Announcements
Sunday, December 28th - Holy Innocents
Monday, December 29th - St Thomas Becket, BM
Tuesday, December 30th - Within the Octave - St Sabinus, BM
Wednesday, December 31st - St Sylvester, PC
Thursday, January 1st - Circumcision of Our Lord
Friday, January 2nd - Feria - St Gaspar del Bufalo, C
Saturday, January 3rd - Blessed Virgin Mary Saturday - St Genevieve, V
Sunday, January 4th - Holy Name of Jesus - St Priscus, M
- Burritos & Coffee: Join us in the St Joseph Hall after the 9:30 AM Mass.
- Merry Christmas: Thanks to all who helped to make Christmas in the church so beautiful! God bless you all!
- Feast of the Circumcision: Thursday, January 1st is a holy day of obligation and must be treated as if it were a Sunday.
- Choir Practice: In the upstairs classroom at 8:30 AM for the 9:30 Mass.
Feast of the Holy Innocents - Meditation & Propers
From the Marian Missel by Sylvester P Juergens, S.M.
It is because Herod believed the words of the Magi and of the high priests whom he consulted that he sees a rival in the Infant of Bethlehem and with jealousy pursues the Child, born King of the Jews. It is this God-king that the Innocents by dying confess. Their passion is the exaltation of Christ. Like a compassionate Mother, the Church chooses today for her priests vestments of mourning.
Introit: Ps. 8. 3
Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings, O God, Thou hast perfected praise, because of Thine enemies. - (Ps. 8. 2). O Lord our God: how admirable is Thy Name in the whole earth! V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings, O God...
Collect:
O God, whose praise the martyred Innocents on this day confessed, not by speaking, but by dying: destroy in us all the evils of sin, that our life also may proclaim in deeds Thy faith which our tongues profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Gradual: Ps. 123. 7, 8
Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. V. The snare hath been broken, and we have been delivered. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 112. 1). Praise the Lord, ye children, praise ye the Name of the Lord. Alleluia.
Offertory: Ps. 123. 7
Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are delivered.
Secret:
Let not the loving prayer of Thy Saints fail us, O Lord: may it render our offerings pleasing to Thee, and ever obtain for us Thy pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Communion: Matth. 2. 18
A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning: Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Postcommunion:
We have partaken, O Lord, of these votive gifts: grant, we beseech Thee, that by the prayers of the Saints they may procure aid for us both in this life and in that which is to come. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen
My Daily Thought from the Following of Christ:
Here thou hast no abiding city; and wherever thou shalt be, thou art a stranger and a pilgrim; nor wilt thou ever have rest, except thou be interiorly united with Christ.
Recessional Hymn
All hail ye infant martyr flowers, Cut off in life's first dawning hours:
As rosebuds snapt in tempest strife, When Herod sought your Savior's life,
When Herod sought your Savior's life. You, tender flock of lambs, we sing,
First victims slain for Christ your King: Beneath the altar's heavenly ray
With martyr-palms and crowns ye play, With martyr-palms and crowns ye play.
For their redemption glory be, O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee!
With Father and with Holy Ghost, forever, from the martyr host, forever, from the martyr host!