I. Proper of Time
1. During Advent — Isaiah 33:2-3, 5-6
O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have waited for you; be our arm in the morning and our salvation in the time of tribulation. At the sound of the tumult the peoples fled; at your rising up the nations were scattered. The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he fills Zion with judgment and justice. And there shall be stability in your times; the riches of salvation are wisdom and knowledge: the fear of the Lord, this is his treasure.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
2. On the Nativity of the Lord — Romans 1:1-3, 5-6
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he had promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations for the sake of his name, among whom you also are called to belong to Jesus Christ our Lord.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
3. On the Nativity of the Lord and through the Octave — Hebrews 1:8-12
Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever, and the scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions. And: You, Lord, in the beginning founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They shall perish, but you remain; and they shall all grow old like a garment, and like a cloak you will roll them up, and like a garment they shall be changed. But you are the same, and your years shall not fail.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
4. December 26 — Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr — Acts 7:55-56, 59-60
When Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, gazing into heaven, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said: “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” And they stoned Stephen as he called out and said: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”; and when he had said this, he fell asleep.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
5. December 27 — Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist — Sirach 15:1-5
Whoever fears God will do this, and whoever holds fast to the law will obtain her; and she will come to meet him like an honored mother, and like a virgin bride she will receive him. She will feed him with the bread of life and understanding, and give him the water of saving wisdom to drink; and he shall be made firm in her and shall not be moved, and shall trust in her and not be put to shame; and she shall exalt him above his neighbors, and in the midst of the assembly she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
6. December 28 — Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs — Revelation 14:4-5; 22:14
These have been redeemed from among men as first fruits for God and the Lamb; and in their mouth no lie was found: for they are without blemish before the throne of God. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city through the gates.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
7. On the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity — Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph — Philippians 2:5-8
Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
8. On the Vigil of the Epiphany of the Lord — Galatians 4:4-7
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
9. On the Epiphany of the Lord — Isaiah 60:1, 3, 6
Arise, shine, O Jerusalem, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. And nations shall walk in your light, and kings in the brightness of your dawn. A flood of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
10. During Lent — Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he is generous in forgiving.
Or (Baruch 5:5-7):
Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand upon the height, and look toward the east, and behold your children gathered from the rising of the sun to its setting at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they went forth from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory as on a royal throne. For God has decreed that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
11. Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord and Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week — Isaiah 50:5-7
The Lord God has opened my ear, and I have not rebelled, I have not turned back. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; I did not hide my face from insults and spitting. The Lord God is my helper; therefore I have not been confounded, therefore I have set my face like the hardest stone, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
12. Holy Thursday, Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord, and Holy Saturday
The reading of the Martyrology is omitted.
13. Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord and through the Octave — Colossians 3:1-4
If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; set your minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
14. During Eastertide up to and including the Vigil of the Ascension of the Lord — 1 Corinthians 15:13-14, 16-17, 20
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised! And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is foolish, you are still in your sins. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Or (Acts 13:30-33):
God raised him from the dead; and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled for their children by raising up Jesus for us, as it is also written in the second Psalm: “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.”
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
15. On the Ascension of the Lord and the following days up to the Vigil of Pentecost — Acts 1:9-11
As they were looking on, Jesus was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood beside them in white robes, who also said: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
16. Pentecost Sunday — Acts 2:2-4
Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting upon each one of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
17. Sunday after Pentecost — The Most Holy Trinity — 1 John 5:5-8
Who is it that overcomes the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that bear witness: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three are in agreement.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
18. Thursday or Sunday after the Most Holy Trinity — The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ — 1 Corinthians 11:26-27
As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
19. Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost — The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus — Ephesians 3:14, 16-19
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell through faith in your hearts; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the Saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
20. The Last Sunday in Ordinary Time — Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe — Cf. Colossians 1:16-20
All things were created through him and for him, and he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the Church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent, for in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things to himself, making peace by the blood of his cross, whether things on earth or things in heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
21. On Sundays and Weekdays in Ordinary Time — 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17; 3:5
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by our word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. And may the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the patience of Christ.
