by

(Usus Antiquior) Feast of the Holy Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul (I Classis) – Thursday, 29 June 2017 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Red
Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

Matthew 16 : 13-19

In illo tempore : Venit Jesus in partes Caesarea Philippi, et interrogabat discipulos Suos, dicens : Quem dicunt homines esse Filium Hominis? At illi dixerunt : Alii Joannem Baptistam, alii autem Eliam, alii vero Jeremiam aut unum ex Prophetis.

Dicit illis Jesus : Vos autem quem Me esse dicitis? Respondens Simon Petrus, dixit : Tu es Christus, Filius Dei vivi. Respondens autem Jesus, dixit ei : Beatus es, Simon Bar Jona : quia caro et sanguis non revelavit tibi, sed Pater Meus, qui in caelis est.

Et Ego dico tibi, quia tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam Meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam. Et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum. Et quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum et in caelis : et quodcumque solveris super terram, erit solutum et in caelis.

 

English translation

At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi, and He asked His disciples, saying, “Whom do men say that the Son of Man is?” But they said, “Some, John the Baptist, and some others Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

Jesus said to them, “But whom do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are Christ, the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of John, because flesh and blood had not revealed it to you, bur My Father, Who is in Heaven.”

“And I say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and to you I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, and whosoever you shall bind upon the earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven, and whatsoever you shall loosen on earth, it shall also be loosened in Heaven.”

by

(Usus Antiquior) Feast of the Holy Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul (I Classis) – Thursday, 29 June 2017 : Gradual and Alleluia

Liturgical Colour : Red
Psalm 44 : 17-18 and Matthew 16 : 18

Constitues eos principes super omnem terram : memores erunt Nominis Tui, Domine.

Response : Pro patribus suis nati sunt tibi filii : proptera populi confitebuntur tibi.

Alleluja, Alleluja.

Response : Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam Meam. Alleluja.

 

English translation

You shall make them princes over all the earth, they shall remember Your Name, o Lord.

Response : Instead of your fathers, sons are born to you, therefore shall people praise You.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Response : You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. Alleluia.

by

(Usus Antiquior) Feast of the Holy Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul (I Classis) Thursday, 29 June 2017 : Epistle

Liturgical Colour : Red
Lectio Actuum Apostolorum – Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 12 : 1-11

In diebus illis : Misit Herodes rex manus, ut affligeret quosdam de Ecclesia. Occidit autem Jacobum fratrem Joannis gladio. Videns autem, quia placeret Judaeis, apposuit, ut apprehenderet et Petrum. Erant autem dies azymorum. Quem cum apprehendisset, misit in carcerem, tradens quatuor quaternionibus militum custodiendum, volens post Pascha producere eum populo.

Et Petrus quidem servabatur in carcere. Oratio autem fiebat sine intermissione ab Ecclesia ad Deum pro eo. Cum autem producturus eum esset Herodes, in ipsa nocte erat Petrus dormiens inter duos milites, vinctus catenis duabus : et custodes ante ostium custodiebant carcerem.

Et ecce, Angelus Domini astitit : et lumen refulsit in habitaculo : percussoque latere Petri, excitavit eum, dicens : Surge velociter. Et ceciderunt catenae de manibus ejus. Dixit autem Angelus ad eum : Praecingere, et calcea te caligas tuas. Et fecit sic. Et dixit illi : Circumda tibi vestimentum tuum, et sequere me. Et exiens sequebatur eum, et nesciebat quia verum est, quod fiebat per Angelum : existimabat autem se visum videre.

Transeuntes autem primam et secundam custodiam, venerunt ad portam ferream, quae ducit ad civitatem : quae ultro aperta est eis. Et exeuntes processerunt vicum unum : et continuo discessit Angelus ab eo. Et Petrus ad se reversus, dixit : Nunc scio vere, quia misit Dominus Angelum suum, et eripuit me de manu Herodis et de omni exspectatione plebis Judaeorum.

