Posted by Tuesday in the Fifth Week of Lent: Missa “Exspecta Dominum”
Station at St. Cyriacus in Rome at the Baths of Diocletian. Until Maundy Thursday, in masses of the season, the Psalm Judica me Psalm 42 is omitted as well as the Gloria Patri after the Introit and the Lavabo.
A very ancient regulation prohibited the procession and the stational Mass on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year, except on the feasts of the martyrs. Hence the Ordines Romani observe that no station was held on this day.
St. Cyriacus was long venerated at the Basilica of St. Mary in Via Lata; his body was brought there during the middle ages.
The story of Daniel in the lion’s den read in this Mass was widely known in the early days of Christianity, for it is reproduced in many of the catacombs. St. Cyriacus is said to have first exercised, like Daniel, his apostolate at the Persian Court, that of King Sapor.
In the Post-Communion we beseech God that our frequency in drawing near to the holy table may be for us both a token and a pledge of our approaching.
INTROIT Psalm 26: 14
Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, and wait thou for the Lord. The psalm of David before he was anointed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid? REPEAT: Expect the Lord… [Until Holy Thursday the Gloria Patri is omitted]
COLLECT
May our fasts be acceptable to Thee, O Lord, and expiate our sins ; may they make us worthy of Thy grace, and lead us unto life everlasting. Through our Lord…
Second Collect Against the persecutors of Holy Mother Church
We beseech Thee, O Lord, mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy Church : that, all adversity and error being destroyed, she may serve Thee in security and freedom. Through our Lord…
LESSON Daniel 14: 27-42
And when the Babylonians had heard this, they took great indignation: and being gathered together against the king, they said: The king is become a Jew. He hath destroyed Bel, he hath killed the dragon, and he hath put the priests to death. And they came to the king, and said: Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and thy house. And they cast him into the den of lions, and he was there six days. And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given to them two carcasses every day, and two sheep: but then they were not given unto them, that they might devour Daniel. Now there was in Judea a prophet called Habacuc, and he had boiled pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl: and was going into the field, to carry it to the reapers. And the angel of the Lord said to Habacuc: Carry the dinner which thou hast into Babylon, to Daniel, who is in the lions’ den. And Habacuc said: Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do I know the den. And the angel of the Lord took him by the top of his head, and carried him by the hair of his head, and set him in Babylon, over the den, in the force of his spirit. And Habacuc cried, saying: O Daniel, thou servant of God, take the dinner that God hath sent thee. And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God, and thou hast not forsaken them that love thee. And Daniel arose, and eat. And the angel of the Lord presently set Habacuc again in his own place. And upon the seventh day the king came to bewail Daniel: and he came to the den, and looked in, and behold Daniel was sitting in the midst of the lions. And the king cried out with a loud voice, saying: Great art thou, O Lord, the God of Daniel. And he drew him out of the lions’ den. But those that had been the cause of his destruction, he cast into the den, and they were devoured in a moment before him. Then the king said: Let all the inhabitants of the whole earth fear the God of Daniel: for he is the Saviour, working signs, and wonders in the earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions’ den.
GRADUAL Psalm 42: 1-3
Distinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy: deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man. For Thou art God my strength: why hast Thou cast me off? and why do I go sorrowful whilst the enemy afflicteth me? Send forth Thy light and Thy truth: they have conducted me, and brought me unto Thy holy hill, and into Thy tabernacles.
GOSPEL St. John 7: 1-13
In those days: After these things, Jesus walked in Galilee: for He would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews feast of tabernacles was at hand. And His brethren said to Him: Pass from hence and go into Judea, that Thy disciples also may see Thy works which Thou dost. For there is no man that doth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If Thou do these things, manifest Thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in Him. Then Jesus said to them: “My time is not yet come; but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you: but Me it hateth, because I give testimony of it, that the works thereof are evil, Go you up to this festival day: but I go not up to this festival day, because My time is not accomplished.” When He had said these things, He himself stayed in Galilee. But after His brethren were gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but, as it were, in secret. The Jews therefore sought Him on the festival day and said: Where is He? And there was much murmuring among the multitude concerning him. For some said: He is a good man. And others said: No, but He seduceth the people. Yet no man spoke openly of Him, for fear of the Jews.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 9: 11-13
And let them trust in Thee who know Thy name: for Thou hast not forsaken them that seek Thee, O Lord. Sing ye to the Lord, Who dwelleth in Sion: declare His ways among the Gentiles: For requiring their blood, He hath remembered them: He hath not forgotten the cry of the poor.
SECRET
Protect us, O Lord, who assist at Thy mysteries ; that, fixed upon things divine we may serve Thee in both body and mind. Through our Lord…
Second Secret Against the persecutors of Holy Mother Church
Protect us, O Lord, who assist at Thy mysteries; that, fixed upon things divine we may serve Thee in both body and mind. Through our Lord…
PREFACE of the Holy Cross
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, everlasting God : Who didst establish the salvation of mankind on the tree of the Cross: that whence death came thence also life might arise again, and that he, Who overcame by the tree, by the tree also might be overcome: Through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Psalm 24: 22
Redeem me, O God of Israel, from all my tribulations.
POSTCOMMUNION
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that ever following after Thy divine things, we may deserve to attain heavenly rewards. Through our Lord…
Second Postcommunion against the persecutors of Holy Mother Church
We beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that Thou wouldst not suffer to be exposed to human dangers those to whom Thou givest to rejoice in this divine banquet. Through our Lord…
PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, a preserving obedience to Thy will, that in our days the people who serve Thee may increase both in merit and number. Through our Lord…