Or (Romans 11:16-18):
If the first fruits are holy, so is the whole lump; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast over the branches; but if you do boast, remember that it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
Or (Sirach 44:2, 13-15):
The Lord apportioned great glory, his majesty from the beginning. Their offspring will remain for ever, and their glory will not be blotted out. Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives on from generation to generation; the peoples will declare their wisdom, and the assembly will proclaim their praise.
Or (James 5:7-11):
Be patient also yourselves, and strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call blessed those who have endured; you have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, for the Lord is merciful and compassionate.
Or (1 Thessalonians 2:9-12):
You remember, brothers, our labor and toil; working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you who believed; for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Or (Wisdom 18:1-3):
But for your holy ones there was very great light; and those others heard their voice but did not see their form, and counted them blessed because they had not suffered the same things; and because, though previously wronged, they did them no harm, they gave thanks, and begged forgiveness for their former enmity. Therefore you provided a flaming pillar of fire as a guide for the unknown way, and a harmless sun for their glorious journey.
Or (Sirach 34:14-20):
The spirit of those who fear the Lord shall live, for in his regard they shall be blessed. Their hope is in him who saves them, and the eyes of God are upon those who love him. Whoever fears the Lord will not tremble and will not be dismayed, for he himself is their hope. Blessed is the soul of the one who fears the Lord. To whom does he look? And who is his strength? The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him: he is a mighty protection, a firm support, a shelter from the heat and a shade from the noonday sun, a guard against stumbling and a help against falling; he lifts up the soul and enlightens the eyes, giving health and life and blessing.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
II. Proper of Saints
22. January 3 — The Most Holy Name of Jesus — Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God; and whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
23. January 25 — The Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle — Acts 9:19-22
He stayed for some days with the disciples who were at Damascus, and immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. And all who heard him were amazed and said: “Is not this the man who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called upon this name, and who had come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
24. February 2 — The Presentation of the Lord — Exodus 13:2, 13
Consecrate to me every firstborn that opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: for they are all mine. And every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem with a price.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
25. March 19 — The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Wisdom 10:9-12
Wisdom delivered from troubles those who served her. When a righteous man fled from his brother’s wrath, she guided him along straight paths, and showed him the kingdom of God, and gave him knowledge of holy things; she prospered him in his labors and brought his toils to fulfillment. When those who oppressed him were covetous, she stood by him and made him rich. She protected him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those who lay in wait; and after a hard contest she gave him the prize, that he might know that godliness is more powerful than all.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
26. March 25 — The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord — Isaiah 11:1-3
A shoot shall come forth from the stock of Jesse, and a flower shall rise from his root; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
27. June 24 — The Birth of Saint John the Baptist — Isaiah 49:7
Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to one despised in soul, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: Kings shall see and shall arise, princes also, and they shall bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
28. June 29 — The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles — Acts 12:5-7
Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Church without ceasing. And when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the cell; and striking Peter on the side, he woke him, saying: “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off his hands.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
29. August 6 — The Transfiguration of the Lord — Revelation 21:10-11, 23
He carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God; its light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it; for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
30. August 15 — The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Judith 15:9-10
You are the exaltation of Jerusalem, you are the great glory of Israel, you are the great pride of our nation! You have done all this by your hand, you have done good things for Israel, and God is well pleased with them. Blessed are you, O woman, by almighty God for evermore. And all the people said: “So be it! So be it!”
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
31. September 8 — The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Genesis 17:16, 19
I will bless her, and from her also I will give you a son. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come forth from her. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant, and with his offspring after him.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
32. September 14 — The Exaltation of the Holy Cross — Philippians 2:8-11
Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess: Jesus Christ is Lord!, to the glory of God the Father.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
33. September 15 — The Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Sorrows — Lamentations 2:18; 3:19-23
Let your heart cry to the Lord upon the walls of the daughter of Zion; let your tears run down like a torrent day and night. Give yourself no rest, nor let the apple of your eye be still. Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall. My soul remembers them well and is bowed down within me. This I call to mind, therefore I will hope. It is the mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
34. September 29 — The Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels — Revelation 12:7-10
And there was a battle in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. And the dragon fought, and his angels, but he did not prevail, nor was any place found for them any longer in heaven. And that great dragon was thrown down, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accused them before our God day and night.”
