Wednesday, 19 November 2008

Feast days of the week 16-22 November, A.D. 2008 (1962 liturgical calendar).
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
ST. ELIZABETH, Widow (III)
“St. Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew, king of Hungary, was given in marriage to the holy landgrave of Thuringia, Louis IV. After the death of her husband, she entered the Third Order of St. Francis, and died in poverty and humiliation, exiled by her brother-in-law A.D. 1231.”

Collect: Shed Thy light upon the hearts of Thy faithful people, O merciful God, and through the glorious prayers of blessed Elizabeth, grant that we may despise worldly success and find our joy in heavenly consolation. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Lesson: From the Book of Proverbs, 31:10-31.
[Description of all the necessary duties and virtues of the valiant woman.]
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 13:44-52.
[The parables of the hidden treasure, of the pearl of great price and of the net cast into the sea.]

ST. PONTIANUS, Pope, Martyr (Comm.)
“St. Pontianus was exiled under Emperor Severus and was eventually scourged to death, A.D.235.”

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 Pontianus, 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 the First Letter of Bl. Peter The Apostle, 5:1-4; 10-11.
[Christ is the model for Popes. The Pope directs the Church with love and according to the will of God.]
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.]

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)