Posted by Fourth Sunday of Advent: Missa “Rorate, coeli,”
In this mass we meet once again with the three great figures that are before the mind of the Church throughout Advent: Isaias, St. John the Baptist, and our Lady. The prophet Isaias foretells of St. John the Baptist that he will be “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths … and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” And “the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the Baptism of penance for the remission of sins” (Gospel).
“John,” St. Gregory explains, “told those who hurried in crowds to be baptized: ‘Ye brood of vipers, who hath told you to flee from the wrath to come?’ Now the wrath to come is the final chastisement, which the sinner will not be able to escape unless he have recourse now to the lamentations of penance. The friend of the Bridegroom warns us to bring forth not fruits merely of penance but worthy fruits. These words are a call to each man’s conscience, bidding him to lay up by means of penance a treasure of good works, the greater in proportions to the ravage of sin which caused it”. And St. Leo says, “God Himself teaches us by the prophet Isaias: I will lead the blind in a way that they know not, and I will turn the darkness before them into light and I will not forsake them.” Come, Lord Jesus, and tarry not.
INTROIT Philippians 4: 4-6
Drop down dew, ye Heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just: let the earth be open and bud forth a Savior. (Ps. 18: 2) The Heavens show forth the glory of God: and the firmament declareth the work of His hands. v. Glory be to the Father…
COLLECT
Lord, we beseech Thee, stir up Thy power, and come, and with great might succor us: that by the help of Thy grace that which is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Thy merciful forgiveness. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God., Forever and ever. R. Amen.
Commemoration of the Vigil of St Thomas, Apostle
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the solemn feast of Thine Apostle Thomas, which we anticipate, may both increase our devotion and advance our salvation.
Collect for the Blessed Mother
O God, Who didst will that at the message of an angel Thy word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary: grant that we, Thy suppliants, who believe her to be truly the mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R. Amen.
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 4: 1-5
Lesson from the Epistle of Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Brethren, Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. Here now it is required among the dispensers that man be found faithful. But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you or by man’s day but neither do I judge my own self. For I am not conscious to myself of anything: yet am I not hereby justified, but He that judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge not before the time, until the Lord come: Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise from God.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 144: 18, 21
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him: to all that call upon Him in truth. V. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless His Holy Name. Alleluia, alleluia. V. Come, O Lord, and tarry not: forgive the sins of Thy people Israel. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 3: 1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina, under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord came to John the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins; as it is written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Luke 1: 28, 42
Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
SECRET
O Lord, we beseech Thee, look down favorably upon these present Sacrifices: that they may profit us both unto devotion and salvation. Through our 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.
Commemoration of the Vigil of St Thomas
Offering to thee these holy mysteries with reverence for the high dignity of the Apostleship, we beseech thee, O LOrd that through the prayers of blessed Thomas, thy Apostle, to whose feast we look forward, thy people ever may set forth their desires before thee and gain what they seek.
Secret for the Blessed Virgin Mary
Strengthen in our minds, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the mysteries of the true faith, that, confessing Him Who was conceived of the Virgin to be true God and true man, we may deserve, through the power of His saving resurrection, to attain everlasting joy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.
PREFACE of the Most Holy Trinity
It is 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, ever-lasting God: Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, are 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 Isaias 7: 14
Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son: and His name shall be called Emmanuel.
POSTCOMMUNION
Having received Thy gifts, we beseech Thee, O Lord: that as we frequent this Mystery, so the work of our salvation may advance. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.
Commemoration of the Vigil of St Thomas, Apostle
Be appease, we beseech thee, O Lord, by the prayers of thy holy Apostle Thomas, and grant us pardon and unfailing remedies.
Postcommunion for the Blessed Virgin Mary
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may, by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection. 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.
