Carissimi; Today’s Mass: Tuesday Lent III

tuesdaylentiii
Elisha and the Widow’s Oil

Tuesday Lent III: Missa “Ego clamávi”

The Collects today have always been at Sts. Sergius and Bacchus. The Byzantines built at least five churches in Rome to the honor of the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus. The one where the people collected for the procession to the Basilica of Pudens, was called the Canelicum, and stood in the regio of the Montes. The titulus sancti Pudentis was one of the oldest of the urban titular churches; ancient ecclesiastical tradition asserts that it was sanctified by the sojourn of Peter in the house of the senator Pudens, mentioned by St. Paul in his epistles. The memories of Pope St. Pius I (158-67), of his brother Hernias, the mystic author of the Pastor, those of Priscilla, Pudentiana, Praxedes, Justin the Philosopher, and Hippolytus the Doctor are all connected with the history of this house; it was really the papal residence in the second century.

The Station is at Pudentiana. The Lessons and prayers may have reference to St. Peter, whose presence in the house of Pudens was the cause of all manner of prosperity and abundance. Charity and hospitality never impoverished anyone, and when the needy are given shelter for the love of God it draws down upon that roof the blessings of divine Providence.

The venerable Abbe Dom Prosper Gueranger shares his reflections on today’s Epistle and Gospel which we excerpt below from The Liturgical Year (pages 272-275 of Volume 5) for the Third Tuesday of Lent: [for the Epistle:] Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy(1)-{St. Matt. v 7} Let us, then, during these days of salvation secure our reconciliation and forgiveness by doing all we can to assist our brethren who are in want; let us join almsdeeds tour fasting, and practice works of mercy. Thus shall we touch the Heart of our heavenly Father. Putting our debts into His hands, we shall take away from satan all the claims he had upon us… So our mercy towards our neighbor must be proportionate to our means. The extent of these means is known to God, and He will not have us fall short of the power He has given us for doing good. Let us, then, be liberal in our alms during this holy season; let us make the resolution to be so at all times. When our material resources are exhausted, let us be merciful in desire, by interceding with those who are able to give, and by praying to God to help the suffering and the poor. (p. 272)

[for the Gospel:] The mercy which God commands us to show to our fellow-creatures, does not consist only in corporal and spiritual almsdeeds to the poor and the suffering; it includes, moreover, the pardon and forgetfulness of injuries. This is the test whereby God proves the sincerity of our conversion. With the same measure that you shall mete withal, it shall be measured to you again(1)-{St. Luke vi 38} If we, from our hearts, pardon our enemies, our heavenly Father will unreservedly pardon us. (p. 273-4).

INTROIT Psalm 25: 11-12

I have cried, for Thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline Thine ear and hear my words: keep me, O Lord, as the apple of Thy eye: protect me under the shadow of Thy wings. (Ps. 16: 1) Hear, O Lord, my justice: attend to my prayer. 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 I have cried…

COLLECT

Harken unto us, O almighty and merciful God, and favorably grant us the gifts of saving self-denial. 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 the Intercession of Thy Saints
Defend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all dangers of mind and body; that through the intercession of the blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, together with blessed Joseph, Thy blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and blessed N. (Here mention the titular saint of the church), and all the saints, mercifully grant us safety and peace; that all adversities and errors being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in security and freedom.

Third Collect for the Living and the Dead
O almighty and eternal God, who hast dominion over both the living and the dead, and hast mercy on all whom Thou forekowest shall be Thine by faith and good works : we humbly beseech Thee that all for whom we have resolved to make supplication whether the present world still holds them in the flesh or the world to come has already received them out of the body, may, through the intercession of all Thy saints, obtain of Thy goodness and clemency pardon for all their sins. 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  4 Kings 4: 1-7

Lesson from the Book of Kings. In those days, a certain wo­man cried to the prophet Eliseus, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant was one that feared God; and be­hold the creditor is come to take away my two sons to serve him: and Eliseus said to her. What wilt thou have me do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in thy house? And she an­swered, I thy handmaid have nothing in my house but a lit­tle oil, to anoint me: and he said to her, Go borrow of all thy neighbors empty vessels not a few: and go in and shut thy door, when thou art within, and thy sons; and pour out thereof into all those vessels, and when they are full take them away. So the woman went, and shut the door upon her, and upon her sons; they brought her the vessels, and she poured in; and when the vessels were full, she said to her son: Bring me yet a vessel; and he answered, I have no more: and the oil stood. And she came, and told the man of God; and he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy creditor; and thou and thy sons live of the rest.

GRADUAL Psalm 18: 13, 14

From my secret sins cleanse me, O Lord; and from those of others spare Thy servant. V. If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot; and I shall be cleansed from the greatest sin.

GOSPEL Matthew 18: 15-22

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples,”If thy brother shall offend thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother; but if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand; and if he will not hear them, tell the Church; and if he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree upon earth, concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done for them by My Father Who is in heaven: for where there are two or three gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them. Then came Peter unto Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith to him, I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy times seven times.”

OFFERTORY Psalm 117: 16, 17

The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength, the right hand of the Lord hath exalted me: I shall not die, but live, and shall declare the works of the Lord.

SECRET

Through this sacrament, we beg Thee, O Lord, may the effect of our redemption come, ever to withdraw us from human excesses, and to lead us on to the gifts of salvation. 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.

Second Secret to implore the Intercession of the Saints
Graciously hear us, O God our Savior, and by the virtue of this sacrament protect us from all enemies of soul and body, bestowing on us both grace in this life and glory hereafter.

Third Secret for the Living and the Dead
O God, Who alone knowest the number of the elect to be admitted to the happiness of Heaven, grant, we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of all Thy saints, the names of all who have been recommended to our prayers and of all the faithful, may be inscribed in the book of blessed predestination. 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 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.

PREFACE of Lent

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:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…

COMMUNION Psalm 14: 1,2

Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle? or who shall rest in Thy holy hill? He that walketh without blemish, and worketh justice.

POSTCOMMUNION

Purified by these sacred mysteries, O Lord, we ask that we may obtain pardon and grace. 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.

Second Postcommunion to implore the Intercession of the Saints
May the oblation of this divine sacrament cleanse and defend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and, through the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, Thy blessed apostles Peter and Paul, blessed N. (here mention the titular saint of the church), and all the saints, purify us from all our sins and deliver us from all adversity.

Third Postcommunion for the Living and the Dead
Let us pray. May the sacraments which we have received purify us, we beseech Thee, O almighty and merciful Lord; and through the intercession of all Thy saints, grant that this Thy sacrament may not be unto us a condemnation, but a salutary intercession for pardon; may it be the washing away of sin, the strength of the weak, a protection against all dangers of the world, and a remission of all the sins of the faithful, whether living or dead. 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.

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE

Let us pray. Bow down your heads before God.

Defend us, O Lord, with Your protection, and forever safeguard us from all evil. 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.

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