it that none of you suffers for being a murderer, a thief, a malefactor, or a destroyer of another’s rights. If anyone suffers for being a Christian, however, he ought not to be ashamed. He should rather glorify God in virtue of that name.
The season of judgment has begun, and begun with God’s own household. If it begins this way with us, what must be the end for those who refuse obedience to the gospel of God? And if the just man is saved only with difficulty, what is to become of the godless and the sinner? Accordingly, let those who suffer as God’s will requires continue in good deeds, and entrust their lives to a faithful Creator.
To the elders among you I, a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and sharer in the glory that is to be revealed, make this appeal. God’s flock is in your midst; give it a shepherd’s care. Watch over it willingly as God would have you do, not under constraint; and not for shameful profit either, but generously. Be examples to the flock, not lording it over those assigned to you, so that when the chief Shepherd appears you will win for yourselves the unfading crown of glory.
In the same way, you younger men must be obedient to the elders. In your relations with one another, clothe yourselves with humility, because God “is stern with the arrogant but to the humble he shows kindness.” Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time he may lift you high. Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you.
Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith, realizing that the brotherhood of believers is undergoing the same sufferings throughout the world.
The God of all grace, who called you to his everlasting glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish those who have suffered a little while. Dominion be his throughout the ages! Amen.
I am writing briefly through Silvanus, whom I take to be a faithful brother to you. Herewith are expressed my encouragement and my testimony that this is the true grace of God. Be steadfast in it. The church that is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greeting, as does Mark my son. Greet one another with the embrace of true love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
RESPONSORY See 1 Peter 4:13; Luke 6:22
Insofar as you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice,
Blessed are you when men hate you because of the Son of Man.
Second reading
On the night he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said: “Take, eat: this is my body.” He took the cup, gave thanks and said: “Take, drink: this is my blood.” Since Christ himself has declared the bread to be his body, who can have any further doubt? Since he himself has said quite categorically, This is my blood, who would dare to question it and say that it is not his blood?
Therefore, it is with complete assurance that we receive the bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ. His body is given to us under the symbol of bread, and his blood is given to us under the symbol of wine, in order to make us by receiving them one body and blood with him. Having his body and blood in our members, we become bearers of Christ and sharers, as Saint Peter says, in the divine nature.
Once, when speaking to the Jews, Christ said: Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you shall have no life in you. This horrified them and they left him. Not understanding his words in a spiritual way, they thought the Savior wished them to practice cannibalism. Under the old covenant there was showbread, but it came to an end with the old dispensation to which it belonged. Under the new covenant there is bread from heaven and the cup of salvation. These sanctify both soul and body, the bread being adapted to the sanctification of the body, the Word, to the sanctification of the soul.
Do not, then, regard the eucharistic elements as ordinary bread and wine: they are in fact the body and blood of the Lord, as he himself has declared. Whatever your senses may tell you, be strong in faith.
You have been taught and you are firmly convinced that what looks and tastes like bread and wine is not bread and wine but the body and the blood of Christ. You know also how David referred to this long ago when he sang: Bread gives strength to man’s heart and makes his face shine with the oil of gladness. Strengthen your heart, then, by receiving this bread as spiritual bread, and bring joy to the face of your soul.
May purity of conscience remove the veil from the face of your soul so that by contemplating the glory of the Lord, as in a mirror, you may be transformed from glory to glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
RESPONSORY Luke 22:19; Exodus 12:27
Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke the bread.
When your children ask: What does this ritual mean?
TE DEUM
You are God: we praise you;
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
You, Christ, are the King of glory,
When you became man to set us free
You overcame the sting of death,
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
Day by day we bless you.
Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
Lord, show us your love and mercy,
In you, Lord, is our hope:
CONCLUDING PRAYER
O God,
ACCLAMATION (at least in the communal celebration)
Let us praise the Lord.
Ribbon Placement:
Office of Readings for Saturday in the Octave of Easter
God, come to my assistance.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
HYMN
Ave Maria, gratia plena
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei
Amen.
English Translation:
Hail Mary, full of grace
Holy Mary, Mother of God
Amen.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Great is the Lord; his majesty is beyond measure, alleluia.
Psalm 145
I
I will give you glory, O God my King,
I will bless you day after day
Age to age shall proclaim your works,
They will speak of your terrible deeds,
The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Ant. Great is the Lord; his majesty is beyond measure, alleluia.
Ant. 2 The Lord has made known the glorious splendor of his kingdom, alleluia.
II
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
to make known to men your mighty deeds
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Ant. The Lord has made known the glorious splendor of his kingdom, alleluia.