 

English translation

In those days, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to afflict some of the Church, and he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword, and seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes, and when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing by the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the room and he struck Peter on the side, raised him up saying, “Arise quickly!” And the chains fell off from his hands, and the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals,” and he did so, and he said to him, “Cast your garment about you and follow me.” And going out he followed him, and he did not know that it was true and real what was done by the angel, as he thought that he saw a vision.

And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that led to the city, which by itself was opened to them, and going out, they passed on through one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And Peter coming to himself, said, “Now I know in very deed that the Lord had sent His angel and had delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”

by

(Usus Antiquior) Feast of the Holy Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul (I Classis) – Thursday, 29 June 2017 : Introit and Collect

Liturgical Colour : Red
Introit

Acts 12 : 11 and Psalm 138 : 1-2

Nunc scio vere, quia misit Dominus Angelum Suum : et eripuit me de manu Herodis et de omni exspectatione plebis Judaeorum.

Domine; probasti me et cognovisti me : Tu cognovisti sessionem meam et resurrectionem meam.

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

 

English translation

Now I know in very deed, that the Lord had sent His angel, and had delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

Lord, You have proved me, and known me. You have known my sitting down and my rising up.

Response : 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 hodiernam diem Apostolorum Tuorum Petri et Pauli martyrio consecrasti : da Ecclesiae Tuae, eorum in omnibus sequi praeceptum; per quos religionis sumpsit exordium. 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 have consecrated this day to the martyrdom of Your Apostles Peter and Paul, grant to Your Church in all things to follow their teaching from whom it received the right ordering of religion in the beginning. 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.

by

Wednesday, 28 June 2017 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red
John 21 : 15-19

At that time, after Jesus and His disciples had finished breakfast, He said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these do?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” And Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”

A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” And Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Look after My sheep.” And a third time He said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

Peter was saddened because Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus then said, “Feed My sheep! Truly, I say to you, when you were young, you put on your belt and walked where you liked. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will put a belt around you, and lead you where you do not wish to go.”

Jesus said this to make known the kind of death by which Peter was to glorify God. And He added, “Follow Me!”

by

Wednesday, 28 June 2017 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red
Galatians 1 : 11-20

Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel we preached to you is not a human message, nor did I receive it from anyone, I was not taught of it; but it came to me, as a revelation from Christ Jesus. You have heard of my previous activity in the Jewish community; I furiously persecuted the Church of God and tried to destroy it. For I was more devoted to the Jewish religion than many fellow Jews of my age, and I defended the traditions of my ancestors more fanatically.

But one day, God called me, out of His great love, He, Who had chosen me from my mother’s womb; and he was pleased to reveal, in me, His Son, that I might make Him known among the pagan nations. Then, I did not seek human advice nor did I go up to Jerusalem, to those who were Apostles before me. I immediately went to Arabia, and from there, I returned, again, to Damascus.

Later, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to meet Cephas, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other Apostle except James, the Lord’s brother. On writing this to you, I affirm before God that I am not lying.

by

Wednesday, 28 June 2017 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red
Psalm 18 : 2-3, 4-5

The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. Day talks it over with day; night hands on the knowledge to night.

No speech, no words, no voice is heard – but the call goes on, throughout the universe, the message is felt to the ends of the earth.

by

Wednesday, 28 June 2017 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red
Acts 3 : 1-10

Once when Peter and John were going up to the Temple, at three in the afternoon, the hour for prayer, a man, crippled from birth, was being carried in. Every day, they would bring him and put him at the Temple gate called “Beautiful;” there he begged from those who entered the Temple.

When he saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple, he asked for alms. Then Peter, with John at his side, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” So he looked at them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you : In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, walk!”

