Posted by Sunday XV Post Pentecost; Commemoration of St Lawrence Justinian: Missa “Inclina, Domine”
In the Gospel for the Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost the Mass reminds us that having received the Holy Ghost at the Feast of Pentecost and Jesus in Holy Communion, our souls and bodies should be moved by the Spirit and entirely obedient to the operation of the divine gift of the Eucharist, so that it be no longer our own nature but the effect of this sacrament that dominates in us (Postcommunion).
Christ has snatched us from the death of sin as He once snatched the young man of Naim from natural death, and in this He responds to the compassion He feels for our mother the Church who laments over sinners, just as He was moved by the poor widow who lamented over her son.
This supernatural life, which is that of the Church, must always dwell in us and bear fruit, making us not only avoid the works of the flesh, as St. Paul told us last Sunday, but also practice the works of the Spirit which are the love of our neighbor and mistrust in ourselves, since we are nothing without Jesus Christ (Epistle).
The Epistle and Gospel teach Christian people to attend to their temporal interests without exaggerated preoccupation, for such anxiety offends God Who is our Father in Heaven.
Saint Lawrence Justinian was the first Patriarch of his native city, Venice. Renouncing the prospect of a noble marriage, he entered the Canons of St. George in Alga. All his revenues were spent on the poor and the building of new monasteries. God made it known that the safety of the glorious Venetian state was due, not to the diplomatic skill of her doges, or her formidable galleys, but to the holiness and merits of her bishop. He was a true fore-runner of the ecclesiastical reform later carried out by the Council of Trent. He died on January 8, 1455, a model of humility and pastoral zeal. Pope Innocent XII fixed his feast on this day, the anniversary of his episcopal consecration.
INTROIT Psalm 85: 1, 2, 3
Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, to me and hear me: save Thy servant, O my God, that trusteth in Thee: have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have cried to Thee all day. (Ps. 85: 4) Give joy to the soul of Thy servant for to thee, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
COLLECT
Let Thy continual pity, O Lord, cleanse and defend Thy Church: and because it cannot continue in safety without Thee, may it ever be governed by Thy goodness. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
St Lawrence Justinian
Grant us, we beseech Thee O almighty God, to extinguish the flames of our evil dispositions, as Thou didst grant blessed Lawrence to overcome the fires of his torments.
Collect of the Souls
From all perils of soul and body defend us, O Lord, we beseech thee, and by the intercession of blessed and gloriosus ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and of blessed N. and all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace that all adversities and errors being overcome, thy Church may serve thee in security and freedom. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
EPISTLE Galatians 5:25-26; 6:1-10
Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Galatians. Brethren: If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. Let us not become desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, even if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual instruct such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, whereas he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let everyone test his own work, and so he will have glory in himself only, and not in comparison with another. For each one will bear his own burden. And let him who is instructed in the word share all good things with his teacher. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what a man sows in the flesh, from the flesh also will reap corruption. But he who sows in the spirit, from the spirit will reap life everlasting. And in doing good let us not grow tired; for in due time we shall reap if we do not relax. Therefore, while we have time, let us do good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of faith.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 91:2-3
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing to Your name, Most High. V. To proclaim Your kindness at dawn and Your faithfulness throughout the night. Alleluia, alleluia. Ps 94:3 V. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King over all the earth. Alleluia.
GOSPELLuke 7:11-16
At that time, Jesus went to a town called Naim; and His disciples and a large crowd went with Him. And as He drew near the gate of the town, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large gathering from the town was with her. And the Lord, seeing her, had compassion on her, and said to her, Do not weep. And He went up and touched the stretcher; and the bearers stood still. And He said, Young man, I say to you, arise. And he who was dead, sat up, and began to speak. And He gave him to his mother. But fear seized upon all, and they began to glorify God, saying, A great prophet has risen among us, and God has visited His people.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 39:2-4
I have waited, waited for the Lord, and He stooped toward me, and heard my cry. And He put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.
SECRET
May Your sacrament, O Lord, always keep us and guard us from the assaults of the devil. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
St Lawrence Justinian
Accept, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gifts offered Thee, and, by the interceding merits of blessed Lawrence, grant that they may be to as a help unto our salvation.
Of the souls
Hear us, O God, our salvation that through the power of this Sacrament thou mayest defend us from all enemies of soul and body and bestow upon us grace here and glory hereafter. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
PREFACE of the Holy Trinity
It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON John 6:52
The bread that I will give is My Flesh for the life of the world.
POSTCOMMUNION
May the working of the heavenly gift, O Lord, so possess us, mind and body, that the action of the sacrament, rather than our senses, may continually prevail in us. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
St Lawrence Justinian
Filled with Thy sacred gift, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord, that what we celebrate with our homage duly given by the intercession of Thy blessed martyr Lawrence, we may also know as an increase of Thy saving grace within us.
Postcommunion for God’s Holy Church
O Lord our God, we pray Thee that Thou suffer not to succumb to human hazards those whom Thou hast been pleased to make sharers of divine mysteries. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever.
R. Amen.