Tuesday in Passiontide II: Missa “Nos autem“
Station at the Church of St. Prisca in Rome . This was one of the 25 parishes of Rome in the fifth century. The Epistle, Gradual, Offertory and Communion are a perfect adaptation of the passages in the Old Testament to Christ persecuted. He is ‘the meek lamb that is carried to be a victim’, and which God, by a striking revenge on them (Epistle) delivers from the hand of the sinner” (Offertory). The Gospel of St. Mark describes the death of Christ. The Introit and the Collect show that the Church, which continues and ‘glories in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom is our salvation, life and resurrection’ (Introit). [Until Holy Thursday the Gloria Patri is omitted]
INTROIT Galatians 6: 14
But it behooves us to glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ : in whom is our salvation, life, resurrection : by whom we are saved and delivered. (Ps. 66. 2) May God have mercy on us, and bless us : may He cause the light of His countenance to shine upon us; and may He have mercy on us. REPEAT: But it behooves…
COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, grant that we may celebrate the mysteries of our Lord’s Passion that we may deserve to receive Thy pardon. Through Jesus Christ our Lord…
Second Collect Against the persecutors of Holy Mother Church
We beseech Thee, O Lord, mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy Church : that, all adversity and error being destroyed, she may serve Thee in security and freedom. Through our Lord…
LESSON Jeremias 11: 18-20
But thou, O Lord, hast shewn me, and I have known: then thou shewedst me their doings. And I was as a meek lamb, that is carried to be a victim: and I knew not that they had devised counsels against me, saying: Let us put wood on his bread, and cut him off from the land of the living, and let his name be remembered no more. But thou, O Lord of Sabaoth, who judgest justly, and triest the reins and the hearts, let me see thy revenge on them: for to thee have I revealed my cause.
GRADUAL Psalm 34: 13,1-2
But as for me, when they were troublesome to me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall be turned into my bosom. V. Judge thou, O Lord, them that wrong me: overthrow them that fight against me. Take hold of arms and shield: and rise up to help me.
GOSPEL St. Mark 14: 1-72; 15: 1-46
Now the feast of the pasch and of the Azymes was after two days: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might by some wile lay hold on Him and kill Him. But they said: Not on the festival day, lest there should be a tumult among the people. And when He was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, and was at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of precious spikenard. And breaking the alabaster box, she poured it out upon His head. Now there were some that had indignation within themselves and said: Why was this waste of the ointment made? For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred pence and given to the poor. And they murmured against her. But Jesus said: “Let her alone. Why do You molest her? She hath wrought a good work upon Me. For the poor you have always with you: and whensoever you will, you may do them good: but Me you have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come beforehand to anoint My body for the burial. Amen, I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done shall be told for a memorial of her.” And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, to betray Him to them. Who hearing it were glad: and they promised him they would give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him. Now on the first day of the unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the pasch, the disciples say to Him: Whither wilt Thou that we go and prepare for Thee to eat the pasch? And He sendeth two of His disciples and saith to them: “Go ye into the city; and there shall meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him. And whithersoever he shall go in, say to the master of the house, The master saith, ‘Where is My refectory, where I may eat the pasch with My disciples?’ And he will shew you a large dining room furnished. And there prepare ye for us.” And His disciples went their way and came into the city. And they found as He had told them: and they prepared the pasch. And when evening was come, He cometh with the twelve. And when they were at table and eating, Jesus saith: “Amen I say to you, one of you that eateth with Me shall betray Me.” But they began to be sorrowful and to say to him, one by one: Is it I? Who saith to them: “One of the twelve, who dippeth with Me his hand in the dish. And the Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed. It were better for him, if that man had not been born.” And whilst they were eating, Jesus took bread; and blessing, broke and gave to them and said: “Take ye. This is My body.” And having taken the chalice, giving thanks, He gave it to them. And they all drank of it. And He said to them: “This is My blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many. Amen I say to you that I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until that day when I shall drink it new in the kingdom of God.” And when they had sung an hymn, they went forth to the mount of Olives. And Jesus saith to them: “You will all be scandalized in my regard this night. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.” But Peter saith to him: Although all shall be scandalized in thee, yet not I. And Jesus saith to him: Amen I say to thee, to-day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice.” But He spoke the more vehemently: Although I should die together with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner also said they all. And they came to a farm called Gethsemani. And He saith to His disciples: “Sit you here, while I pray.” And He taketh Peter and James and John with Him: and He began to fear and to be heavy. And He saith to them: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death. Stay you here and watch.” And when He was gone forward a little, He fell flat on the ground: and He prayed that, if it might be, the hour might pass from Him. And He saith: “Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: remove this chalice from Me; but not what I will, but what Thou wilt.” And He cometh and findeth them sleeping. And He saith to Peter: “Simon, sleepest thou? Couldst thou not watch one hour? Watch ye: and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And going away again, He prayed, saying the same words. And when He returned, He found them again asleep (for their eyes were heavy): and they knew not what to answer Him. And He cometh the third time and saith to them: Sleep ye now and take your rest. It is enough. The hour is come: behold the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up: let us go. Behold, he that will betray Me is at hand.” And while he was yet speaking, cometh Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve: and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the ancients. And he that betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He. Lay hold on Him: and lead Him away carefully. And when he was come, immediately going up to Him he saith: Hail, Rabbi! And he kissed Him. But they laid hands on Him and held Him. And one of them that stood by, drawing a sword, struck a servant of the chief priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus answering, said to them: “Are you come out as to a robber, with swords and staves to apprehend Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching: and you did not lay hands on Me. But that the scriptures may be fulfilled.” Then His disciples, leaving Him, all fled away. And a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body. And they laid hold on Him. But he, casting off the linen cloth, fled from them naked. And they brought Jesus to the high priest. And all the priests and the scribes and the ancients assembled together. And Peter followed Him afar off, even into the court of the high priest. And he sat with the servants at the fire and warmed himself. And the chief priests and all the council sought for evidence against Jesus, that they might put Him to death: and found none. For many bore false witness against Him: and their evidences were not agreeing. And some rising up, bore false witness against Him, saying: We heard Him say, I Will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands. And their witness did not agree. And the high priest rising up in the midst, asked Jesus, saying: Answerest thou nothing to the things that are laid to thy charge by these men? But He held His peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him and said to Him: Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed God? And Jesus said to him: I am. And you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God and coming with the clouds of Heaven.” Then the high priest rending his garments, saith: What need we any further witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What think you? Who all condemned Him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on Him and to cover His face and to buffet Him and to say unto Him: Prophesy. And the servants struck Him with the palms their hands. Now when Peter was in the court below, there cometh one of the maidservants of the high priest. And when she had seen Peter warming himself looking on him, she saith: Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying: I neither know nor understand what thou sayest. And he went forth before the court; and the cock crew. And again a maidservant seeing him, began to say to the standers by: This is one of them. But he denied again. And after a, while they that stood by said again to Peter: Surely thou art one of them; for thou art also a Galilean. But he began o curse and to swear, saying: I know not this man of whom you speak. And immediately the cock crew again. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said unto him: Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt thrice deny Me. And he began to weep. And straightway in the morning, the chief priests holding a consultation with the ancients and the scribes and the whole council, binding Jesus, led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. And Pilate asked Him: Art Thou the king of the Jews? But He answering, saith to him: “Thou sayest it.” And the chief priests accused Him in many things. And Pilate again asked Him, saying: Answerest Thou nothing? Behold in how many things they accuse Thee. But Jesus still answered nothing: so that Pilate wondered. Now on the festival day he was wont to release unto them one of the prisoners, whomsoever they demanded. And there was one called Barabbas, who was put in prison with some seditious men, who in the sedition had committed murder. And when the multitude was come up, they began to desire that he would do as he had ever done unto them. And Pilate answered them and said: Will you that I release to you the king of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him up out of envy. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas to them. And Pilate again answering, saith to them: What will you then that I do to the king of the Jews? But they again cried out: Crucify Him. And Pilate saith to them: Why, what evil hath He done? But they cried out the more: Crucify Him. And so Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them Barabbas: and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified. And the soldiers led Him away into the court of the palace: and they called together the whole band. And they clothed Him with purple: and, platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon Him. And they began to salute Him: Hail, king of the Jews. And they struck His head with a reed: and they did spit on Him. And bowing their knees, they adored Him. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him and put His own garments on Him: and they led Him out to crucify Him. And they forced one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and of Rufus, to take up His cross. And they bring Him into the place called Golgotha, which being interpreted is, The place of Calvary. And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh. But He took it not. And crucifying Him, they divided His garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour: and they crucified Him. And the inscription of His cause was written over: THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with Him they crucify two thieves: the one on His right hand, and the other on His left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith: And with the wicked He was reputed. And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads and saying: Vah, Thou that destroyest the temple of God and in three days buildest it up again: Save Thyself, coming down from the cross. In like manner also the chief priests, mocking, said with the scribes one to another: He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let Christ the king of Israel come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with Him, reviled Him. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: “Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani?” Which is, being interpreted: “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” And some of the standers by hearing, said: Behold He calleth Elias. And one running and filling a sponge with vinegar and putting it upon a reed, gave Him to drink, saying: Stay, let us see if Elias come to take Him down. And Jesus, having cried out with a loud voice, gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom. And the centurion who stood over against Him, seeing that crying out in this manner He had given up the ghost. said: Indeed this man was the Son of God. And there were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joseph and Salome, who also when He was in Galilee followed Him and ministered to Him, and many other women that came up with Him to Jerusalem. And when evening was now come (because it was the Parasceve, that is, the day before the sabbath), Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that He should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if He were already dead. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And Joseph, buying fine linen and taking Him down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen and laid Him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 139: 5
Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps.
SECRET
May these sacrifices, O Lord, we beseech Thee, which are accompanied with healing fasts, speedily restore us. Through our Lord…
Second Secret Against the persecutors of Holy Mother Church
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…
PREFACE of the Holy Cross
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 didst establish the salvation of mankind on the tree of the Cross: that whence death came thence also life might arise again, and that he, Who overcame by the tree, by the tree also might be overcome: 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 be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Psalm 68: 13 14
They that sat in the gate spoke against me: and they that drank wine made me their song. But as for me, my prayer is to Thee, O Lord; for the time of Thy good pleasure, O God. In the multitude of Thy mercy hear me, in the truth of Thy salvation.
POSTCOMMUNION
May our vices be cured, O almighty God, by Thy holy mysteries, and may we receive everlasting remedies. Through our Lord…
Second Postcommunion against the persecutors of Holy Mother Church
We beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that Thou wouldst not suffer to be exposed to human dangers those to whom Thou givest to rejoice in this divine banquet. Through our Lord…
PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
May Thy mercy, O God, purifying us from all deceits of our old nature, enable us to be formed anew unto holiness. Through our Lord…
The Brighton Oratory 