Posted by Feria V of Low Sunday: Missa “Quasi modo”
Station at the Church of St. Pancras in Rome. Low Sunday, so called in order to emphasize the contrast between the great Easter solemnity and the Sunday which ends the Octave, is also known as Quasimodo, from the first words of the Introit. (Not the hunchback of Notre Dame!) In the Latin Missal and Breviary it is Called Dominica in Albis (depositis or deponendis), because the Neophytes on that day put aside their white garments. Another Latin name, Pascha clausum, is preserved in the French Paques – “closes” and in the Dutch Beloken Paschen, i.e. “close of Easter,” this day ending the Octave (Collect).
The Church compares the Neophytes to newborn babes, and the milk she gives them to drink (Introit) is the faith in Christ which will enable them to overcome with Him the world. This faith has for its foundation the testimony of the Father, Who at the baptism of Christ (water) declared Him to be His Son; the testimony of the Son, Who on the Cross (blood) showed Himself the Son of God; and that of the Holy Ghost, Who by Christ’s Resurrection attested the divinity of the Redeemer (Gospel).
The Gospel further shows us how Christ, Who twice appeared in the Cenacle, dispelled the doubts of the Apostle – not present in the upper room on Easter night – Saint Thomas and praised those who, without having seen Him, yet believed in Him.
Let us proclaim our faith in the risen Christ, and in the Divine Presence in the Holy Eucharist let us repeat with Thomas that cry of faith and humility, “My Lord and my God!”
INTROIT 1 Peter 2: 2
As newborn babes, alleluia, desire the rational milk without guile, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. Rejoice to God our helper: sing aloud to the God of Jacob. 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. Repeat As newborn…
COLLECT
Grant us, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, in our hearts and in our manner of life, at all times to keep to Thee an Easter festival such as we have celebrated. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.
EPISTLE 1 John 5: 4-10
A reading from the Epistle of the blessed Apostle John. Dearly beloved: Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and This is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth that Christ is the truth. And there are three who give testimony in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that give testimony on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood: and these three are one. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater: for this is the testimony of God, which is greater, because He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth in the Son of God hath the testimony of God in himself.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia. V. On the day of My resurrection, saith the Lord, I will go before you into Galilee. Alleluia. V. After eight days, the doors being shut, Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, and said. Peace be with you. Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 20: 19-31
At that time, when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together for fear of the Jews, Jesus came, and stood in the midst and said to them: “Peace be to you.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: “Peace be to you: as the Father hath sent Me, I also send you.” When He had said this, He breathed on them, and He said to them, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. And after eight days, again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: “Peace be to you.” Then He saith to Thomas: “Put in thy finger hither, and see My hands, and bring hither thy hand, and put it into My side; and be not faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith to him: “Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed.” Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of His disciples which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; and that, believing, you may have life in His name.
OFFERTORY Matthew 28: 2, 5-6
An angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and said to the women: He whom you seek is risen as He said, alleluia.
SECRET
Graciously receive, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gifts offered in this season of gladness, by Holy Church to Thee: and even as Thou makest her so greatly to rejoice on earth, so do Thou call all her children to share in the endless delights of Heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
PREFACE of Easter
It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially this when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the Lamb Who hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath destroyed our death: and by rising again hath restored us to life. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
COMMUNICANTES
Communicating, and keeping the most holy day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh and also reverencing the memory, first, of the glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of the same our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also of Thy blessed Apostles and martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus: Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all Thy Saints, through whose merits and prayers, grant that we may in all things be defended by the help of Thy protection (He joins his hands.) Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
HANC IGITUR
We therefore beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously to accept this oblation of our service, as also of Thy whole family, which we make unto Thee on behalf of these whom Thou hast vouchsafed to bring to a new birth by water and the Holy Ghost, granting them remission of all their sins: and to dispose our days in Thy peace, preserve us from eternal damnation and rank us in the number of Thine Elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
COMMUNION John 20: 27
Put in thy hand, and know the place of the nails, alleluia: and be not incredulous, but believing, alleluia, alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
We beseech Thee, O Lord our God, to make profitable to us, both in this world and in that to come, the sacred mysteries by Thee established for the ensuring of our salvation. 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.