Welcome to the Latin Mass illuminated.
Today we listen to the readings for the 13 th Sunday after pentecost. IN this year of Our Lord 2025 it falls on the 7TH SEPTEMBER
Before we listen to the readings lets be ready to meditate on the theme Holy Mother Church presents to us in celebration of this day.
The Liturgy shows us that by faith we put all our hope in Jesus, for He is our refuge; and we ask for the virtue of charity, which makes us lovers of the divine law and practisers of it.
Let us pray for an increase of faith, hope and charity.
Now we will listen to The Propers of the Mass red for us beginning with the Introit
Pray to-day at the Introit of the Mass with the Church against her enemies saying
Have regard to thy covenant, Oh Lord, and abandon not the souls of thy poor:
Arise, Oh Lord, judge thine own cause, and forget not the cries of those who seek thee.
Why, Oh God, hast thou cast us off unto the end: why is thy wrath kindled against the sheep of thy pasture?
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH.
Oh Almighty and eternal God, grant us an increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may deserve what Thou promises, make us love what Thou commandest. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen
Have regard, Oh Lord, to Thy covenant, and forsake not to the end the souls of Thy poor; Arise, Lord and judge Thy cause and forget not the voices of them that seek Thee.
God, why hast Thou cast us off unto the end: why is Thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of Thy pasture? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Amen
Caullect
O Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of Faith, Hope and Charity: and that we may deserve to obtain what Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Epistle
To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not, And to his seeds, as of many: but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Now this I say, that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect.
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Why then was the law?
It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come, to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one. Amen
Was the law then against the promises of God?
God forbid. For if there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the law But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.
When we hear Saint Paul say: “”Because of transgressions”: He means To restrain them from sin, by fear and threats.
Again we understand when Paul says “Ordained by angels”: He means that the law was delivered by angels, speaking in the name and person of God to Moses, who was the mediator, on this occasion, between God and the people.
EXPLANATION.
St. Paul wishes to show and prove in this epistle to the Galatians, who, misled by false doctrines, adhered too much to the Jewish law, that it is insufficient and useless, that they were liberated by Christ from its yoke, and that they will be saved through a lively faith in Christ, enriched by good works.
Therefore he says, that the great promises, made by God
to Abraham, who is a type of Christ, were directed to Christ,
through whom all nations of the earth, who would believe in Him,
would be blessed and saved.
The law, indeed, does not contend against the promises, since it rather
leads to their attainment, yet it must be placed after these promises because of their advantages, nay even cease to exist, because the promises are now fulfilled, because Christ, the promised Messiah, has really appeared and liberated men, who could not be freed from their sins by the Jewish law.
Oh let us be grateful for this promise, yet more, however, for the Incarnation of Christ, whereby this promise has been fulfilled.
ASPIRATION.
Oh God, who didst not only promise, but also didst send the Promised One, and with Him hast given us all, grant that we, through a lively faith in Him, may become heirs of heaven. Amen
Gradual and Alleluia
Have regard Oh Lord to Thy covenant, and forsake not to the end the souls of Thy poor.
Arise Oh Lord and judge Thy cause; remember the reproach of Thy servants. Alleluia, alleluia. Lord, Thou hast been our refuge, from generation to generation. Alleluia.
Gospel
And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off; And lifted up their voice, saying:
Jesus, master, have mercy on us.
Whom when he saw, he said:
“Go, shew yourselves to the priests.”
And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean. And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.
And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan.
And Jesus answering, said,
“Were not ten made clean? and where are the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger.”
And he said to him:
“Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.”
And now in meditation we consider Father Goddine’s questions on the Gospel.
What may be understood by leprosy, in a spiritual sense ?
Sin, particularly impurity, by which the soul of man is stained
much more than is the body by the most horrid leprosy.
In Jewish law three kinds of leprosy are enumerated, that is:
the leprosy of the flesh, of garments, and of houses. Spiritually,
the impure are afflicted with the leprosy of the flesh, who very easily infect others by looks, words, and gestures, and are therefore to be most carefully avoided.
The leprosy of garments consists in extravagance of dress
and scandalous fashions, whereby not only individuals, but also
whole communities are brought to poverty, and many lose innocence. The leprosy of houses, finally, is to be found in those places, where scandalous servants are retained, where nocturnal gatherings of both sexes are encouraged, where obscenities are indulged in, where unbecoming dances and plays are held, and filthy actions are performed. Where married people allow themselves liberties in presence of others, and give scandal
Such houses are to be avoided, since they are infected with the pestilential leprosy of sin ,and woe to them who voluntarily remain in them.
Why did the lepers remain standing afar off?
Because it was thus commanded in the law of Moses, so that no one would be infected by them. From this we learn, that we must carefully avoid scandalous persons and houses; for he who converses with lewd, vain and unchaste persons, will soon become like them.
Why did Christ send the lepers to the priests ?
This He did to show the honor due to the sacerdotal dignity
and the law of God: for it was commanded that the lepers should show themselves to the priests, in order to be declearned clean or unclean by them ; He did it to try the faith, the
confidence, and the obedience of these lepers : for Christ did not wish to heal them upon their mere prayer, but their cure was to cost them something, and they were to merit it by their cooperation. Their purification, therefore, was the reward of their obedience and faith. Further Christ sent these lepers to the priests to show in figure, as it where, that he who wishes to be freed from the leprosy of sin, must contritely approach the priest, sincerely
confess his sins to him.
Why did Christ ask for the others, that were also made clean ?
. To show how much ingratitude displeases Him. Although He silently bore all other injuries, inflicted upon Him, yet He could not permit this ingratitude to pass unresented. So great, therefore, is the vice of ingratitude, hateful alike to God and man !
” Ingratitude,” says St. Bernard, “is an enemy of the soul, which destroys the merits, vitiates virtues, impedes graces : it is a heavy wind, which dries up the fountain of goodness, the dew of mercy, and the stream of the grace of God.”
“The best means,” says St. Chrysostom, “of preserving benefits, is the remembrance of them and gratitude for them, and nothing is more acceptable to God than a grateful soul ; for, while He daily overloads us with in- numerable benefits, He asks nothing for them, but that we thank Him for them.”
Therefore, my dear Christian, by no means forget to thank God in the morning and evening, before and after meals.
As often as you experience the blessing of God in your house, in your children, and your whole property, thank God, but particularly when you take in the fruits of the earth.
By this you will always bring upon yourself new blessings and new graces. “We cannot think, say, or. write anything better or more pleasing to God,” says St. Augustine, “than: thanks be to God.”
ASPIRATION.
Oh most gracious Jesus! who, as an example to us, was always grateful to Thy Heavenly Father, as long as Thou didst live upon earth, grant, that I may always thank God for all His benefits, according to Thy example and the teaching of Thy servant St. Paul.
PETITION.
Offertory Antiphon
In Thee, Oh Lord, have I hoped: I said, Thou art my God, my times are in Thy hands.
Secret Prayer
Oh Lord Look graciously, upon thy people. Graciously look upon our gifts that being appeased by this offering Thou mayest both grant us pardon, and give us what we ask. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Communion Antiphon
Thou hast given us, Oh Lord, bread from heaven, having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste.
Postcommunion
We should have received the heavenly Sacraments beseech Thee, Oh Lord, that we may increasingly advance towards eternal redemption. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen
