Dominica in Sexagesima: "Semen est verbum Dei. The seed is the word of God."

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Sun, 3/8/26:

Today is Sexagesima Sunday under the 1954 (semi-double Sunday of the II class) and 1962 (II class Sunday) rubrics.

Mass: Proper Mass. Violet. Omit Gloria. Gradual/Tract. Credo. Preface of the Most Holy Trinity. Benedicamus (1954)/Ite (1962). Under 1954, commemoration of St John de Matha, C amd a Cunctis for the Saints. No commemorations under 1962.

Office: Sunday office. Violet. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1954)/1 nocturn of 3 lessons (1962; I & II from occurring Scripture as in the 1st nocturn of the old Breviary [II = II & III combined]; III = lesson VII of the old Breviary). Omit Te Deum. Psalms and antiphons of Sunday (Lauds = schema II). All else from the Sunday office per annum. Proper Benedictus antiphon. Collect of the Sunday. Under 1954, commemoration of St. Peter Damian at Lauds. No commemorations under 1962. Omit suffrage (1954). At Prime, under 1954, psalms 92, 99, 118.1, and 118.2; under 1962, psalms 53, 118.1, and 118.2.

"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." (Luke 8, 4-15)

To welcome the seed of the Word is to welcome the Kingdom.

"This Kingdom shines out before men in the word, in the works and in the presence of Christ." To welcome Jesus' word is to welcome "the Kingdom itself." The seed and beginning of the Kingdom are the "little flock" of those whom Jesus came to gather around him, the flock whose shepherd he is. They form Jesus' true family. To those whom he thus gathered around him, he taught a new "way of acting" and a prayer of their own." (CCC 764)

Indeed, to welcome the Word is to welcome Jesus Christ Who is the Kingdom present among us.

 

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Introitus
Ps 43:23-26
Exsúrge, quare obdórmis, Dómine? exsúrge, et ne repéllas in finem: quare fáciem tuam avértis, oblivísceris tribulatiónem nostram? adhæsit in terra venter noster: exsúrge, Dómine, ádjuva nos, et líbera nos.
Ps 43:2
Deus, áuribus nostris audívimus: patres nostri annuntiavérunt nobis.
V. Glória Patri, ...

Collect

℣. The Lord be with you.

℟. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O God, You Who see that we put no trust in anything we do, mercifully grant that by the protection of the Doctor of the Gentiles we may be defended against all adversity.

Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
Commemoration St. John of Matha, Confessor
O God, Who graciously and by divine means founded through blessed John, the Order of the Most Holy Trinity to ransom captives from the hands of the Saracens, grant, we beseech You, that through Your help and the merits of his prayers we may be freed body and soul from captivity.

Collect of the Saints
From all perils of soul and body defend us, O Lord, we beseech thee, and by the intercession of blessed and gloriosus ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and of blessed N. and all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace that all adversities and errors being overcome, thy Church may serve thee in security and freedom.
Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

From the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 8:4-15
At that time: When much people were gathered together, and were come to Jesus out of every city, he spake by a parable. A sower went out to sow his seed. And so on, and that which followeth.

Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great.
15th on the Gospels
Dearly beloved brethren, the passage from the Holy Gospel which ye have just heard, needeth not so much that I should explain it, as that I should seek to enforce its lesson. The Truth Himself hath explained it, and, after that, it beseemeth not man's frailty to fritter away His exposition by any further comment. But there is, in that very explanation by the Lord, somewhat, which it behoveth us well to weigh. If it were but we who bade you believe that by the seed is signified the word; by the field, the world; by the birds, the devils; and by the thorns, riches ye would perchance doubt of the truth of our explanation. Therefore the Lord Himself hath vouchsafed to give this explanation, and that, not for this parable only, but that ye may know in what manner to interpret others, whereof He hath not given the meaning.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O almighty God, grant, we humbly beseech You, that those whom You refresh with Your sacrament may also worthily serve You in a way that is well pleasing to You.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Let us pray.

Commemoration St. John of Matha, Confessor
Refreshed with heavenly food and drink, we humbly pray You, our God, that we also may be helped by his prayers in memory of whom we have partaken of these gifts.

Of the Saints
May the offering of this divine Sacrament cleanse and protect us, O Lord we beseech thee, and by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of blessed N. and all the Saints, may it purify us from all sin, and free us from all adversity.
Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

S. Romualdi Abbatis ~ Duplex

Tempora: Sabbato infra Hebdomadam Septuagesimæ

Sat, 2/7/26:

Today is the feast of St. Romuald, Ab (mtv), under the 1954 (double) and 1962 (III class) rubrics.

