INTROIT Ps. 43:23-26
Awake! Why are you asleep, O Lord? Arise! Cast us not off forever! Why do you hide your face and forget our troubles? Our bodies are pressed to the earth. Arise, O Lord, help us, and free us!
Ps. 43:2. O God, our ears have heard, our fathers have spoken to us.
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
O God, You see that we place no trust in our ability and actions. May the prayers of the Doctor of the Gentiles defend us against all adversity. Through Our Lord . . .
EPISTLE II Cor. 11:19-33; 12:1-9
Brethren: For you gladly suffer the foolish: whereas yourselves are wise. For you suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take from you, if a man be lifted up, if a man strike you on the face.
I seek according to dishonour, as if we had been weak in this part. Wherein if any man dare (I speak foolishly), I dare also. They are Hebrews: so am I. They are Israelites: so am I. They are the seed of Abraham: so am I. They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as one less wise): I am more; in many more labours, in prisons more frequently, in stripes above measure, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times did I receive forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods: once I was stoned: thrice I suffered shipwreck: a night and a day I was in the depth of the sea.
In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own nation, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils from false brethren: In labour and painfulness, in much watchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness: Besides those things which are without: my daily instance, the solicitude for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is scandalized, and I am not on fire?
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my infirmity. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lie not. At Damascus, the governor of the nation under Aretas the king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, to apprehend me. And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall: and so escaped his hands. If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed) but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ: above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth): That he was caught up into paradise and heard secret words which it is not granted to man to utter.
For such an one I will glory: but for myself I will glory nothing but in my infirmities. For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish: for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.
And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me. And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
GRADUAL Ps. 82:19, 14
Let the nations know that You whose name is God, alone are the Most High over all the earth.
V. O my God, whirl them about like chaff before the wind!
TRACT Ps. 59:4, 6
You have shaken the earth, O Lord, and thrown it into confusion.
V. Repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.
V. That they may flee out of bowshot; that Your chosen ones may escape.
Awake! Why are you asleep, O Lord? Arise! Cast us not off forever! Why do you hide your face and forget our troubles? Our bodies are pressed to the earth. Arise, O Lord, help us, and free us!
Ps. 43:2. O God, our ears have heard, our fathers have spoken to us.
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
O God, You see that we place no trust in our ability and actions. May the prayers of the Doctor of the Gentiles defend us against all adversity. Through Our Lord . . .
EPISTLE II Cor. 11:19-33; 12:1-9
Brethren: For you gladly suffer the foolish: whereas yourselves are wise. For you suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take from you, if a man be lifted up, if a man strike you on the face.
I seek according to dishonour, as if we had been weak in this part. Wherein if any man dare (I speak foolishly), I dare also. They are Hebrews: so am I. They are Israelites: so am I. They are the seed of Abraham: so am I. They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as one less wise): I am more; in many more labours, in prisons more frequently, in stripes above measure, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times did I receive forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods: once I was stoned: thrice I suffered shipwreck: a night and a day I was in the depth of the sea.
In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own nation, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils from false brethren: In labour and painfulness, in much watchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness: Besides those things which are without: my daily instance, the solicitude for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is scandalized, and I am not on fire?
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my infirmity. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lie not. At Damascus, the governor of the nation under Aretas the king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, to apprehend me. And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall: and so escaped his hands. If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed) but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ: above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth): That he was caught up into paradise and heard secret words which it is not granted to man to utter.
For such an one I will glory: but for myself I will glory nothing but in my infirmities. For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish: for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.
And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thing, thrice I besought the Lord that it might depart from me. And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
GRADUAL Ps. 82:19, 14
Let the nations know that You whose name is God, alone are the Most High over all the earth.
V. O my God, whirl them about like chaff before the wind!
TRACT Ps. 59:4, 6
You have shaken the earth, O Lord, and thrown it into confusion.
V. Repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.
V. That they may flee out of bowshot; that Your chosen ones may escape.
GOSPEL Luke 8:4-15
At that time, when a very great multitude was gathered together and hastened out of the cities, unto him, he spoke by a similitude. "The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the way side. And it was trodden down: and the fowls of the air devoured it. And other some fell upon a rock. And as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And other some fell among thorns. And the thorns growing up with it, choked it. And other some fell upon good ground and, being sprung up, yielded fruit a hundredfold." Saying these things, he cried out: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. To whom he said: "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that 'seeing they may not see and hearing may not understand.' Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. And they by the way side are they that hear: then the devil cometh and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved. Now they upon the rock are they who when they hear receive the word with joy: and these have no roots: for they believe for a while and in time of temptation they fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they who have heard and, going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life and yield no fruit. But that on the good ground are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it and bring forth fruit in patience."
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 16:5, 6-7
Keep my steps steadfast in Your paths, that my feet may not falter. Incline Your ear and hear my words. Show Your wondrous kindness, O Savior of those who trust in You, O Lord.
SECRET
May the sacrifice we offer You, O Lord, bring us new life and keep us safe. Through our Lord . . .
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 42:4
I will go in to the altar of God, to God who gives joy to my youth.
POSTCOMMUNION
Almighty God, we humbly ask that those who are nourished with Your Sacrament may live a life of worthy service pleasing to You. Through Our Lord . . .
At that time, when a very great multitude was gathered together and hastened out of the cities, unto him, he spoke by a similitude. "The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the way side. And it was trodden down: and the fowls of the air devoured it. And other some fell upon a rock. And as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And other some fell among thorns. And the thorns growing up with it, choked it. And other some fell upon good ground and, being sprung up, yielded fruit a hundredfold." Saying these things, he cried out: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. To whom he said: "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that 'seeing they may not see and hearing may not understand.' Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. And they by the way side are they that hear: then the devil cometh and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved. Now they upon the rock are they who when they hear receive the word with joy: and these have no roots: for they believe for a while and in time of temptation they fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they who have heard and, going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life and yield no fruit. But that on the good ground are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it and bring forth fruit in patience."
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 16:5, 6-7
Keep my steps steadfast in Your paths, that my feet may not falter. Incline Your ear and hear my words. Show Your wondrous kindness, O Savior of those who trust in You, O Lord.
SECRET
May the sacrifice we offer You, O Lord, bring us new life and keep us safe. Through our Lord . . .
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 42:4
I will go in to the altar of God, to God who gives joy to my youth.
POSTCOMMUNION
Almighty God, we humbly ask that those who are nourished with Your Sacrament may live a life of worthy service pleasing to You. Through Our Lord . . .
From Challoner's Meditations:
JANUARY 7.
The Wise Men's journey to Bethlehem.
CONSIDER, first, that the wise men, immediately upon the apparition of the star, set out to seek their Saviour whom it denoted, in Judea. For by an ancient tradition, and by the prophecy of Balaam, (Numbers xxiv. 17,) they understood that was the place of his nativity. Wherefore, going to Jerusalem, where it was most likely they should hear news concerning him, they inquire, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and we are come to adore him," (Matthew ii. 2. ) But as the kingdom of Christ was not of this world, and was to be established upon the ruins of worldly pride, and of all the pomps of Satan, he chose for his birth the humble stable of Bethlehem, before all the stately palaces of Jerusalem, as more agreeable to his kingdom, the kingdom of humility and of truth. Happy those souls whose eyes are ever open to this heavenly truth, and shut to the vanities of the world. For thus do they become themselves the kingdom of Christ, even that kingdom in which he shall reign for ever!
Consider, secondly, how Herod was troubled on hearing of the birth of this new king; and so was all Jerusalem with him. How much more happy was the dispositions of the wise men, who desired, at all events, to find Christ, and gladly embraced the directions of those, who, by their office, were qualified to point him out. to them? But, alas! how miserable were those priests and scribes, who, directing the wise men to our Saviour, took no pains to seek him themselves! See this never be your case.