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
35. November 1 — The Solemnity of All Saints — Revelation 7:12, 14-15
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever. Amen. These are they who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will dwell among them.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
36. December 8 — The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Revelation 12:1, 5-6
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And she brought forth a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they might nourish her for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
III. Commons
37. On the Dedication of a Church and Its Anniversary — Revelation 21:4-5
God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away. And he who sat upon the throne said: “Behold, I make all things new.” And he said: “Write this: These words are faithful and true.”
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
38. In Celebrations of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Judith 13:18-19
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God above all women on earth. And blessed be the Lord our God, who created heaven and earth, who guided you to strike the head of the leader of our enemies. For your praise shall not depart from the hearts of those who remember the power of God for evermore.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
39. In Celebrations of the Holy Apostles and Evangelists outside Eastertide — Romans 10:14, 17
How are they to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone to preach? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
40. In Celebrations of the Holy Apostles and Evangelists during Eastertide — Acts 5:41-42
They left the presence of the council rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name; and every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and proclaiming Christ Jesus.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
41. In Celebrations of Several Holy Martyrs outside Eastertide — Wisdom 3:7-9
The righteous will shine, and will run about like sparks through the stubble; they will judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever. Those who trust in him will understand the truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, for grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
42. In Celebrations of Several Holy Virgin Martyrs outside Eastertide — 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
43. In Celebrations of One Holy Martyr outside Eastertide — Sirach 39:6-8
The righteous man will set his heart to rise early to seek the Lord who made him, and will make supplication before the Most High. He will open his mouth in prayer and will make supplication for his sins. If the great Lord is willing, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
44. In Celebrations of One Holy Woman Martyr outside Eastertide — Sirach 51:8-9, 11-12
My soul drew near to death, and my life was near to the realm of the dead below. Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your work from of old, that you deliver those who wait for you, O Lord, and free them from the hand of the wicked.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
45. In Celebrations of One Holy Virgin Martyr outside Eastertide — Sirach 51:13-14
I lifted up my supplication from the earth, and prayed against the death that was overtaking me. I called upon the Lord: You are my Father; do not forsake me in the day of my tribulation, and in the time of the proud, when there is no help.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
46. In Celebrations of Several Holy Martyrs during Eastertide — 2 Corinthians 4:11, 13-14
We who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Having the same spirit of faith, as it is written: “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us into his presence together with you.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
47. In Celebrations of One Holy Martyr during Eastertide — Romans 8:28-29
We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
48. In Celebrations of Several Holy Women Martyrs during Eastertide — Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
49. In Celebrations of One Holy Woman Martyr during Eastertide — Sirach 51:5-9, 11-12
My soul drew near to death, and my life was near to the realm of the dead below. Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your work from of old, that you deliver those who wait for you, O Lord, and free them from the hand of the wicked.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
50. In Celebrations of Several Holy Pastors — Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account, so that they may do this with joy and not with groaning: for this would be of no advantage to you.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
51. In Celebrations of One Holy Pastor — Sirach 45:19-21
It became for him an everlasting covenant, and for his offspring like the days of heaven: to minister to him and to serve as priest and to bless his people in his name. He chose him out of all the living to offer sacrifice to God, incense and fat, and to burn a pleasing fragrance as a memorial, and to make atonement for his people. And he gave him authority in his commandments, in the covenants of judgments: to teach Jacob the testimonies and to give Israel light in his law.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
52. In Celebrations of Doctors of the Church — Sirach 39:1-3