Ant. 3 Let all creatures praise your holy name for ever, alleluia.
III
The Lord is faithful in all his words
The eyes of all creatures look to you
The Lord is just in all his ways
He grants the desires of those who fear him,
Let me speak the praise of the Lord,
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Ant. Let all creatures praise your holy name for ever, alleluia.
Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) A moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
God raised up Christ from the dead, alleluia.
READINGS
First reading
Do not be surprised, beloved, that a trial by fire is occurring in your midst. It is a test for you, but it should not catch you off guard. Rejoice instead, in the measure that you share Christ’s sufferings. When his glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly. Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God’s Spirit in its glory has come to rest on you.
See to it that none of you suffers for being a murderer, a thief, a malefactor, or a destroyer of another’s rights. If anyone suffers for being a Christian, however, he ought not to be ashamed. He should rather glorify God in virtue of that name.
The season of judgment has begun, and begun with God’s own household. If it begins this way with us, what must be the end for those who refuse obedience to the gospel of God? And if the just man is saved only with difficulty, what is to become of the godless and the sinner? Accordingly, let those who suffer as God’s will requires continue in good deeds, and entrust their lives to a faithful Creator.
To the elders among you I, a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and sharer in the glory that is to be revealed, make this appeal. God’s flock is in your midst; give it a shepherd’s care. Watch over it willingly as God would have you do, not under constraint; and not for shameful profit either, but generously. Be examples to the flock, not lording it over those assigned to you, so that when the chief Shepherd appears you will win for yourselves the unfading crown of glory.
In the same way, you younger men must be obedient to the elders. In your relations with one another, clothe yourselves with humility, because God “is stern with the arrogant but to the humble he shows kindness.” Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time he may lift you high. Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you.
Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith, realizing that the brotherhood of believers is undergoing the same sufferings throughout the world.
The God of all grace, who called you to his everlasting glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish those who have suffered a little while. Dominion be his throughout the ages! Amen.
I am writing briefly through Silvanus, whom I take to be a faithful brother to you. Herewith are expressed my encouragement and my testimony that this is the true grace of God. Be steadfast in it. The church that is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greeting, as does Mark my son. Greet one another with the embrace of true love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
RESPONSORY See 1 Peter 4:13; Luke 6:22
Insofar as you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice,
Blessed are you when men hate you because of the Son of Man.
Second reading
On the night he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said: “Take, eat: this is my body.” He took the cup, gave thanks and said: “Take, drink: this is my blood.” Since Christ himself has declared the bread to be his body, who can have any further doubt? Since he himself has said quite categorically, This is my blood, who would dare to question it and say that it is not his blood?
Therefore, it is with complete assurance that we receive the bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ. His body is given to us under the symbol of bread, and his blood is given to us under the symbol of wine, in order to make us by receiving them one body and blood with him. Having his body and blood in our members, we become bearers of Christ and sharers, as Saint Peter says, in the divine nature.
Once, when speaking to the Jews, Christ said: Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you shall have no life in you. This horrified them and they left him. Not understanding his words in a spiritual way, they thought the Savior wished them to practice cannibalism. Under the old covenant there was showbread, but it came to an end with the old dispensation to which it belonged. Under the new covenant there is bread from heaven and the cup of salvation. These sanctify both soul and body, the bread being adapted to the sanctification of the body, the Word, to the sanctification of the soul.
Do not, then, regard the eucharistic elements as ordinary bread and wine: they are in fact the body and blood of the Lord, as he himself has declared. Whatever your senses may tell you, be strong in faith.
You have been taught and you are firmly convinced that what looks and tastes like bread and wine is not bread and wine but the body and the blood of Christ. You know also how David referred to this long ago when he sang: Bread gives strength to man’s heart and makes his face shine with the oil of gladness. Strengthen your heart, then, by receiving this bread as spiritual bread, and bring joy to the face of your soul.
May purity of conscience remove the veil from the face of your soul so that by contemplating the glory of the Lord, as in a mirror, you may be transformed from glory to glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
RESPONSORY Luke 22:19; Exodus 12:27
Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke the bread.
When your children ask: What does this ritual mean?
TE DEUM
You are God: we praise you;
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
You, Christ, are the King of glory,
When you became man to set us free
You overcame the sting of death,
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
Day by day we bless you.
Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
Lord, show us your love and mercy,
In you, Lord, is our hope:
CONCLUDING PRAYER
O God,
ACCLAMATION (at least in the communal celebration)
Let us praise the Lord.