Consider, thirdly, that, upon leaving Jerusalem, the star again appeared to the wise men, and conducted them to Bethlehem, and to the place where our Saviour lay. They were filled with exceeding great joy; and, going in, they found him whom their souls desired, and humbly adored their infant Lord. Oh! how precious, how lovely, how consoling is that light, which conducts the soul to Christ, her sovereign good! But then, generally speaking, it sheds its beams upon those only, who resolutely conquer every difficulty and opposition in their search after truth, and are quite in earnest to find Christ.
Conclude to imitate the wise men in their ready obedience to the divine call, in their diligence in seeking Christ, and in their faithful perseverance; and you will undoubtedly arrive at the object of your pious inquiries, your sovereign and eternal good.
JANUARY 7.
The Wise Men's journey to Bethlehem.
CONSIDER, first, that the wise men, immediately upon the apparition of the star, set out to seek their Saviour whom it denoted, in Judea. For by an ancient tradition, and by the prophecy of Balaam, (Numbers xxiv. 17,) they understood that was the place of his nativity. Wherefore, going to Jerusalem, where it was most likely they should hear news concerning him, they inquire, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and we are come to adore him," (Matthew ii. 2. ) But as the kingdom of Christ was not of this world, and was to be established upon the ruins of worldly pride, and of all the pomps of Satan, he chose for his birth the humble stable of Bethlehem, before all the stately palaces of Jerusalem, as more agreeable to his kingdom, the kingdom of humility and of truth. Happy those souls whose eyes are ever open to this heavenly truth, and shut to the vanities of the world. For thus do they become themselves the kingdom of Christ, even that kingdom in which he shall reign for ever!
Consider, secondly, how Herod was troubled on hearing of the birth of this new king; and so was all Jerusalem with him. How much more happy was the dispositions of the wise men, who desired, at all events, to find Christ, and gladly embraced the directions of those, who, by their office, were qualified to point him out. to them? But, alas! how miserable were those priests and scribes, who, directing the wise men to our Saviour, took no pains to seek him themselves! See this never be your case.
Consider, thirdly, that, upon leaving Jerusalem, the star again appeared to the wise men, and conducted them to Bethlehem, and to the place where our Saviour lay. They were filled with exceeding great joy; and, going in, they found him whom their souls desired, and humbly adored their infant Lord. Oh! how precious, how lovely, how consoling is that light, which conducts the soul to Christ, her sovereign good! But then, generally speaking, it sheds its beams upon those only, who resolutely conquer every difficulty and opposition in their search after truth, and are quite in earnest to find Christ.
Conclude to imitate the wise men in their ready obedience to the divine call, in their diligence in seeking Christ, and in their faithful perseverance; and you will undoubtedly arrive at the object of your pious inquiries, your sovereign and eternal good.
From Challoner's Meditations:
FEBRUARY 8.
On doing penance for our sins.
CONSIDER, first, that sentence of our Lord, "except you do penance, you shall all perish," (Luke xiii. 5.) The virtue of penance always was and ever will be absolutely necessary for every soul that has at any time in life fallen from God by wilful sin. There is no medium; either penance or hell fire must be our choice. Hence the prophets in the old Testament, and all apostolical preachers in the New, continually enforce the necessity of penance. St. John the Baptist endeavored to prepare the people for the coining of Christ by the same method, (Matth. iii. ) Thus also did our Lord himself open his mission, (Matth. iv. )
Consider, secondly, that we cannot be true converts without hating and detesting our sins above all evils, because they offend our God who is infinitely good. Hence there naturally flows in all true penitents a sincere and effectual desire, of making him due satisfaction, according to their weak abilities, chastising their sinful flesh: it was the occasion of their fall, and is still continually waging war against the spirit, unless brought into subjection by penitential exercises.
Consider, thirdly, how the holy scriptures frequently put us in mind of "turning to God with fasting, weeping and mourning;" of "doing penance in sackcloth and ashes," &c. Numberless instances are there mentioned, of the divine mercy obtained by these means accompanied with a contrite spirit. Nor can any pretended assurance of the pardon of our sins exempt us from doing penance; since notwithstanding the prophet had certified David on the part of God himself, that "the Lord had taken away his sin, (2 Sam. xii. 13,) he mingled ashes with his bread, and tears with his drink, and every night lamented bitterly his fall.
