Liturgical Colour : White
1 John 3 : 1-3
See what singular love the Father has for us : we are called children of God, and we really are. This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Beloved, we are God’s children and what we shall be has not yet been shown. Yet when He appears in His glory, we know that we shall be like Him, for then we shall see Him as He is. All who have such a hope try to be pure as He is pure.
Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 23 : 1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord, the world and all that dwell in it. He has founded it upon the ocean and set it firmly upon the waters.
Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who will stand in His holy place? Those with clean hands and pure heart, who desire not what is vain.
They will receive blessings from the Lord, a reward from God, their Saviour. Such are the people who seek Him, who seek the face of Jacob’s God.
Liturgical Colour : White
Revelations 7 : 2-4, 9-14
I saw another Angel ascending from the sunrise, carrying the seal of the living God, and he cried out with a loud voice to the four Angels empowered to harm the earth and the sea, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.”
Then I heard the number of those marked with the seal : a hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of the people of Israel. After this I saw a great crowd, impossible to count, from every nation, race, people and tongue, standing before the throne and the Lamb, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands, and they cried out with a loud voice, “Who saves but our God Who sits on the throne and the Lamb?”
All the Angels were around the throne, the elders and the four living creatures; they then bowed before the throne with their faces to the ground to worship God. They said, “Amen. Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honour, power and strength to our God forever and ever. Amen!”
At that moment, one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these people clothed in white, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, it is you who know this.” The elder replied, “They are those who have come out of the great persecution; they have washed and made their clothes white in the Blood of the Lamb.”
Liturgical Colour : White
Offertory
Wisdom 3 : 1, 2, 3
Justorum animae in manu Dei sunt, et non tanget illos tormentum malitiae : visi sunt oculis insipientum mori : illi autem sunt in pace, Alleluja.
English translation
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of malice shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, but they are in peace. Alleluia.
Secret Prayer of the Priest
Munera Tibi, Domine, nostrae devotionis offerimus : quae et pro cunctorum Tibi grata sint honore Justorum, et nobis salutaria, Te miserante, reddantur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
We offer to You, o Lord, the Gifts of our devotion. May they be pleasing to You in honour of all Your saints, and of Your mercy let them avail for our 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.
Communion
Matthew 5 : 8-10
Beati mundo corde, quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt; beati pacifici, quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur : beati, qui persecutionem patiuntur propter justitiam, quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum.
English translation
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
Post-Communion Prayer
Da, quaesumus, Domine, fidelibus populis omnium Sanctorum semper veneratione laetari : et eorum perpetua supplicatione muniri. Per 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 outpouring of the Holy Spirit purify our hearts, o Lord, and by the inward sprinkling of His heavenly dew may they be made fruitful. 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.
Liturgical Colour : White
Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew
Matthew 5 : 1-12
In illo tempore : Videns Jesus turbas, ascendit in montem, et cum sedisset, accesserunt ad Eum discipuli Ejus, et aperiens os Suum, docebat Eos, dicens : Beati pauperes spiritu : quoniam ipsorum est Regnum Caelorum. Beati mites : quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram.
Beati, qui lugent : quoniam ipsi consolabuntur. Beati, qui esuriunt et sitiunt justitiam : quoniam ipsi saturabuntur. Beati misericordes : quoniam ipsi misericordiam consequentur. Beati mundo corde : quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt.
Beati pacifici : quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur. Beati, qui persecutionem patiuntur propter justitiam : quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum. Beati estis, cum maledixerint vobis, et persecuti vos fuerint, et dixerint omne malum adversum vos, mentientes, propter me : gaudete et exsultate, quoniam merces vestra copiosa est in caelis.
English translation
At that time, Jesus seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain, and when He had sat down, His disciples came unto Him. And opening His mouth, He taught them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land.”
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you, when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruthfully, for My sake, be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in Heaven.”
Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 33 : 10, 11 and Matthew 11 : 28
Timete Dominum, omnes Sancti Ejus : quoniam nihil deest timentibus Eum.
Priest : Inquirentes autem Dominum, non deficient omni bono.
Alleluja, Alleluja.
Priest : Venite ad me, omnes, qui laboratis et onerati estis : et ego reficiam vos. Alleluja.
English translation
Fear the Lord, all you His saints, for there is no want in those who fear Him.
Priest : But those who seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Priest : Come to Me all of you who labour and are heavily ladened, and I will refresh you. Alleluia.
Liturgical Colour : White
Lectio Libri Apocalypsis Beati Joannis Apostoli – Lesson from the Book of the Apocalypse of Blessed John the Apostle
Apocalypse 7 : 2-12
In diebus illis : Ecce, ego Joannes vidi alterum Angelum ascendentem ab ortu solis, habentem signum Dei vivi : et clamavit voce magna quatuor Angelis, quibus datum est nocere terrae et mari, dicens : Nolite nocere terrae et mari neque arboribus, quoadusque signemus servos Dei nostri in frontibus eorum.
Et audivi numerum signatorum, centum quadraginta quatuor milia signati, ex omni tribu filiorum Israel. Ex tribu Juda duodecim milia signati. Ex tribu Ruben duodecim milia signati. Ex tribu Gad duodecim milia signati. Ex tribu Aser duodecim milia signati.
