INVITATORY
Lord, + open my lips.
– And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Ant. The holy virgins praise their Lord and King; come, let us join in their worship.
Or: Come, let us worship the Lamb with the virgins who followed him.
Psalm 95
A call to praise God
Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).
Come, let us sing to the Lord *
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.
Ant. The holy virgins praise their Lord and King; come, let us join in their worship.
Or: Come, let us worship the Lamb with the virgins who followed him.
The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.
Ant. The holy virgins praise their Lord and King; come, let us join in their worship.
Or: Come, let us worship the Lamb with the virgins who followed him.
Come, then, let us bow down and worship, *
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
the flock he shepherds.
Ant. The holy virgins praise their Lord and King; come, let us join in their worship.
Or: Come, let us worship the Lamb with the virgins who followed him.
Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: †
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.
Ant. The holy virgins praise their Lord and King; come, let us join in their worship.
Or: Come, let us worship the Lamb with the virgins who followed him.
Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.”
Ant. The holy virgins praise their Lord and King; come, let us join in their worship.
Or: Come, let us worship the Lamb with the virgins who followed him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. The holy virgins praise their Lord and King; come, let us join in their worship.
Or: Come, let us worship the Lamb with the virgins who followed him.
OFFICE OF READINGS
HYMN
Let us with joy our voices raise
In that heroic woman’s praise,
Whose courage, strength and holy fame
Have given her an honored name.
O Strength of all the strong, God’s Son,
Thru whom alone great deeds are done,
By your great strength and thru her prayer
May we bear witness ev’rywhere.
Praise God the Father and the Son
And the Holy Spirit, Three in One,
Who gave this noble woman grace
A life of virtue to embrace.
Ant. 1 Her mouth uttered words of wisdom; her tongue
spoke words of compassion.
Psalm 19A
Praise of the Lord, Creator of all
The heavens proclaim the glory of God
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto night makes known the message.
No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the earth,
their words to the utmost of the world.
There he has placed a tent for the sun;
it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent,
rejoices like a champion to run its course.
At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun;
to the furthest end of the sky is its course.
There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Her mouth uttered words of wisdom; her tongue
spoke words of compassion.
Psalm-prayer
To enlighten the word, Father, you sent to us Word as the sun of truth and justice shining upon mankind. Illumine our eyes that we may discern your glory in the many works of your hand.
Ant. 2 Trusting themselves to God, these holy women
sang his praises with heartfelt love.
Psalm 45
The marriage of the king
My heart overflows with noble words.
To the king I must speak the song I have made;
my tongue as nimble as the pen of a scribe.
You are the fairest of the children of men
and graciousness is pored upon your lips:
because God has blessed you for evermore.
O mighty one, gird your sword upon your thigh;
in splendor and state, ride on in triumph
for the cause of truth and goodness and right.
Take aim with your bow in your dread right hand.
Your arrows are sharp: peoples fall beneath you.
The foes of the king fall down and lose heart.
Your throne, O God, shall endure for ever.
A scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom.
Your love is for justice; your hatred for evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above other kings;
your robes are fragrant with aloes and myrrh.
From the ivory palace you are greeted with music.
The daughters of kings are among your loved ones.
On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Trusting themselves to God, these holy women
sang his praises with heartfelt love.
Ant. 3 Singing for joy, they are brought into the King’s presence.
II
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:
forget your own people and your father’s house.
So will the king desire your beauty:
he is your lord, pay homage to him.
And the people of Tyre shall come with gifts,
the richest of the people shall seek your favor.
The daughter of the king is clothed with splendor,
her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold.
She is led to the king with her maiden companions.
They are escorted amid gladness and joy;
they pass within the palace of the king.
Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers:
you will make them princes over all the earth.
May this song make your name for ever remembered.
May the peoples praise you from age to age.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Singing for joy, they are brought into the King’s presence.
R/. The thoughts of my heart are always before you, O Lord.
—You are my help and my redeemer.
FIRST READING
From the first letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians 7:25-40
Christian chastity
With respect to virgins, I have not received any commandment from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who is trustworthy, thanks to the Lord’s mercy. It is this: In the present time of stress it seems good to me for a person to continue as he is.
Are you bound to a wife? Then do not seek your freedom. Are you free of a wife? If so, do not go in search of one. Should you marry, however, you will not be committing sin. Neither does a virgin commit a sin if she marries. But such people will have trials in this life, and these I should like to spare you.
I tell you, brothers, the time is short. From now on those with wives should live as though they had none; those who weep should live as though they were not weeping, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing; buyers should conduct themselves as though they owned nothing, and those who make use of the world as though they were not using it, for the world as we know it is passing away.