Conclude to imitate this royal penitent as far as you are able; and make the best atonement you can, by fervent acts of repentance.
FEBRUARY 8.
On doing penance for our sins.
CONSIDER, first, that sentence of our Lord, "except you do penance, you shall all perish," (Luke xiii. 5.) The virtue of penance always was and ever will be absolutely necessary for every soul that has at any time in life fallen from God by wilful sin. There is no medium; either penance or hell fire must be our choice. Hence the prophets in the old Testament, and all apostolical preachers in the New, continually enforce the necessity of penance. St. John the Baptist endeavored to prepare the people for the coining of Christ by the same method, (Matth. iii. ) Thus also did our Lord himself open his mission, (Matth. iv. )
Consider, secondly, that we cannot be true converts without hating and detesting our sins above all evils, because they offend our God who is infinitely good. Hence there naturally flows in all true penitents a sincere and effectual desire, of making him due satisfaction, according to their weak abilities, chastising their sinful flesh: it was the occasion of their fall, and is still continually waging war against the spirit, unless brought into subjection by penitential exercises.
Consider, thirdly, how the holy scriptures frequently put us in mind of "turning to God with fasting, weeping and mourning;" of "doing penance in sackcloth and ashes," &c. Numberless instances are there mentioned, of the divine mercy obtained by these means accompanied with a contrite spirit. Nor can any pretended assurance of the pardon of our sins exempt us from doing penance; since notwithstanding the prophet had certified David on the part of God himself, that "the Lord had taken away his sin, (2 Sam. xii. 13,) he mingled ashes with his bread, and tears with his drink, and every night lamented bitterly his fall.
Conclude to imitate this royal penitent as far as you are able; and make the best atonement you can, by fervent acts of repentance.
Antipope John Paul II's heresy of "Orthodox churches are saved, brother and sister churches", Nov. 29, 2003, to Orthodox heretic and Schismatic Patriarch Bartholomew I:
"Subsequently, through God’s grace, Rome and Constantinople set out on the same path and, before the Council assembly, formally lifted the excommunications of 1054. We will soon be celebrating the 40th anniversary of this event, the symbol and guarantee of our commitment and resolutions.” (L’Osservatore Romano, Jan. 7, 2004, p. 5.)
In other words: In the year 1054, the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius, the "Orthodox leader/founder", broke communion with the Catholic Church and the Pope of Rome. Cerularius rejected the supreme authority of the Pope, church dogma, closed Roman Rite churches [Latin Mass] in Constantinople and declared the Roman Rite of Mass invalid because it implemented unleavened instead of leavened bread [notice how the Vatican II sect imitated the heretic by doing a similar thing to the Tradition Latin Mass to implement their own "rite" in 1968--Norvus Ordo]. Cerularius, Orthodox heretic and all Orthodox false Christians were promptly excommunicated by Pope St. Leo IX and the Great Schism of the East was formalized.
Anti-pope John Paul II celebrates the "feast day" of the invalid lifting of excommunications on those who rejected the Catholic Church, destroyed Latin Mass churches and trod even the Holy Eucharist underfoot, declaring it to be "invalid" [Let this enlighten the reader to understand the reason as to why God sent the Turks shortly after this to slaughter the Orthodox and Armenians [false-Christians].
The excommunications were uplifted by Anti-pope Paul VI at Vatican II. But John Paul II [as we can see above] is not only praising the “lifting” of these excommunications, but he actually commeerated the anniversary of the “lifting” the 1054 excommunications by Paul VI [the Vatican II apostasy]. And to add to all of this, the Vatican II heretics and eastern Maronites, church people and priests, not only approved of these things by swearing allegiance to the Vatican II sect but gave themselves over to inter-faith marriages with the Orthodox, which was also condemned by the Church.