He who devotes his soul to the fear of God and meditates on the law of the Most High will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients and will be occupied with the prophecies. He will preserve the discourse of famous men and will penetrate into the subtleties of parables. He will search out the hidden meaning of proverbs and be conversant with the obscurities of parables.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
53. In Celebrations of Several Saints — Sirach 2:11-13
Consider, my children, the generations of old, and see: who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? Or who ever persevered in his commandments and was forsaken? Or who ever called upon him and was despised by him? For the Lord is kind and merciful, and he forgives sins in the day of tribulation, and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
54. In Celebrations of One Saint — Sirach 2:18-20
Those who fear the Lord will not disbelieve his word; and those who love him will keep his ways. Those who fear the Lord will seek what is pleasing to him; and those who love him will be filled with his law. Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts and will sanctify their souls in his sight.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
55. In Celebrations of Several Holy Virgins — 1 Corinthians 7:34-35
The unmarried woman and the virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and in spirit. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote what is honorable and to secure your undistracted devotion to the Lord.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
56. In Celebrations of One Holy Virgin — Wisdom 4:1-2
Better is childlessness with virtue, for in its memory is immortality, because it is known both by God and by men. When it is present, people imitate it, and they long for it when it has gone; and throughout all time it marches crowned in triumph, victorious in the contest for prizes that are undefiled.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
57. In Celebrations of Several Holy Women — 1 Timothy 5:5-7
She who is truly a widow and left all alone has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day; but she who lives in self-indulgence is dead even while she lives. Command this also, so that they may be without reproach.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
58. In Celebrations of One Holy Woman — Proverbs 31:29-31
Many daughters have done valiantly, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
The word of the Lord. ℟. Thanks be to God.
Conclusion of the Reading
At the end of the celebration in which the Martyrology is read, the priest, after the reading, with hands joined, without saying “Let us pray,” and with all responding “Amen,” may say at will this formula:
May holy Mary and all the Saints intercede for us before the Lord, that we may be worthy to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Or he may say at will one of the following prayers:
- Hear, O Lord, your people who entreat you under the patronage of your Saints, that you may grant us to enjoy the peace of this present life and to find the help of life eternal. Through Christ our Lord.
- May the company of your Saints, our brethren, gladden us, O Lord, both offering our faith incitements to virtue and consoling us by their manifold intercession. Through Christ our Lord.
- Grant us, we beseech you, O Lord, that as we keep the memory of your Saints we may rejoice in their perpetual protection. Through Christ our Lord.
- O Lord our God, multiply your grace upon us, and grant that we may follow in holy profession to victory those whose glorious struggles we celebrate. Through Christ our Lord.
- We bless your mercies, O Lord, you who unceasingly allow us to be cherished by the commemoration of your Saints, humbly praying that we may feel the patronage of those whose memory we keep. Through Christ our Lord.
- Let your peace, O Lord, steal into our hearts, and you who have received your Saints into the heavenly court, command that to us also, by the support of their merits, you may grant for ever the race of charity. Through Christ our Lord.
- Almighty, ever-living God, who among your countless benefits chiefly console us by the examples of your Saints, grant, we beseech you, that the blessed remembrance of them may both spur us on to the practices of heavenly work and that the worthy prayer of the righteous may lead us there. Through Christ our Lord.
- O God, who both gladden us by the memory of your Saints and rouse us to progress by imitating them, grant that we may follow by the example of a holy way of life those whom we venerate with devotion. Through Christ our Lord.
- Surround your faithful, O Lord, with your heavenly visitation, and pour into their minds the dew of your blessing, that, sustained by the prayers of the Saints, they may render back your grace of perfection. Through Christ our Lord.
- Grant us, almighty God, ever to praise you in the commemoration of your Saints, for you will surely cherish those whom you have allowed to persevere in your honor. Through Christ our Lord.
- Grant your servants, O Lord, an abundance of protection and grace, and, by the intercession of your Saints, give health of mind and body, give increase of unceasing holiness, and make us ever devoted to you. Through Christ our Lord.
- Be present, O Lord, to your people, who proclaim you wonderful in your Saints, and to those who trust in your mercy bestow the help of your bounty. Through Christ our Lord.
- Be gracious, we beseech you, O Lord, to your people who strive to cling to the footsteps of your Saints, that, from day to day, rejecting what does not please you, they may rather be filled with love of your commandments. Through Christ our Lord.
