Carissimi; Today’s Mass: Easter Thursday

easterthursdayEaster Thursday: Missa “Victricem”

Station at the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome. Under the high altar of this church are preserved the relics of the Apostles Philip and James only; the stational feast is celebrated in honor of all the Apostles together. The Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles deals with the conversion of the treasurer of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians by Philip the deacon, not the Apostle.

The Gospel gives the account of the appearance of the risen Savior to Mary Magdalen; this occurred before He showed Himself to the Apostles, but in the Liturgy it is put back until today on account of the respect for them.

The words of Jesus to the Magdalen are very consoling; by the Resurrection Our Lord has linked humanity to Himself by an intimate bond. Jesus is truly our Brother, God is in very deed our Father. By the death of Christ‘ we have gained far more than we had lost by sin, and it is in this sense that the deacon sings in the Easter preconium: “O happy fault, that was worthy of so great a Redeemer.”

INTROIT  Wisdom 10: 20-21

They praised with one accord Thy victorious hand, O Lord, alleluia; for wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of infants eloquent, alleluia, alleluia. (Ps. 97: 1) Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle; for He hath done wonderful things. 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. REPEAT: Come, ye blessed…

COLLECT

O God, Who hast united a diversity of the people in the confession of Thy name, grant that there may be one faith in the minds and one piety in the deeds of those born again in the waters of baptism. 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 God’s Holy Church
Graciously hear, O Lord, the prayers of Thy Church that, having overcome all adversity and every error, she may serve Thee in security and freedom. 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.

EPISTLE Acts of the Apostles 8: 26-40

Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles. In those days, an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, go toward the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza: this is desert. And rising up, he went; and behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch, of great authority under Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge over all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to adore. And he was returning, sitting in his chariot, and reading Isaias the prophet. And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip running thither, heard him reading the prophet Isaias; and he said, Thinkest thou that thou understandest what thou readest? Who said, And how can I, unless some man show me? and he desired Philip that he would come up, and sit with him. And the place of the Scripture which he was reading was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb without voice before His shearer, so opened He not His mouth: in humility His judgment was taken away: His generation, who shall declare; for His life shall be taken from the earth? And the eunuch answering Philip said, I beseech thee, of whom doth the prophet speak this; of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opening his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See here is water, what doth hinder me from being baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest: and he answering, said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down into the water both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they were come out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found in Azotus, and passing through, he preached the Gospel to all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea; the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

GRADUAL Psalm 117: 24, 16

This is the day which the Lord bath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein. V. The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: this is the work of the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes. Alleluia, alleluia. V. Christ is risen, Who created all things, and Who has had pity upon

Easter-topSEQUENCE
Christians! to the Paschal Victim offer your thankful praises.
The Lamb the sheep redeemeth: Christ, who only is sinless, reconcileth sinners to the Father.
Death and life contended in that conflict stupendous: the Prince of Life, who died, deathless reigneth.
Speak, Mary, declaring what thou sawest wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ who now liveth: and likewise the glory of the Risen.
Bright Angels attesting, the shroud and napkin resting.
Yea, Christ my hope is arisen: to Galilee He goeth before you.”
We know that Christ is risen, henceforth ever living: Have mercy, Victor King, pardon giving. Amen. Alleluia.

GOSPEL John 20: 11-18

At that time, At that time, Mary stood at the sepulchre with-out, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre; and she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. They say to her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him. When she had thus said, she turned her self back, and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith to her, “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?” She thinking it was the gardener, saith to Him, Sir, if thou hast taken Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him; and I will take Him away. Jesus saith to her, “Mary.” She turning, saith to Him, Rabboni (which is to say, Master). Jesus saith to her, “Do not touch Me; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say to them, I ascend to My Father, and to your Father; to My God, and your God. Mary Magdalen cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord, and these things He said to Me.”

OFFERTORY Exodus 13: 5

In the day of your solemnity, saith the Lord, I will bring you into a land that floweth with milk and honey, alleluia.

SECRET

Graciously receive, we beseech Thee, O Lord the gifts of Thy people, that, being renewed by the confession of Thy name and by baptism, they may attain eternal happiness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.

Second Secret for God’s Holy Church
Protect us, O Lord, who assist at Thy mysteries, that, cleaving to things divine, we may serve Thee both in body and in mind. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
Forever and ever. R.Amen.

PREFACE of Easter

It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially this 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: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…

COMMUNICANTES

Communicating, and keeping the most holy day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh and also reverencing the memory, first, of the glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of the same our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also of Thy blessed Apostles and martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus: Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all Thy Saints, through whose merits and prayers, grant that we may in all things be defended by the help of Thy protection (He joins his hands.) Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

HANC IGITUR

We therefore beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously to accept this oblation of our service, as also of Thy whole family, which we make unto Thee on behalf of these whom Thou hast vouchsafed to bring to a new birth by water and the Holy Ghost, granting them remission of all their sins: and to dispose our days in Thy peace, preserve us from eternal damnation and rank us in the number of Thine Elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

COMMUNION 1 Peter 2: 9

Purchased people, declare His virtues, alleluia: Who hath called you out of darkness into Isis admirable light, alleluia.

POSTCOMMUNION

Give ear unto our prayers, O Lord, that the most holy dealings of our redemption may obtain help for us in the present life and purchase everlasting joys. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.

Second Postcommunion for God’s Holy Church
O Lord our God, we pray Thee that Thou suffer not to succumb to human hazards those whom Thou hast been pleased to make sharers of divine mysteries. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.

Related articles