Mass: Os justi of an abbot. White. Gloria. Gradual/Alleluia. Omit Credo. Common Preface. Ite. No commemorations or additional prayer.

Office: Ordinary office. White. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1954)/1 nocturn of 3 lessons (1962; I & II = occurring Scripture [II = II & III combined], III = short hagiography). Te Deum. Psalms and antiphons of the feria. All else from the common of a confessor not a bishop. Collect Intercessio nos of an abbot. No commemorations at Lauds. Omit suffrage (1954). (Source: LB236 on Twitter/X.)

Introitus
Ps 36:30-31
Os justi meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua ejus loquétur judícium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsíus.
Ps 36:1
Noli æmulári in malignántibus: neque zeláveris faciéntes iniquitátem.
V. Glória Patri, ...

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May the intercession of the Blessed Abbot Romuald, commend us, we beseech You, O Lord, so that what we do not deserve by any merits of ours we may obtain by his patronage.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 19:27-29
In that time, Peter said to Jesus said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have? And so on.

Sermon of the Venerable Bede, Priest (at Jarrow)
Homily for St. Benedict's Birth-day
If thou wilt be perfect, saith Christ, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come and follow Me and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. Matth. xix. 21. Yea, treasure that passeth not away! Unto such saith Jesus, at the questioning of Peter Amen I say unto you, that ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. He taught them, which work for His Name's sake in this life, to look for their reward in another life that is, in the regeneration. In the regeneration! when we who have been born dying creatures into a dying life, shall in the resurrection be born again into an undying life.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May the pleading of the blessed Abbot Romuald for us, together with the partaking of Your sacrament, protect us, O Lord, so that we, mindful of his way of life, may obtain the help of his intercession.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

S. Titi Episcopi et Confessoris ~ Duplex

Tempora: Feria VI infra Hebdomadam Septuagesimæ

Fri, 2/6/25:

Today is the feast of St. Titus, B & C (mtv), under the 1954 (double) and 1962 (III class) rubrics.

Mass: Proper Mass. White. Gloria. Gradual/Tract. Omit Credo. Common Preface. Ite. Commemoration of St. Dorothy, V & M, at all Masses (1954)/conventual and low Mass only (1962).

Office: Ordinary office. White. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1954; IX = of St. Dorothy)/1 nocturn of 3 lessons (1962; I & II = occurring Scripture [II = II & III combined], III = short hagiography). Te Deum. Psalms and antiphons of the feria. All else from the common of a confessor bishop. Proper collect. At Lauds, commemoration of St. Dorothy. Omit suffrage (1954).

Introitus
Eccli 45:30
Státuit ei Dóminus testaméntum pacis, et príncipem fecit eum: ut sit illi sacerdótii dígnitas in ætérnum.
Ps 131:1.
Meménto, Dómine, David: et omnis mansuetúdinis ejus.
V. Glória Patri, ...

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, Who adorned blessed Titus, Your Confessor and Bishop, with the virtues of an apostle, grant, through his merits and intercession, that by living justly and piously in this world, we may be found worthy to enter heaven.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
Commemoration S. Dorothy virgin and martyr
May blessed Dorothy, Virgin and Martyr, who was ever pleasing to You by the merit of her chastity and by her trust in Your power, implore for us Your forgiveness, we beseech You, O Lord.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

From the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 10:1-9
At that time, the Lord appointed other seventy-two also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come. And so on.

Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great.
17th Homily on the Gospels
Dearly beloved brethren, our Lord and Saviour doth sometimes admonish us by words, and sometimes by works. Yea, His very works do themselves teach us for that which He doth silently His example still moveth us to copy. Behold how He sendeth forth His disciples to preach by two and two since there are two commandments to love, that is, a commandment to love God, and a commandment to love our neighbour and where there are not two, the one, being alone, hath not whereon to do the Lord's commandment. And no man can properly be said to love himself: for love tendeth outward toward our neighbour, if it be the love whereto the Gospel doth oblige us.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that as we thank You for the favors we have received, we may, by the intercession of blessed Titus, Your Confessor and Bishop, obtain still greater blessings.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Let us pray.
Commemoration S. Dorothy virgin and martyr
We who have been refreshed by the richness of Your divine sacrament beseech You, O Lord our God, that through the intercession of blessed Dorothy, Your Virgin and Martyr, we may forevermore abide in its participation.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

S. Agathæ Virginis et Martyris ~ Duplex

Tempora: Feria V infra Hebdomadam Septuagesimæ

Thurs, 2/5/25:

Today is the feast of St. Agatha, V & M, under the 1954 (double) and 1962 (III class) rubrics.

