Carissimi; Today’s Mass: Easter Wednesday

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easterwednesdayEaster Wednesday: Missa “Venite, benedicti”

Station at the St. Laurence-Without-the-Walls. Today we honor St. Lawrence, the Cross-bearer of the Roman Church, to express our gratitude for the favor shown by him to the catechumens in bringing them to holy Baptism.

The Gospel gives the account of the third appearance of the risen Savior to the Apostles. On the shores of Lake Tiberias St. John, the virgin soul among the Apostles, sees him first, but Peter, the most ardent and the most impetuous, in the vigor of his faith throws himself into the water and is the first to reach the divine Master, whilst the others slowly follow in the boat. The fishes brought by St. Peter at the command of Jesus are interpreted to represent the neophytes baptized on Holy Saturday.

Throughout the paschal season the Church displays a great veneration for the martyrs, of which the first evidence is seen today at the tomb of St. Lawrence. The reason of this devotion is that the martyrs have a special claim to the glory of the Resurrection, since they have participated more closely than others in the ignominy of the Cross.

INTROIT  Matthew 25: 34

Come, ye blessed of My Father, receive the kingdom, alleluia: which was prepared for you from the foundation of the world, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Ps. 95: 1) Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle; sing to the Lord all the earth. 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: Come, ye blessed…

COLLECT

O God, Who dost gladden us: with the yearly solemnity of the Lord’s resurrection, grant in Thy loving kindness that through the temporal feast which we keep we may be worthy to reach eternal joys. 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.

Second Collect for God’s Holy Church
Let us pray. Let us pray. Graciously hear, O Lord, the prayers of Thy Church that, having overcome all adversity and every error, she may serve Thee in security and freedom. 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 Acts of the Apostles 3: 13-15, 17-19

Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles. In those days, Peter opening his mouth, said, Ye men of Isræl, and ye that fear God, hear. The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified His Son Jesus, Whom you indeed delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he judged he should be released. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you. But the Author of life you killed, Whom God hath raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And now, brethren, I know that you did it through ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God before had showed by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled. Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.

GRADUAL Psalm 117: 24, 16

This is the day which the Lord bath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein. V. The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength: the right hand of the Lord hath exalted me. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Luke 24: 34) The Lord is risen in-deed; and hath appeared to Peter.

Easter-topSEQUENCE
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 John 21: 1-14

At that time, Jesus showed Himself again to His disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And He showed Himself after this manner. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanæl, who was of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee and two others of His disciples. Simon Peter saith to them, I go fishing. They say to him, We also come with thee. And they went forth, and entered into the ship: and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you any meat?” They answered Him: No. He saith to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find.” They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved, said to Peter, it is the Lord. Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him (for he was naked) and cast himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the ship (for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they came to land, they saw hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith to them, “Bring hither of the fishes which you now have caught.” Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith to them, “Come, and dine.” And none of them who were at meat durst ask Him, Who art Thou? knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus cometh and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish in like manner. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to His disciples, after He was risen from the dead.

OFFERTORY Psalm 77: 23-25

The Lord opened the doors of heaven, and rained down manna upon them to eat: He gave them the bread of Heaven: man ate the bread of angels, alleluia.

SECRET

With the joys of Easter, O Lord, we offer to Thee the sacrifice by which Thy Church is wonderfully fed and nourished. 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.

Second Secret for God’s Holy Church
Protect us, O Lord, who assist at Thy mysteries, that, cleaving to things divine, we may serve Thee both in body and in mind. 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 Romans 6: 9

Christ rising again from the dead, dieth now no more, alleluia; death shall no more have dominion over Him, alleluia, alleluia.

POSTCOMMUNION

Purged thoroughly of the old leaven, we beseech, O Lord, that the reception of Thy sacrament may transform us into a new creation. 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.

Second Postcommunion for God’s Holy Church
Let us pray. O Lord our God, we pray Thee that Thou suffer not to succumb to human hazards those whom Thou hast been pleased to make sharers of divine mysteries. 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.

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