Carissimi; Today’s Mass: Easter Monday

Easter Monday: Missa “Introduxit vos Dominus”

Station at the Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome. This Octave is entirely consecrated to the neophytes. The week was for them a continual feast, a spiritual feast; and they kept their white baptismal garments, which were not laid aside until the following Sunday (in albis deponendis). The Masses of this Octave allude, like that of Pentecost, sometimes to the Resurrection, sometimes to Baptism. Let us follow the example of the neophytes, let us all be one in mind and heart, in proclaiming together our faith in the risen Christ Jesus our Lord.

Among the early Christians the Easter festivities were prolonged for the entire week; to no other feast was so much solemnity given. During this week Rome kept continuous festival; business transactions were suspended; every morning the stational Mass was celebrated at one of the chief basilicas. The station at St. Peter’s brings to his tomb the newly baptised and bears witness in the Mass to the lively faith of the Apostle in whose house today the Roman Church is desirous of renewing, as it were, the paschal feast.

In the Epistle St. Peter lifts up his voice and proclaims the glory of Christ’s Resurrection. In the Gospel mention is made of the apparition of Our Lord to Peter on the evening of Easter Sunday. The disciples on the way to Emmaus knew the Lord in the breaking of the bread. It is probable that this was the eucharistic bread; as the Savior at the Last Supper received the Eucharist first Himself, in all likelihood He did so again after His Resurrection.

The Prayer speaks of the paschal Sacrament as being closely bound up with the redemption of the world. The spiritual Israel has come forth from the slavery of Egypt. May the Lord then protect this newly won liberty.

INTROIT  Exod 13:5; 13:9

And when the Lord shall have brought thee a land that floweth with milk and honey, alleluia; and that the law of the Lord be always in thy mouth, alleluia. Ps 104:1 Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his deeds among the Gentiles. Confitémini Dómino et invocáte nomen ejus: annuntiáte inter gentes ópera ejus. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. And when the Lord shall have brought thee a land that floweth with milk and honey, alleluia; and that the law of the Lord be always in thy mouth, alleluia.

COLLECT

O God, Who dost heal the sick world by the solemn gladness of the Passover, continue, we beseech thee! to pour forth thine heavenly gifts upon thy people, till the same shall bring them into perfect liberty, and finally avail them unto life everlasting. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.

EPISTLE Acts 10:37-43

Lesson from the Acts of Apostles. In those days Peter standing among the people, said: You know the word which hath been published through all Judea: for it began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached, Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost, and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things that he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed, hanging him upon a tree. Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest, Not to all the people, but to witnesses preordained by God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he arose again from the dead; And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he who was appointed by God, to be judge of the living and of the dead. To him all the prophets give testimony, that by his name all receive remission of sins, who believe in him.

Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia! Ps 117:24; 117:2. This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein. V. Let Israel now say, that He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. Allelúja, allelúja. Matt 28:2 An angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.

SEQUENCE
Christians! to the Paschal Victim offer your thankful praises.
The Lamb the sheep redeemeth: Christ, who only is sinless, reconcileth sinners to the Father.
Death and life contended in that conflict stupendous: the Prince of Life, who died, deathless reigneth.
Speak, Mary, declaring what thou sawest wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ who now liveth: and likewise the glory of the Risen.
Bright Angels attesting, the shroud and napkin resting.
Yea, Christ my hope is arisen: to Galilee He goeth before you.”
We know that Christ is risen, henceforth ever living: Have mercy, Victor King, pardon giving. Amen. Alleluia.

GOSPEL Luke 24:13-35

In that time two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also drawing near, went with them. But their eyes were held, that they should not know him. And he said to them: What are these discourses that you hold one with another as you walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said to him: Art thou only a stranger to Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that have been done there in these days? To whom he said: What things? And they said: Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people; And how our chief priests and princes delivered him to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we hoped, that it was he that should have redeemed Israel: and now besides all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea and certain women also of our company affrighted us, who before it was light, were at the sepulchre, And not finding his body, came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who say that he is alive. And some of our people went to the sepulchre, and found it so as the women had said, but him they found not. Then he said to them: O foolish, and slow of heart to believe in all things which the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures, the things that were concerning him. And they drew night to the town, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go farther. But they constrained him; saying: Stay with us, because it is towards evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in with them. And it came to pass, whilst he was at table with them, he took bread, and blessed, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him: and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to the other: Was not our heart burning within us, whilst he spoke in this way, and opened to us the scriptures? And rising up, the same hour, they went back to Jerusalem: and they found the eleven gathered together, and those that were staying with them, Saying: The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way; and how they knew him in the breaking of the bread.

OFFERTORY Matt 28:2; 28:5-6

An angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and said to the women: Jesus, whom you seek He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Allelúja.

SECRET

Adept, O Lord we beseech thee, the prayers with the sacrifices of the people, and grant that what we have begun at these paschal mysteries, may with thy help be a remedy for life eternal. 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.

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 Luke 24:34

The Lord is risen, and hath appeared to Peter. Alleluia.

POSTCOMMUNION

Pour forth upon us, O Lord, the spirit of thy charity and thy loving kindness make to be of one mind those whom thou hast fed fully with these paschal sacraments. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.