Mass: Proper Mass. Red. Gloria. Gradual/Tract. Omit Credo. Common Preface. Ite. No commemorations or additional prayers.

Office: Under 1954, proper office. Red. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1st nocturn = proper lessons and responsories). Te Deum. Proper psalms and antiphons at Matins. At Lauds, psalms of Sunday with proper antiphons. All else from the proper (proper chapter and Benedictus antiphon). Collect Deus qui inter cetera of a virgin martyr. No commemorations at Lauds. Omit suffrage. At Prime and the hours, psalms and antiphons of the feria. All else from the proper.

Introitus
Gaudeámus omnes in Dómino, diem festum celebrántes sub honóre beátæ Agathæ Vírginis et Martyris: de cujus passióne gaudent Angeli et colláudant Fílium Dei.
Ps 44:2
Eructávit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego ópera mea Regi.
V. Glória Patri, ...

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, Who among other wonders of Your power have given the victory of martyrdom even to the gentler sex, graciously grant that we who commemorate the anniversary of the death of blessed Agatha, Your Virgin and Martyr, may come to You by following her example.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 19:3-12
In that time, there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, and saying: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And so on.

Homily by St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople.
63th on Matthew.
Seeing that directly to exhort them unto virginity was well-nigh more than they could bear, our Lord seeketh to draw them to the desire thereof, taking occasion by the needfulness of a law against divorce. Then He showeth that virginity is possible, saying There are some eunuchs which were so born from their mother's womb; and there are some eunuchs which were made eunuchs of men; and there be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. In these words He persuadeth them indirectly to choose virginity, while He teacheth them that such a gift is not so good as to be impossible.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May the sacrament we have received, aid us, O Lord, and by the intercession of blessed Agatha, Your Virgin and Martyr, may it keep us forevermore under Your everlasting protection.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

S. Andreæ Corsini Episcopi et Confessoris ~ Duplex

Tempora: Feria IV infra Hebdomadam Septuagesimæ

Wed, 2/4/25

Today is the feast of St. Andrew Corsini, B & C (mtv), under the 1954 (double) and 1962 (III class) rubrics.

Mass: Statuit of a confessor bishop with proper collect. White. Gloria. Gradual/Tract. Omit Credo. Common Preface. Ite. No commemorations or additional prayers.

Office: Ordinary office. White. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1954)/1 nocturn of 3 lessons (1962; II = II & III of occurring Scripture combined, III = short hagiography). Te Deum. Psalms and antiphons of the feria. All else from the common of a confessor bishop. Proper collect. No commemorations at Lauds. Omit suffrage (1954).

Introitus
Eccli 45:30
Státuit ei Dóminus testaméntum pacis, et príncipem fecit eum: ut sit illi sacerdótii dígnitas in ætérnum.
Ps 131:1.
Meménto, Dómine, David: et omnis mansuetúdinis ejus.
V. Glória Patri,

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, Who establish ever new examples of virtue in Your Church, grant that Your people may follow the footsteps of blessed Andrew, Your Confessor and Bishop, so that they may also obtain his reward.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 25:14-23
At that time Jesus spake unto His disciples this parable A man, travelling into a far country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And so on.

Homily by Pope St Gregory the Great.
9th on the Gospels.
Dearly beloved brethren, this Lesson from the Holy Gospel moveth us to take good heed lest we, who are seen in this world to have received more than others, should thereby bring ourselves into greater condemnation from the Maker of this world. To whom much is given, of the same is much required. Therefore, let him that receiveth much, strive to be all the more lowly, and all the more ready to do God service, for his very gifts’ sake, knowing that he will be obliged to give account thereof. Behold, a man, travelling into a far country, calleth his own servants, and delivereth unto them talents, to the end that they may trade therewith. After a long time, the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them, and to them that have done well He rendereth a reward of their labours, but that servant which was careless of his master’s work He condemneth.

49

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that as we thank You for the favors we have received, we may, by the intercession of blessed Andrew, Your Confessor and Bishop, obtain still greater blessings.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.