Thursday in the Fourth Week of Lent: Missa “Lætétur cor”
Today’s Collecta is at the Church of St. Quiricus with the Station at St. Martin “ad montes” The Church of St. Quiricus (at one time St. Quiricus and Julitta, Oriental martyrs) is at the foot of the Quirinal hill.
Through the zeal of Pope Symmachus, two oratories were erected beside the ancient titulus equitii, dedicated to the first two confessors to whom after the martyrs liturgical cultus was paid, Sts. Martin and Sylvester. It is located on the Esquiline hill.
The Mass dates only from the time of Pope Gregory II; the sung parts are from other feasts. Both the Epistle and the Gospel recount a miracle of raising the dead to life; St. Martin of Tours was celebrated as the resuscitator of three dead persons. The story of Elisaeus is an example of the discretion needed by superiors in dealing with those under their care.
INTROIT Psalm 104. 3,
Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord: seek ye the Lord, and be strengthened: seek His face evermore. Psalm 104. 1 Give glory to the Lord, and call upon His name; declare His deeds among the Gentiles. V. Glory be…
COLLECT
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we who are chastised by the fasts we have undertaken, may also be gladdened with holy devotion: that our earthly affections being weakened, we may the more easily lay hold on heavenly things. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE IV Kings 4. 25-3
In those days, a Sunamite woman came to Eliseus to Mount Carmel: and when the man of God saw her coming towards him, he said to Giezi his servant: Behold that Sunamitess. Go therefore to meet her, and say to her: Is all well with thee, and with thy husband, and with thy son? And she answered: Well. And when she came to the man of God to the mount, she caught hold on his feet: and Giezi came to remove her. And the man of God said: Let her alone: for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord hath hid it from me and hath not told me. And she said to him: Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say to thee: Do not deceive me? Then he said to Giezi: Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand and go. If any man meet thee, salute him not: and if any man salute thee, answer him not: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. But the mother of the child said: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. He arose, therefore, and followed her. But Giezi was gone before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child, and there was no voice nor sense: and he returned to meet him, and told him, saying: The child is not risen. Eliseus therefore went into the house, and behold the child lay dead on his bed: and going in he shut the door upon him, and upon the child: and prayed to the Lord. And he went up and lay upon the child: and he put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he bowed himself upon him: and the child’s flesh grew warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house, once to and fro: and he went up and lay upon him: and the child gaped seven times, and opened his eyes. And he called Giezi, and said to him: Call this Sunamitess. And she being called, went in to him. And he said: Take up thy son. She came and fell at his feet, and worshipped upon the ground: and took up her son, and went out, and Eliseus returned to Galgal.
GRADUAL Psalm 73. 20, 19, 2
Have regard, O Lord, to Thy covenant: and forget not to the end the souls of Thy poor. V. Arise, O Lord, judge Thine own cause: remember the reproaches of Thy servants.
GOSPEL St. Luke 7. 11-1
At that time, Jesus went into a city that is called Naim: and there went with Him His disciples, and a great multitude. And when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother: and she was a widow, and a great multitude of the city were with her. Whom when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy towards her, He said to her: Weep not. And He came near, and touched the bier. (And they that carried it stood still). And He said: Young man, I say to thee, arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He gave him to his mother. And there came a fear upon them all: and they glorified God, saying: A great Prophet is risen up among us: and God hath visited His people.
OFFERTORY Psalm 69. 2, 3,
O Lord, make haste to help me: let all those be confounded that desire evils to Thy servants.
SECRET
Cleanse us, O merciful God, that the prayers of Thy Church, which are well-pleasing to Thee, as they accompany these pious offerings, may please Thee yet more through the purity of our minds. Through our Lord.
PREFACE
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 by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards, 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 to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Psalm 70. 16-17, 1
O Lord, I will be mindful of Thy justice alone: Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth: and unto old age and gray hairs, O God, forsake me not.
POSTCOMMUNION COLLECT
Suffer not, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy heavenly gifts, which Thou hast provided for the healing of Thy faithful, to turn to the judgment of those who receive them. Through our Lord.
PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
God, the teacher and ruler of Thy people, put to flight the sins that assail them, that they may be pleasing to Thee and secure in Thy protection. Through our Lord.