Month: June 2015

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Wednesday, 24 June 2015 : Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day, we commemorate the great solemnity of the birth of St. John the Baptist, the one who preceded Christ and who was His messenger and herald, proclaiming the coming of the Lord to the nations that when He came, the way had been prepared and paved ready for Him to pass through.

And the readings today dealt with how John was special and how he was chosen and marked to be one of the Lord’s greatest servants. He has been marked since before he was born, and foretold before he was even conceived, in the same manner as that of his Lord, Jesus Christ, for whom he was born into the world. He has been chosen and prepared such that, through him, many good works would be done.

Why do we put so much importance on this particular servant of God, John the Baptist? That is because he was the one who proclaimed to the world the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, through his own words to his disciples, ‘This is the Lamb of God, He who takes away the sins of the world.’ These words which our priests utter every time they present the Most Holy Eucharist to us, sought to make it clear to all of us, who Christ truly is, and He is indeed present in the Eucharist.

And it was through John that we knew about Him, and it was some of His disciples who were also Jesus’ first disciples, because John told them to follow Him, the true Lord and Master who everyone ought to follow and worship, while he was just the messenger. Many people thought that he was the Messiah because of the many wondrous things he had done, and by the baptism and call to repentance which he had called the people to. Yet, he remained humble and continued to dedicate himself to his mission.

We have much to learn from this faithful man of God, a great servant and yet a humble follower of God’s will. He had many followers, and many had witnessed his miraculous deeds, and many listened to his teachings and his call to repentance, and many thousands upon thousands came to him to be baptised and to follow him. In any other man, the person would have succumbed to his pride and greed, and instead of being faithful to his mission, he would have made himself the Messiah, but not for St. John the Baptist.

St. John the Baptist remained true to his mission, revealing the true Messiah when He comes, and he humbly said to Him, that he would not be worthy to even untie the straps of His sandals, and yet Jesus asked him to baptise Him. Regardless of his doubts and his reluctance, he submitted to the will of his Master and God, and did as what he was told to do, and through that faith, the people could see that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, when the Holy Spirit came down upon Him as a dove, and the heavens opened with the voice of the Father proclaiming this truth.

And St. John the Baptist also uttered in another occasion, that he was happy when he was told that Jesus had done even more than what he had done, and had amassed even more followers than he did. And he said that, while He increased, he must decrease. This is yet another example of his great humility and his great faith in God, which all of us ought to follow and emulate in our own lives.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as all of us reflect on this celebration of the birth of this great servant of God, St. John the Baptist, let us all think about all that he has done, all of the things which we can also apply in our own lives. We too, brothers and sisters, are servants of our Lord, and just as St. John the Baptist had prepared the way for the first coming of Jesus into the world, we are also charged with the preparation for His next coming, which He had promised all of us.

Jesus will come again, as He had promised, and our task today is to continue to the good works of the Apostles and the disciples of Christ, and to follow in the examples which St. John the Baptist had shown us, preparing the path for our Lord’s eventual second coming into this world. And how do we do this? It is by walking faithfully in His path, and practicing His way in all of our actions, words and deeds.

May Almighty God be with all of us, guide us on our ways, and help us so that we may exemplify and walk in the footsteps of His faithful servant, St. John the Baptist. May God bless us all and keep us in His love forever. Amen.

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Wednesday, 24 June 2015 : Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 1 : 57-66, 80

When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing for her, and they rejoiced with her. When, on the eighth day, they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.”

They said to her, “But no one in your family has that name!” and they asked the father, by means of signs, for the name he wanted to give him. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet, and wrote on it, “His name is John,” and they were very surprised. Immediately Zechariah could speak again, and his first words were in praise of God.

A holy fear came on all in the neighbourhood, and throughout the hill country of Judea the people talked about these events. All who heard of it pondered in their minds, and wondered, “What will this child be?” For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.