- Giving you thanks, almighty God, for the victory of your Saints, we humbly implore your mercy, that, upheld by their intercession, we may ever rejoice in your praises. Through Christ our Lord.
- May the hoped-for mercy come, we beseech you, O Lord, to those who entreat you, and by the prayers of the Saints may heavenly bounty be granted, whereby they may both know what is rightly to be asked and receive what they have asked. Through Christ our Lord.
- Grant, we beseech you, O Lord, that, as the festivals of your Saints to be celebrated do not fail us, so they may ever attend us with their intercession. Through Christ our Lord.
- Grant us, almighty and merciful God, that, commemorating the festivals of your Saints whose triumphs we proclaim, we may truly imitate their faith. Through Christ our Lord.
- We seek and ask for your mercy, O God, who have granted glory to your Saints in Christ, that you may ever restore us by your blessing, through which you make us coheirs, pleasing to you for ever. Through Christ our Lord.
- Graciously attend, O Lord, to the prayers of our lowliness, and grant heavenly blessedness to us whom you deign to fortify with so great protection of the Saints. Through Christ our Lord.
- Grant us, we beseech you, almighty God, the constant intercession of your Saints, that, by the working of Christ’s grace, we may also be worthy to attain their example. Through Christ our Lord.
- Keep, O Lord, your faithful who acknowledge Christ victorious in his Saints, and, that you may bestow upon them perpetual mercy, make them ever devoted to your name. Through Christ our Lord.
- Be present to your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, and multiply your grace upon them, that, feeling the intercession of the Saints, they may be impelled to attain their example. Through Christ our Lord.
- Graciously hear the voice of your Church, O Lord, that, contemplating Christ glorious in so many Saints, she may tirelessly proclaim the kingdom of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
- Almighty, ever-living God, who are always and everywhere wonderful in your Saints, we beseech your mercy, that, as you bestowed surpassing glory upon them, so you may cause us to be helped by their prayers to obtain your mercies. Through Christ our Lord.
- May your Saints, we beseech you, O Lord, ever ask of you for us both pardon and progress. Through Christ our Lord.
- Grant us, O Lord, your mercy implored through the intercession of your Saints, and those whom you have given to be our intercessors, make them both ever entreat your majesty and obtain saving gifts for us. Through Christ our Lord.
- Be present, O Lord, to your people who entreat you under the patronage of the Saints, that what they do not presume to ask by their own confidence they may obtain by the merits of those who intercede. Through Christ our Lord.
- We give you thanks, O Lord, for your compassions multiplied around us, you who both save us by the paschal mystery of Christ and sustain us by the prayer of your Saints. Through Christ our Lord.
- May the truth of your universal lordship, O God, which your Saints acknowledged amid their hardships, shine in the heart of the pilgrim Church, and grant that your faithful, setting their minds on the things that are above, may serve you in secure freedom. Through Christ our Lord.
- Give your help, we beseech you, O Lord, to those who are subject to your majesty and power, and may they obtain by the prayers of your Saints whatever they do not presume upon by their own merits. Through Christ our Lord.
- Be mindful, we beseech you, O Lord, of the human condition, that your Saints may ever entreat your mercy for us and be heard unceasingly. Through Christ our Lord.
- May we be helped, O Lord, by the prayers of your Saints, and what our own ability does not obtain, may it be granted to us by their petition. Through Christ our Lord.
- Almighty, ever-living God, who guard us by the intercession of your Saints, grant that we, who are cherished by their merits, may make progress by the examples of their holy confession. Through Christ our Lord.
- Extend to us, O Lord, your mercy, and grant that your Saints, by whose patronage you have caused us to be helped, may ever entreat your majesty for us. Through Christ our Lord.
- Stretch out, we beseech you, your right hand, O Lord, to the people who pray, and to those whom you grant to be sustained by the intercession of the Saints offer the help of your grace, that, trusting in you as their guide, they may both turn aside from every evil and lay hold of all that is good. Through Christ our Lord.
- By the intercessions of your Saints, we beseech you, O Lord, may your grace ever protect us, and extend everywhere your mercy to the faithful in Christ, both living and dead. Through Christ our Lord.