Feast of St. Philip Benizi, Confessor; commemoration of the XIIth Sunday Post Pentecost [no commemoration of the Vigil of St Bartholomew, Apostle]: Missa “Justus ut palma florebit“
St. Philip Benizi was born in Florence on the feast of the Assumption in 1233. He was one of the first to profess the religious life as a Servite, and became general of the Order. With his brethren he preached in many countries of Europe, and journeyed even into western Asia to spread the Christian faith. In his humility he refused honors and even the Papacy, which was offered by the cardinals assembled in conclave. He entered into the glory of Heaven in the year 1285. It is said that when he was dying he repeatedly asked for his book, and when the infirmarian did not understand his meaning the saint made signs that he wanted his crucifix, which was the book in which he was accustomed to meditate.
Of the Sunday We have been initiated into spiritual life by the Sacrament of Baptism and strengthened, perfected, by the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Feast of Pentecost has celebrated the efficaciousness of Baptism and Confirmation: the graces and fruits given by the Holy Ghost.The Church recalls in the Liturgy today the duty of charity which derives therefrom. The law of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect development of the Law of Moses as the Epistle points out. Let us not follow a pharisaical interpretation of the law which reduces our religious duties to a few outward practices. “The letter killeth, the spirit quickeneth.”
The Gospel of St. Luke today treats the parable of the Good Samaritan and the command from Our Lord to go and do likewise in loving our neighbour for love of God. The Fathers and early Doctors of the Church all agree, this parable is an allegory of the New Covenant. The victim in dire help is Adam, his posterity is Jerusalem. The man, by heading for Jericho is seeking the world, the flesh and the devil, is accommodated by the demons personified in the robbers, who take grace from him by beating him as he succumbs to sin. Those who pass by him without helping represent the old Law, while the Samaritan is Christ Who represents the New Law.
INTROIT Psalm 91: 13, 14
The just shall flourish the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of God. Glory be to the Father and the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Repeat In the Midst of the Church …
COLLECT
O God, Who, through blessed Bartholomew, Thy confessor, hast afforded us a distinguished example of humility, grant unto Thy servants to despise, after his example, the prosperity of the world and ever to seek after Heavenly things. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.
Collect for the XIIth Sunday Post Pentecost
O almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee worthy and laudable service: grant unto us, we beseech Thee, that we may run without stumbling towards the attainment of Thy promises. 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 1 Corinthians 4: 4, 19
Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Brethren, we are made a spectacle to the world and to angels and men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ: we are weak, but you are strong: you are honorable, but we without honor. Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode, and we labor working with our own hands. We are reviled, and we bless: we are persecuted, and we suffer it: we are blasphemed, and we entreat: we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all, even until now. I write not these things to confound you, but I admonish you as my dearest children in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 20:4, 5
With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. V. Because of truth, and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 111: 1) Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, he delights exceedingly in His commandments. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 12: 32-34
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: “Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom. Sell what you possess, and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in Heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth – for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 20: 2, 3
In Thy strength, O Lord, the just shall joy, and in Thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly: Thou hast given him his heart’s desire.
SECRET
Grant us, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that the offering of our lowliness may be pleasing to Thee in honor of Thy saints, and purify us in both body and mind. 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.
Secret for the XIIth Sunday Post Pentecost
Graciously look upon the Sacrifices, we beseech Thee, O Lord, which we present upon Thine altar: that while they obtain pardon for us, they may give honor to Thy Name. 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 Holy Trinity
It it 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, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matthew 19: 28-29
Amen I say to you, that you, who have left all things and followed Me, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.
POSTCOMMUNION
O God, Who, through blessed Philip, Thy confessor, hast afforded us a distinguished example of humility, grant unto Thy servants to despise, after his example, the prosperity of the world and ever to seek after Heavenly things. 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.
Postcommunion for the XIIth Sunday Post Pentecost
May the holy reception of this Mystery, we beseech Thee, O Lord, quicken us: and may it win for us both pardon and protection. 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 Luke 10: 23-37
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: “Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see. For I say to you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them.” And behold a certain lawyer stood up, tempting Him, and saying: Master, what must I do to possess eternal life? But He said to him: “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” He answering, said: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind and thy neighbor as thyself,” And He said to him: “Thou hast answered rightly: this do, and thou shalt live.” But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus: “And who is my neighbor?“ And Jesus answering, said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who also stripped him, and having wounded him, went away, leaving him half dead. And it chanced that a certain priest went down the same way, and seeing him, passed by. In like manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by. But a certain Samaritan being on his journey, came near him, and seeing him, was moved with compassion, and going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two pence and gave to the host, and said. “Take care of him, and whatsoever thou shalt spend over and above I, at my return, will repay thee. Which of these three, in thine opinion, was neighbor to him that fell among robbers?“ But he said: “He that showed mercy to him.“ And Jesus said to him: “Go and do thou in like manner.”
The Brighton Oratory 