Sunday, 23 November, 2008

Feast days of the week 23-29 November, A.D. 2008 (1962 liturgical calendar).

Sunday, 23 November, 2008
LAST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (I)
“Easter being variable, the number of Sundays to the First Sunday of Advent is, of course, variable also; but there cannot be less than 23, nor more than twenty-eight. The Mass for the Last Sunday after Pentecost is always said on the Sunday preceding Advent. If there are more than twenty-four Sundays after Pentecost, the Introit, Gradual and Communion of the twenty-third Sunday are repeated on all the remaining Sundays. But the Collects, the Epistle and the Gospel are taken from the Masses of the Sundays omitted after Epiphany.”

Collect: Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the wills of Thy faithful to seek more earnestly this fruit of the divine work, that they will receive more abundantly healing gifts from Thy tender mercy. 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 Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Colossians, 1:9-14.
[St. Paul exhorts the Christian people to bring forth all manner of good works, in order that strengthened by the glorious might of our Saviour, they may bear all adversities with patience, joy and thanksgiving.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 24:13-25.
[Jesus foretells the destruction of the world, and His second Advent, when all nations shall see the eternal Judge coming with power and majesty in the clouds of heaven.]

ST. CLEMENT I, Pope. Martyr (III)
“St. Clement I was a companion and a disciple of SS. Peter and Paul, and the third successor of St. Peter. He was exiled by the emperor Trajan and cast into the sea A.D. 100.”

Collect: O God, who didst solidly found Thy Church on the apostolic rock and dost shield her from the dreaded gates of hell, grant, we beseech Thee, through the intercession of blessed Clement Thy Martyr and Sovereign Pontiff, that under Thy sure protection she may persevere in Thy truth. 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 Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Philippians, 3:17-21; 4:1-3.
[Destruction is the end of those who are enemies of the cross.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew,16:13-19.
[Peter’s confession of the Godhead of Christ. He is declared by Our Lord to be the Rock on which the Church rests securely.]

ST. FELICITY, Martyr (Comm.)
“St. Felicity, the mother of the Seven Holy Brothers, martyrs, was beheaded shortly after her sons A.D. 150.”
Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who are keeping the feast of blessed Felicity Thy Martyr, may be shielded by her merits and prayers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Book of Ecclesiasticus, 51:13-17.
[Utterance of praise and thanksgiving.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 13:44-52.
[The parable of the hidden treasure, of the pearl of great price and of the net cast into the sea.]

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)