Ex tribu Nephthali duodecim milia signati. Ex tribu Manasse duodecim milia signati. Ex tribu Simeon duodecim milia signati. Ex tribu Levi duodecim milia signati. Ex tribu Issachar duodecim milia signati. Ex tribu Zabulon duodecim milia signati. Ex tribu Joseph duodecim milia signati. Ex tribu Benjamin duodecim milia signati.
Post haec vidi turbam magnam, quam dinumerare nemo poterat, ex omnibus gentibus et tribubus et populis et linguis : stantes ante Thronum et in conspectu Agni, amicti stolis albis, et palmae in manibus eorum : et clamabant voce magna, dicentes : Salus Deo nostro, qui sedet super thronum, et Agno.
Et omnes Angeli stabant in circuitu Throni et Seniorum et quatuor Animalium : et ceciderunt in conspectu Throni in facies suas et adoraverunt Deum, dicentes : Amen. Benedictio et claritas et sapientia et gratiarum actio, honor et virtus et fortitudo Deo nostro in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
In those days, behold, I, John, saw another Angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four Angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, “Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we sign the servants of our God in their foreheads.”
And I heard the number of those who were signed, a hundred and forty-four thousand were signed out of every tribe of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Judah were twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Ruben twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand signed.
Of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Zebulon twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand signed. Of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand signed.
After this, I saw a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the Throne and in the sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands, and they cried with a loud voice saying, “Salvation to our God who sits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb.”
And all the Angels stood round about the Throne, and the Elders, and the four living creatures, and they fell down before the Throne upon their faces, and adored God, saying, “Amen. Benediction, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, honour, and power, and strength to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Liturgical Colour : White
Introit
Tradition of the Faith and Psalm 32 : 1
Gaudeamus omnes in Domino, diem festum celebrantes sub honore Sanctorum omnium : de quorum sollemnitate gaudent Angeli et collaudant Filium Dei.
Exsultate, justi, in Domino : rectos decet collaudatio.
Priest : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper : et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Let us all rejoice in the Lord celebrating a festival day in honour of all the Saints, at whose solemnity the Angels rejoice, and give praise to the Son of God.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are just; praise is becoming of the upright.
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
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui nos omnium Sanctorum Tuorum merita sub una tribuisti celebritate venerari : quaesumus; ut desideratam nobis Tuae propitiationis abundantiam, multiplicatis intercessoribus, largiaris. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who had given us in one feast to venerate the merits of all Your saints, we beseech You through the multitude of intercessors to grant us the desired abundance of Your mercy. 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.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we are reminded through the Sacred Scriptures, by the words of our Lord Himself, that we ought to show love, care and concern for our brethren, particularly those who are lacking in sustenance, care and love. We should not ignore the plight of those who hunger, those who are suffering the daily effects of worldly sufferings.
Those who have more should be willing to come to the aid of those who lack, and when we have an abundance of love and good things, we should not forget all those who are less fortunate than us. This is the reality of our world, one that we should realise and appreciate, that we should not forget that in all of the blessings we have enjoyed in this world, there is always inequality in this world, and some others are perhaps suffering while we enjoy ourselves.
It does not mean then that we should not rejoice or be sorrowful or also seek to suffer. That is not what God had intended for us. Instead, as He had made it clear through today’s passage, that He wants each and every one of us to be filled with joy, that no one should suffer without help, and no joy should be excluded from others who should rejoice together with us.
It is what our Lord wants from all of us who call ourselves and who are indeed Christians. He wants all of us to share the love we have, the joy we have, for we have been united and made into one Body, the Body of Christ, the Church, and as members of the same Body, all of us who have been made the sons and daughters of our Lord ought to share that joy and blessings we have received from our Father and share the sorrow and joy we have with each other.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, thus we are called to recall what is our purpose and what is our objective as we live our lives as Christians. Are we devoted to the Lord, by loving Him and showing our obedience, walking in His path and doing what is right and just in His sight? And by doing this, does it mean that we have cared and showed care and concern for our brethren, particularly those whom we have seen to suffer from the effects of the suffering of this world?
Otherwise, if we have not done all of these, we are empty in our faith, in our faith life. After all, we cannot be truly faithful to God, if we profess to have such faith, and yet our words, actions and or deeds speak otherwise. Indeed, we may become hypocrites in our faith, and God will not look kindly on that. If we have not loved others and showed them our attention, if they need us, then are we true disciples of our Lord?
After all, God Himself had shown us all so much love, from the greatest of sinners to the greatest of the saints and the righteous ones. He had willingly come down into this world, and taking up our flesh and form, He had endeavoured to take up upon Himself the seemingly impossible task of ensuring our salvation from all of our sins. He has bore that cross and endured all the sufferings, out of the great love He has for us, even for His enemies and all those who had called upon and plotted for His death.
He has shown us all a perfect example, and should we all not follow Him then? He has called upon us all to be generous with our love and not to withhold our compassion and mercy from those who seek them. Therefore, as Christians, we should all come to realise and indeed commit ourselves to love one another, show forgiveness and mercy to those who have wronged us, and show the love of God to all those who have been unloved.
May God bless our works of charity and awaken in us a generous and loving heart filled with care and concern for our brethren, in the same way that He Himself had loved us from the beginning of time to now and to forevermore. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Luke 14 : 12-14
At that time, Jesus also addressed the man who had invited Him, and said, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends, or your brothers and relatives, or your wealthy neighbours. For surely they will also invite you in return, and you will be repaid.”
“When you give a feast, invite instead the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Fortunate are you then, because they cannot repay you; you will be repaid at the resurrection of the upright.”
petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang 