St Jerome, Confessor and Doctor of the Church; commemoration of Sunday XIX Post Pentecost: Missa “In medio Ecclesiae”
Saint Jerome was born in Dalmatia in 329. Even during his life he was renowned as a Doctor and interpreter of Holy Scripture. He defended Catholic teaching against many heresies; his chief aim was to be a perfect monk and before he would consent to be raised to the priesthood he exacted a promise from Paulinus, Bishop of Antioch, that this new dignity should in no wise interfere with his monastic vocation. To him we owe the translation of the Holy Scriptures, the introduction of the alleluiatic chant into the Sunday Mass, the spread of monastic life among the aristocracy, and lastly the daily recital of the Divine Office. After important services to the Pope of his time, St. Jerome retired to Bethlehem, where he died September 30, 420.
Of your charity… today is also the onomastico (name day) and anniversary of priestly ordination of our Metropolitan, Jerome OSJV of Selsey. Please remember and keep His Grace in your prayers as he strives to “keep the Faith” for us all!
Sunday XIX Post Pentecost: The Mass of this Sunday reminds us that all men are called to Heavenly reward and happiness. This Sunday, called on account of its Gospel, Sunday of the marriage guests reminds us that all men are called to heavenly bliss, but few are chosen. The Jews have refused to take part in the feast.Therefore the Apostles and the Church, filled with the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, have turned towards the Gentiles. But the beatific union is announced, prepared for, and in a certain manner begun, by sacramental communion.
To take part in a marriage feast among the Jews, it was necessary to wear a ceremonial garment called a wedding garment. Similarly, to receive the body of Jesus at the holy table and to be in communion with His Divinity in heaven, one must wear the nuptial robe of baptism and of the state of grace. Therefore the Apostle exhorts us to put on the new man.
INTROIT Ecclus 15:5
In the midst of the assembly he opened his mouth; and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding; He clothed him with a robe of glory. Ps 91:2 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to Your name, Most High. 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
COLLECT
O God, Who graciously gave Your Church blessed Jerome, Your Confessor and peerless teacher, to explain the Holy Scriptures, grant, we beseech You, that, with the help of his merits and by Your assistance, we may be able to put into practice what he has taught us by his life and works. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
Sunday XIX Post Pentecost
O almighty and merciful God, graciously keep us from all things that may hurt us: that we, being set free both in body and soul, may willingly fulfill those things that Thou wouldst have done. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.
EPISTLE 2 Tim. 4:1-8
Lesson from the secons letter of St Paul the Apostle to Timotheus: Beloved: I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus, Who will judge the living and the dead by His coming and by His kingdom, preach the word, be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, entreat, rebuke with all patience and teaching. For there will come a time when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but having itching ears, will heap up to themselves teachers according to their lusts, and they will turn away their hearing from the truth and turn aside rather to fables. But be watchful in all things, bear with tribulation patiently, work as a preacher of the Gospel, fulfill your ministry. As for me, I am already being poured out in sacrifice, and the time of my deliverance is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. For the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just Judge, will give to me in that day; yet not to me only, but also to those who love His coming.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 36:30-31
The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom, and his tongue utters what is right. V. The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps do not falter. Alleluia, alleluia. Ecclus 45:9 V. The Lord loved him and adorned him; He clothed him with a robe of glory. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matt 5:13-19
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its strength, what shall it be salted with? It is no longer of any use but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under the measure, but upon the lampstand, so as to give light to all in the house. Even so let your light shine before men, in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall be lost from the Law till all things have been accomplished. Therefore whoever does away with one of these least commandments, and so teaches men, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever carries them out and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps 91:13
The just shall flourish like the palm tree; like a cedar of Libanus shall he grow.
SECRET
By Your heavenly gifts, grant us, O Lord, we pray, to serve You with a free mind, so that the offerings we present, may, by the intercession of blessed Jerome, Your Confessor, lead us to heavenly glory. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
Sunday XIX Post Pentecost
Grant we beseech Thee, O Lord, that these gifts, which We offer in the sight of Thy Majesty, may be unto us for salvation. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
PREFACE of the Common
It is truly meet and just, and profitable unto salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Though whom the angels praise thy majesty, the dominions adore it, the powers are in awe. Which the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed seraphim joyfully do magnify. And do thou command that it be permitted to us join with them in confessing thee, while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Luke 12:42
The faithful and prudent servant whom the master will set over his household to give them their ration of grain in due time.
POSTCOMMUNION
Filled with heavenly food, we beseech You, O Lord, that by the intercession of blessed Jerome, Your Confessor, we may be found worthy to obtain the favor of Your mercy. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
Sunday XIX Post Pentecost
We who are fed with Thy holy Gift, O Lord, do offer our thanks unto Thee: beseeching Thy mercy that Thou mayest make us worthy to share in it. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
PROPER LAST GOSPEL Matthew 22: 1-14
At that time, Jesus spoke to the chief priests and the Pharisees in parables, saying: The kingdom of Heaven is likened to a king, who made a marriage for his son and he sent his servants, to call them that were invited to the marriage, and they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying: Tell them that were invited: Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come ye to the marriage. But they neglected and went their way, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise and the rest laid their hands on his servants, and having treated them contumeliously, put them to death. But when the king heard of it, he was angry and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city. Then he saith to his servants: The marriage indeed is ready, but they that were invited were not worthy, Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, call to the marriage. And his servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found, both bad and good and the marriage was filled with guests. And the king went in to see the guests and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment: and he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having on a wedding garment? but he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The Brighton Oratory 
You must be logged in to post a comment.