I should like you to be free of all worries. The unmarried man is busy with the Lord’s affairs, concerned with pleasing the Lord; but the married man is busy with this world’s demands and occupied with pleasing his wife. This means he is divided. The virgin—indeed, and any unmarried woman—is concerned with things of the Lord, in pursuit of holiness in body and spirit. The married woman, on the other hand, has the cares of this world to absorb her and is concerned with pleasing her husband. I am going into this with you for your own good. I have no desire to place restrictions on you, but I do want to promote what is good, what will help you to devote yourselves entirely to the Lord.
If anyone thinks he is behaving dishonorably toward his virgin because a critical moment has come and it seems that something should be done, let him do as he wishes. He commits no sin if there is a marriage. The man, however, who stands firm in his resolve, who while without constraint and free to carry out his will makes up his mind to keep his virgin, also acts rightly. To sum up: the man who marries his virgin acts fittingly; the one who does not, will do better.
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies she is free to marry, but on one condition, that it be in the Lord. She will be happier, though, in my opinion, if she stays unmarried. I am persuaded that in this I have the Spirit of God.
RESPONSORY
R/. The King has desired your beauty, which he himself has given you; * Your God and King has become your spouse.
V/. He has provided for you and adorned you; he has redeemed you and made you holy. Now you are wedded to your King and your God. * Your God and King has become your spouse.
SECOND READING
From EXHORTATIONS of Blessed Alphonse Marie Eppinger
(About Caring for the Sick; Positio super vita, virtutibus et fama sanctitatis, pp. 420 - 422)
See God alone in everything, always and everywhere.
Sisters, our vocation calls us to the sick. Let us go zealously to their bed of pain with intention of assisting body and soul. Their spiritual misery is often greater that the physical illness. Ask God daily for strength in the fulfillment of such obligation free of human respect. Rich or poor, respected or unknown—what difference does it make for us? Let others think of us what they will; let us always assist the sick person. Talk to the sick of God and His love. It is a question of the salvation of a soul. Some of the sick will not want to hear you speak about religion. Even their relatives will forbid you to say anything about it. They will observe you closely to make sure that you do not act contrary to their commands.
Sisters, remember that it is necessary to unite the wisdom of the serpent with the simplicity of the dove. Choose the moment wisely without being offensive.
Watch and pray! The hour of grace will come. God, the Holy Spirit will put the proper words into your hearts and on your lips. God will bless what you say in His name. The sick will listen and think about it. The sick themselves will make you suffer, too. You will be spared neither their impoliteness nor their rudeness. There will be many who expect only nursing, not to speak about faith. They will make you feel that the condition of their souls is not your business.
Sisters, accept this rejection following the example of the Apostles who rejoiced to be found worthy to suffer shame for Jesus’ name. In silence lays your strength. Be friendly and respect human dignity of the sick, say a few words to him that will touch his heart. Then, through you they can feel God’s love.
Sisters, the sick will test your patience and torment you with all kind of demands. They will complain about you; you will be not able to do anything right for them. Maintain your peace of soul and repress the indignation of your nature. God is with you. Pray for the conversion of sinners and recommend them especially to the Mother of God. God will answer your prayers.
RESPONSORY Mt 25:35. 40; Prv 19:17
R/. I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, ill and you cared for me. * Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.
V/. He who has compassion on the poor lends to the Lord. * Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.
TE DEUM
PRAYER
God, the Father of mercy, you gave Blessed Alphonse Marie the strength to participate in the work of the Redemption through serving those who suffer. Grant us the grace that through her intercession we may be transformed by the love of Christ the Redeemer and our lives may be a witness of your great love before all people. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
Spirituality
Saint of the Day
We Remember
December
Merciful Jesus, grant them eternal rest.
| 1 | Sister M. Martha Berdar 1985 |
| 6 | Sister M. Sabina Horvath 1962 |
| 11 | Sister M. Lucretia Seif 2002 |
| 16 | Sister M. Colombiere Hofstetter 2012 |
| 20 | Sister M. Catherine Kocsak 1995 |
| 22 | Sister M. Perpetua Takacs 1987 |
| 25 | Sister M. Fidelis Biro 1997 |
| 29 | Sister M. Imelda Siebert 1986 |
Mass Schedule:
7:30 AMMonday:
7:30 AMTuesday:
7:30 AMWednesday:
7:30 AMThursday:
7:30 AMFriday:
8:00 AMSaturday:
8:00 AMSunday:
8:00 AMHolidays:
Holy Hour - Adoration:
Thursday before First Friday: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Thursday before First Friday: 7:00 - 8:00 PM