St Bernardine of Siena, Confessor; commemoration of the Vigil of the Ascension: Missa “Os justi“
At this season of the year, when Jesus by His triumph has realized His name of Saviour, the Cycle celebrates the Feast of St. Bernardine who was consumed “by the very ardent love of this divine name” (Collect).
Born of a noble family of Siena, St. Bernardine renounced all his possessions. He kept his chastity intact, in spite of the dangers to which his handsome features exposed him. The Church applies to him the words of Holy Scripture: “He had it in his power to violate the commandment of God, and he did not violate it” (Epistle). “Not placing his hope in money and treasures” (Ibid.) he left all, to follow Christ (Gospel), and entered the Order of St. Francis, one of whose glories he is. Travelling through towns and villages, everywhere he preached the name of Jesus (Collect) and thereby wrought many miracles.
St. Peter Celestine appeared to him to warn him of his approaching end which came on Ascension Eve, in 1444.
Let us ask God to grant us, through the intercession and merits of St. Bernardine, a great love for the name of Jesus and thereby to kindle in us the flame of divine charity (Collect).
St Andrew’s Daily Missal: Feast p.1214 Propers p.1664
INTROIT Psalm 36: 30-31
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment: the law of his God is in his heart. Alleluia, alleluia! (Ps. 36: 1) Be not emulous of evil-doers; nor envy them that work iniquity. 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.
COLLECT
O Lord, Jesus Who bestowed on blessed Bernardine, Your Confessor, an unusual love for Your holy name, we beseech You, by his merits and intercession, graciously pour upon us the spirit of Your love. 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.
Commemoration of the Vigil
O God, from Whom all good things come, grant, we beseech You, that by Your inspiration, we may think what is right and under Your guidance, accomplish 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.
EPISTLE Ecclus. 31: 8-11
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom. Blessed is the man that is found without blemish, and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures. Who is he, and we will praise him? For he hath done wonderful things in his life. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting: he that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed, and could do evil things, and hath not done them: therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia. Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been tried, he shall receive the crown of life. Alleluia. Ecclus 45:9 V. The Lord loved him and adorned him; He clothed him with a robe of glory. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 12: 35-40
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: “At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands, and you yourselves like to men, who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh, shall find watching. Amen, I say to you, that He will gird Himself, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them. And if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Be ye then also ready; for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 88: 25
My truth and My mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. Alleluia!
SECRET
We offer You sacrifices of praise, O Lord, in memory of Your Saints; trusting that by them we may be delivered from both present and future evils. 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.
Commemoration of the Vigil
Accept, O Lord, the prayers and gifts of Your faithful people, that, through these rites of love and devotion we may pass to the glory of heaven. 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 Easter
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially in this season 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:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matthew 24: 46-47
Blessed is the servant, whom when the Lord shall come, He shall find watching: Amen I say to you, He shall set him over all his goods. Alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
Refreshed with heavenly food and drink, we humbly pray You, our God, that we also may be helped by his prayers in memory of whom we have partaken. 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.
Commemoration of the Vigil
Grant, O Lord, that we who have been fed with the strengthening food of Your heavenly table, may desire what is right and obtain what we desire. 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 John 17:1-11
At that time, raising His eyes to heaven, Jesus said, Father, the hour has come! Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You, even as You have given Him power over all flesh, in order that to all You have given Him He may give everlasting life. Now this is everlasting life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Him Whom You have sent, Jesus Christ. I have glorified You on earth; I have accomplished the work that You have given Me to do. And now You, Father, glorify Me with Yourself, with the glory that I had with You before the world existed. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You have given them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have learnt that whatever You have given Me is from You; because the words that You have given Me I have given to them. And they have received them, and have known of a truth that I came forth from You, and they have believed that You did send Me. I pray for them; not for the world do I pray, but for those whom You have given Me, because they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to You.
The Brighton Oratory 