Sunday, 3 February, 2008
QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY (II)
"The three Sundays preceding Ash Wednesday are called Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima, which mean, respectively, the seventieth, sixtieth, and fiftieth day, that is, before Easter. They are mere names to correspond with the name of Lent (Quadragesima in Latin: fortieth); obviously they do not actually correspond with the period they indicate.

Man, victim of the sin of Adam and of his own sins, is justly afflicted, groans and sorrows encompass him.

On these Sundays the Gloria in excelsis and Alleluia are omitted, except when the Mass of a feast is said, and the purple vestments are used in preparation for Lent."

“It is Jesus who, by the merits of His Passion, is to open the eyes of man as He did those of the blind man of Jericho, and deliver him alike from the bondage of sin and error.”

Collect: We beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously hear our prayers: and releasing us from the bond of our sins, guard us from all adversity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From the First Letter of Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, 13:1-13.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke 18:31-43.

ST. BLAISE, Bishop, Martyr (Comm.)
(Blessing of throats)
“St. Blaise, bishop of Sebaste, was beheaded after terrible torments, under Licinius, A.D. 317.”

Collect: O God, who dost gladden us by the annual feats of blessed Blaise, Thy Martyr and Bishop: mercifully grant that we, who celebrate his heavenly birthday, may also rejoice in his protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From the Second Letter of Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, 1:3-7.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 16:24-27.

Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962
(Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)