Carissimi; Today’s Mass: Thursday Lent IV

Thursday Lent IV: Missa “Lætétur cor”

Today’s Collecta is at the Church of St. Quiricus with the Station at St. Martin “ad montes” The Church of St. Quiricus (at one time St. Quiricus and Julitta, Oriental martyrs) is at the foot of the Quirinal hill.

Through the zeal of Pope Symmachus, two oratories were erected beside the ancient titulus equitii, dedicated to the first two confessors to whom after the martyrs liturgical cultus was paid, Sts. Martin and Sylvester. It is located on the Esquiline hill.

The Mass dates only from the time of Pope Gregory II; the sung parts are from other feasts. Both the Epistle and the Gospel recount a miracle of raising the dead to life; Elisha, who is a figure of Christ, raises the son of the Sunamite woman; Jesus raises the son of the widow of Naim and gives him back to his mother.  St. Martin of Tours was celebrated as the resuscitator of three dead persons. The story of Elisha is an example of the discretion needed by superiors in dealing with those under their care.

INTROIT Psalm 104:3-4

Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! Look to the Lord, and be strengthened; seek His face evermore. Ps 104:1 Give thanks to the Lord, invoke His Name; make known among the nations His deeds. 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. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! Look to the Lord, and be strengthened; seek His face evermore.

COLLECT

Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that we who are chastising the flesh by fasting, may rejoice in this holy practice and thus, with earthly passions subdued, we may the more readily direct our thoughts to heavenly things. 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 foreknowest 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 4:25-38

In those days, a Sunamite woman came to Eliseus to Mount Carmel: and when the man of God saw her coming toward him, he said to Giezi his servant, Behold that Sunamitess. Go therefore to meet her, and say to her: Is it well with you, and with your husband, and with your son? And she answered, Well. And when she came to the man of God to the mount, she caught hold on his feet: and Giezi came to remove her. And the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord has hid it from me and has not told me. And she said to him, Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say to you: Do not deceive me? Then he said to Giezi, Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand and go. If any man meet you, salute him not: and if any man salute you, answer him not: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. But the mother of the child said, As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. He arose therefore, and followed her. But Giezi was gone before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child, and there was not voice nor sense: and he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not risen. Eliseus therefore went into the house, and behold, the child lay dead on his bed: and going in he shut the door upon him, and upon the child: and prayed to the Lord. And he went up and lay upon the child: and he put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands, and he bowed himself upon him: and the child’s flesh grew warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house, once to and fro: and he went up and lay upon him: and the child gaped seven times, and opened his eyes. And he called Giezi, and said to him, Call this Sunamitess. And she being called, went in to him. And he said, Take up your son. She came and fell at his feet, and worshipped upon the ground: and took up her son, and went out, and Eliseus returned to Galgal.

GRADUAL Psalm 73: 20, 19, 22

Have regard, O Lord, to Thy covenant, and forget not to the end the souls of Thy poor. V. Arise, O Lord, judge Thy own cause: remember the reproaches of Thy servants.

GOSPEL Luke 7: 11-16

At that time, Jesus went into a city called Naim; and there went with Him His disciples, and a great multitude. And when He came nigh to the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow, and much people of the city were with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said to her, “Weep not.” And He came near, and touched the bier. (And they that carried it stood still). And He said, “Young man, I say to thee arise:” and he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on them all and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is risen up amongst us, and God hath visited His people.

OFFERTORY Psalm 69: 2, 3, 4

O Lord, make haste to help me: let all those be confounded that desire evils to Thy servants.

SECRET

Purify us, O merciful God, that the prayers of Thy Church, which are pleasing to Thee, may become the more pleasing from the purified hearts with which they bring the gifts of devotion. 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 70: 16,17,18

O Lord, I will be mindful of Thy justice alone; Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth; and unto old age and gray hairs, O God, forsake me not.

POSTCOMMUNION

Suffer not Thy heavenly gifts, we pray Thee, O Lord, to become the occasion of judgment to those who receive them, for Thou hast provided them unto the healing of Thy faithful. 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 your heads to God.
O God, teacher and ruler of Your people, drive out the sins that assail them, so that they may ever be pleasing to You and secure under Your 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.