Then, he took the beggar by his right hand and helped him up. At once, his feet and ankles became firm, and, jumping up, he stood on his feet and began to walk. And he went with them into the Temple, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God; they recognised him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were all astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.

by

Wednesday, 28 June 2017 : 12th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day, we heard about the false prophets from Jesus our Lord, Who told His disciples to beware of all those people who pretended to be good on the outside, and yet, on the inside, they are truly wicked and evil. This is not what the Lord want from us all Christians, as all of us are called to be good and to devote ourselves to the Lord, both inside and outside, that our whole being truly bring glory to God.

If we truly belong to God, then our actions and deeds must indeed reflect that nature, that we do what the Lord had told us to do, and be genuine in our actions. Otherwise, we will be like the hypocrites, who pretended that they believed, and yet in their actions, showed what was contrary to their faith. All of us must be genuine Christians in actions and deeds, and we must really spend the time and put the effort to live in accordance with what the Lord taught us.

Remember, brothers and sisters in Christ, that the Lord Jesus in the Gospel today said how bad trees will produce bad fruits, while good trees will produce good fruits. And all those trees that are bad will be cast out into the fire and given to be burnt away. All those trees are representing us mankind, both with our good and bad deeds, with all of our imperfections, which then ends up in our actions, be it that they are righteous or wicked.

Bad trees will produce bad fruits, which will not be desired or wanted, and the Lord will cast these out on the day of the harvest, or the Day of Judgment, out to the eternal damnation. Do we want to end up with this fate, brethren? Certainly we do not want to end up like that. Yet, that will be our lot, if we do not truly practice our faith and instead doing what is wicked in the sight and presence of God and man alike.

And we cannot hide our intentions and actions, for even though we may be successful in hiding them from others around us, but the Lord will always know all of our intentions and actions. Nothing that we do that we can hide away from the Lord Who knows everything that is in our hearts and in out minds. If we are like the hypocrites, who pretended to do good on the outside but yet having malicious intent in the heart, or for those whose faith is just for show, the Lord will know it all.

We should instead be like the fruitful vine of Abraham, who has devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Lord, and obeyed the will of God with commitment and zeal. We should follow his examples, in how he has devoted himself wholeheartedly and committed himself to God in all that He had asked him to do. And because of the faith of Abraham, countless people who were his descendants have been blessed because of him.

He was sincere in his faith, and no falsehood could be found in him. He is the example of one who has true faith in God, and we ought to look up to him. If our faith can be like that of Abraham, then surely the Lord will find no fault in us, and He will bless us all and welcome us into His eternal glory and happiness. That is what all of us can look forward to, if we follow the Lord faithfully.

Perhaps we all should also heed the examples of St. Irenaeus, a holy bishop and martyr of the Faith, who was the Bishop of Lugdunum, now known as Lyon in Roman Gaul, now France. He was a devout priest and later on bishop, who was determined to root out all heresies among Christians, by his numerous works through which he helped to dispel the falsehood of those heresies, most serious of which is the syncretic and heretical Gnosticism, which had a strong hold among many of the people at the time.

Through his extensive works, St. Irenaeus helped to keep many from falling into heresy, and in his exhortations and evangelisations, he helped to bring many more souls to salvation through the Church. He has given his all for the sake of the Lord and for the people of God. In the end, it was told by some sources, that he suffered martyrdom, but nonetheless, by his life, he has bring glory to God and to His people.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, shall we walk in the footsteps of Abraham, our father in faith, and St. Irenaeus, the brave and courageous servant of God and defender of the faith? Let us all devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord in the same manner as these holy predecessors of ours had done, shunning all that is evil, all pretensions and be honest in our devotion to God. May the Lord help us in our efforts and endeavours, and may He guide us always in our lives, that we will be able to find our way to His salvation. Amen.

by

Wednesday, 28 June 2017 : 12th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red
Matthew 7 : 15-20

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Beware of false prophets : they come to you in sheep’s clothing; but inside, they are voracious wolves. You will recognise them by their fruits. Do you ever pick grapes from thorn bushes; or figs, from thistles?”

“A good tree always produces good fruit. A rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit; and a rotten fruit cannot bear good fruit. Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruit.”