As the child grew up, he was seen to be strong in the Spirit; and he lived in the desert until the day when he appeared openly in Israel.

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Wednesday, 24 June 2015 : Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Acts 13 : 22-26

After that time, God removed Saul and raised up David as king, to whom He bore witness saying : ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all I want him to do.’

It is from the descendants of David that God has now raised up the promised Saviour of Israel, Jesus. Before He appeared, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel. As John was ending his life’s work, he said, ‘I am not what you think I am, for after me another One is coming whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.’

Brothers, children and descendants of Abraham, and you also who fear God, it is to you that this message of salvation has been sent.

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Wednesday, 24 June 2015 : Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 138 : 1-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15

O Lord, You know me : You have scrutinised me. You know when I sit and when I rise; beforehand You discern my thoughts. You observe my activities and times of rest; You are familiar with all my ways.

It was You who formed my inmost part and knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank You for these wonders You have done.

And my heart praises You for Your marvellous deeds. Even my bones were known to You when I was being formed in secret, fashioned in the depths of the earth.

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Wednesday, 24 June 2015 : Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Isaiah 49 : 1-6

Listen to me, o islands, pay attention, peoples from distant lands. YHVH called me from my mother’s womb; He pronounced my name before I was born. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword. He hid me in the shadow of His hand. He made me into a polished arrow set apart in His quiver.

He said to me, “You are Israel, My servant. Through you I will be known.” “I have laboured in vain,” I thought and spent my strength for nothing. Yet what is due me was in the hand of YHVH, and my reward was with my God. I am important in the sight of YHVH, and my God is my strength.

And now YHVH has spoken, He who formed me in the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, to gather Israel to Him. He said : “It is not enough that you be My servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob, to bring back the remnant of Israel. I will make you the light of the nations, that My salvation will reach to the ends of the earth.”

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(Usus Antiquior) Nativity of St. John the Baptist (I Classis) – Wednesday, 24 June 2015 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Communion and Post-Communion Prayer

Liturgical Colour : White

Offertory

Psalm 91 : 13

Justus ut palma florebit : sicut cedrus, quae in Libano est, multiplicabitur.

English translation

The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, he shall grow up like the cedar of Lebanon.

Secret Prayer of the Priest

Tua, Domine, muneribus altaria cumulamus : illius nativitatem honore debito celebrantes, qui Salvatorem mundi et cecinit adfuturum et adesse monstravit, Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum : Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

We heap Your altars with gifts, o Lord, celebrating with fitting honour the nativity of he who heralded the coming of the Saviour, and pointed Him out when He had come, our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You lives and reigns, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Communion

Luke 1 : 76

Tu, puer Propheta Altissimi vocaberis : praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias ejus.

English translation

You, child, shall be called the Prophet of the Highest, for you shall go before the face of the Lord, to prepare His ways.

Post-Communion Prayer

Sumat Ecclesia Tua, Deus, beati Joannis Baptistae generatione laetitiam : per quem suae regenerationis cognovit auctorem, Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum : Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

May the Church, o God, be joyful at the birth of the Blessed John the Baptist, through whom she knew the Author of her regeneration, our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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(Usus Antiquior) Nativity of St. John the Baptist (I Classis) – Wednesday, 24 June 2015 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : White

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Luke 1 : 57-68

Elisabeth impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium. Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus, quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei. Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam.

Et respondens mater ejus, dixit : Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes. Et dixerunt ad illam : Quia nemo est in cognatione tua, qui vocatur hoc nomine. Innuebant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocari eum. Et postulans pugillarem, scripsit, dicens : Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi.

Apertum est autem illico os ejus et lingua ejus, et loquebatur benedicens Deum. Et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum : et super omnia montana Judaeae divulgabantur omnia verba haec : et posuerunt omnes, qui audierant in corde suo, dicentes : Quis, putas, puer iste erit? Etenim manus Domini erat cum illo.