This means that Antipope John Paul II “overturned” the Papacy as a dogma which must be believed under pain of heresy and excommunication. This is formal heresy. John Paul II scratched his head at the time, wondering why true Catholics left his counter church, as true Catholics refuse to listen to the current invalid and illicit bishops and popes and are leaving today, not knowing the words of the Scripture: "My sheep will never listen to the voice of a stranger" [Jn 10:5] The flock of Christ cannot be flattered by an anti-christ and flatterous doctrines, nor by priest or bishop. It doesn't matter what kind of unity with heretics and permission of sexual immorality [NFP] and of suicide [murder] you preach to them, they will never listen to the voice of a false priest, bishop and 'pope' because their hearts are with Christ, set on His commandments, therefore they will automatically flee as soon as a teacher preaches a commandment contrary to their Shepherd and the Bride. A church father [Clement of Alexandria] once said that it is necessary for such heresies to arise in the Church so that the wheat may be divided from the chaff, or so that those who are true and fruitful may be separated and saved from the lukewarm heretical flock, who were never living holy lives to begin with, through tribulation and testing.
Visit: TrueOrFalsePopes.com
"Subsequently, through God’s grace, Rome and Constantinople set out on the same path and, before the Council assembly, formally lifted the excommunications of 1054. We will soon be celebrating the 40th anniversary of this event, the symbol and guarantee of our commitment and resolutions.” (L’Osservatore Romano, Jan. 7, 2004, p. 5.)
In other words: In the year 1054, the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius, the "Orthodox leader/founder", broke communion with the Catholic Church and the Pope of Rome. Cerularius rejected the supreme authority of the Pope, church dogma, closed Roman Rite churches [Latin Mass] in Constantinople and declared the Roman Rite of Mass invalid because it implemented unleavened instead of leavened bread [notice how the Vatican II sect imitated the heretic by doing a similar thing to the Tradition Latin Mass to implement their own "rite" in 1968--Norvus Ordo]. Cerularius, Orthodox heretic and all Orthodox false Christians were promptly excommunicated by Pope St. Leo IX and the Great Schism of the East was formalized.
Anti-pope John Paul II celebrates the "feast day" of the invalid lifting of excommunications on those who rejected the Catholic Church, destroyed Latin Mass churches and trod even the Holy Eucharist underfoot, declaring it to be "invalid" [Let this enlighten the reader to understand the reason as to why God sent the Turks shortly after this to slaughter the Orthodox and Armenians [false-Christians].
The excommunications were uplifted by Anti-pope Paul VI at Vatican II. But John Paul II [as we can see above] is not only praising the “lifting” of these excommunications, but he actually commeerated the anniversary of the “lifting” the 1054 excommunications by Paul VI [the Vatican II apostasy]. And to add to all of this, the Vatican II heretics and eastern Maronites, church people and priests, not only approved of these things by swearing allegiance to the Vatican II sect but gave themselves over to inter-faith marriages with the Orthodox, which was also condemned by the Church.
This means that Antipope John Paul II “overturned” the Papacy as a dogma which must be believed under pain of heresy and excommunication. This is formal heresy. John Paul II scratched his head at the time, wondering why true Catholics left his counter church, as true Catholics refuse to listen to the current invalid and illicit bishops and popes and are leaving today, not knowing the words of the Scripture: "My sheep will never listen to the voice of a stranger" [Jn 10:5] The flock of Christ cannot be flattered by an anti-christ and flatterous doctrines, nor by priest or bishop. It doesn't matter what kind of unity with heretics and permission of sexual immorality [NFP] and of suicide [murder] you preach to them, they will never listen to the voice of a false priest, bishop and 'pope' because their hearts are with Christ, set on His commandments, therefore they will automatically flee as soon as a teacher preaches a commandment contrary to their Shepherd and the Bride. A church father [Clement of Alexandria] once said that it is necessary for such heresies to arise in the Church so that the wheat may be divided from the chaff, or so that those who are true and fruitful may be separated and saved from the lukewarm heretical flock, who were never living holy lives to begin with, through tribulation and testing.
Visit: TrueOrFalsePopes.com