Et Zacharias, pater ejus, repletus est Spiritu Sancto, et prophetavit, dicens : Benedictus Dominus, Deus Israel, quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebis suae.

English translation

Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had showed His great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name, Zachary.

And his mother answering, said, “Not so, but he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “There is none of your kindred that is called by that name.” And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying, “John is his name.” And they all wondered.

And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came upon all their neighbours, and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea, and all those who had heard them, laid them up in their heart, saying, “What a person, do you think, shall this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because He had visited, and wrought the redemption of His people.”

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(Usus Antiquior) Nativity of St. John the Baptist (I Classis) – Wednesday, 24 June 2015 : Gradual and Alleluia

Liturgical Colour : White

Jeremiah 1 : 5, 9 and Luke 1 : 76

Priusquam te formarem in utero, novi te : et antequam exires de ventre, sanctificavi te.

Priest : Misit Dominus manum suam, et tetigit os meum, et dixit mihi.

Alleluja, Alleluja.

Priest : Tu, puer, Propheta Altissimi vocaberis : praeibis ante Dominum parare vias ejus. Alleluja.

English translation

Before I formed you in the bowels of your mother, I knew you, and before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you.

Priest : The Lord put forth His hand, and touched my mouth, and said to me.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Priest : You, child, shall be called the Prophet of the Highest, you shall go before the Lord to prepare His ways. Alleluia.

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(Usus Antiquior) Nativity of St. John the Baptist (I Classis) – Wednesday, 24 June 2015 : Epistle

Liturgical Colour : White

Lectio Isaiae Prophetae – Lesson from Isaiah the Prophet

Isaiah 49 : 1-3, 5, 6-7

Audite, insular, et attendite, populi, de longe : Dominus ab utero vocavit me, de ventre matris meae recordatus est nominis mei. Et posuit os meum quasi gladium acutum : in umbra manus Suae protexit me, et posuit me sicut sagittam electam : in pharetra Sua abscondit me.

Et dixit mihi : Servus Meus es tu, Israel, quia in te gloriabor. Et nunc dicit Dominus, formans me ex utero servum sibi : Ecce, dedi te in lucem gentium, ut sis salus mea usque ad extremum terrae. Reges videbunt, et consurgent principes, et adorabunt propter Dominum et sanctum Israel, qui elegit te.

English translation

Give ear, you islands, and harken, you people from afar. The Lord had called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother He had been mindful of my name. And He had made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand He had protected me, and had made me as a chosen arrow, in His quiver He had hidden me.

And He said to me, “You are My servant Israel, for in you will I glory.” And now says the Lord who formed me from the womb to be His servant, “Behold I have given uou to be light of the gentiles, that you may be My salvation even to the farthest part of the earth. Kings shall see, and princes shall rise up, and adore for the Lord’s sake, and for the Holy One of Israel, Who had chosen you.”

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(Usus Antiquior) Nativity of St. John the Baptist (I Classis) – Wednesday, 24 June 2015 : Introit and Collect

Liturgical Colour : White

Introit

Isaiah 49 : 1, 2 and Psalm 91 : 2

De ventre matris meae vocavit me Dominus nomine meo : et posuit os meum ut gladium acutum : sub tegumento manus suae protexit me, et posuit me quasi sagittam electam.

Bonum est confiteri Domino : et psallere Nomini Tuo, Altissime.

Priest : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper : et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

The Lord had called me by my name from the womb of my mother, and He had made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He had protected me, and had made me as a chosen arrow.

It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to Your Name, o Most High.

Priest : Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Collect

Deus, qui praesentem diem honorabilem nobis in beati Joannis nativitate fecisti : da populis Tuis spiritualium gratiam gaudiorum; et omnium fidelium menfes dirige in viam salutis aeternae. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

O God, You Who had made this day honourable to us on account of the birth of blessed John, grant Your people the grace of spiritual joys, and direct the minds of all the faithful in the way of everlasting salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.