Latin Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 705 N. Waterloo Street, Jackson, MI 49202 US - December 9, 2007

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, 705 N. WATERLOO, JACKSON

Every Sunday at 10:00 AM

December 9, 2007 A.D.

MEDITATION BEFORE MASS:  In the Middle Ages, on 89 days of the year (great feasts and privileged ferias), the Pope used to celebrate solemn Mass in one after another of the great basilicas, the 25 parish churches of Rome and in certain other sanctuaries, surrounded by all his clergy and by his people, and this was called "making the Station".  This name which we still find in the Missal reminds us that Rome is the center of Christian worship, but the use of the Papal Mass in the stational church has disappeared.  For the Second Sunday of Advent, the Station is at the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.  On account of the stational church, the allusions made in today's liturgy to Jerusalem (Sion) and her people are numerous:  "Out of Sion is the loveliness of His beauty, God shall come manifestly" (Gradual).  In addition to this the Prophets always assign Mount Sion as an abode of the Messiah.  In view of this coming, the Collect asks God to "stir up our hearts to prepare the ways for His only begotten Son."  The Epistle in its turn reminds us that "a root of Jesse shall rise up" for the salvation of Jews and Gentiles.  Then in the Gospel we read that John the Baptist, sent "to prepare the way for the Messiah," had the question put to Jesus: "Art Thou He who is to come?"  In answer Christ wrought many miracles and pointed to them as His reply to the Precursor. 

ENTRANCE HYMN NO. 7  VENI, VENI, EMMANUEL 

INTROIT  Isa. 30:30.  People of Sion, behold the Lord shall come to save the nations: and the Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard, in the joy of your heart.  Ps. 79:2.  Give ear, O Thou that rulest Israel:  Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep.  Glory be to the Father...  (Repeat Psalm)

COLLECT  Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the ways of Thine only-begotten Son; that through His coming we may attain to serve Thee with purified minds. Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. 

EPISTLE  Romans 15:4-13.  Brethren:  What things soever were written, were written for our learning:  that, through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures, we might have hope.  Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind one towards another, according to Jesus Christ, that with one mind and with one mouth you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath received you unto the honor of God.  For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:  but that the Gentiles are to glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:  Therefore will I confess to Thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles and will sing to Thy name.  And again He saith:  Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with His people.  And again:  Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and magnify Him, all ye people.  And again, Isaias saith:  There shall be a root of Jesse; and He that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing:  that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

GRADUAL  Psalm 49:2-3, 5.  Out of Sion the loveliness of His beauty:  God shall come manifestly.  Gather ye together His saints to Him, who have set His covenant before sacrifices. 

ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA.  Psalm 121:1.  I rejoiced at the tidings that were said to me:  We shall go into the house of the Lord.  Alleluia. 

GOSPEL  Matthew 11:2-10.  At that time, when John had heard in prison of the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples to say to Him:  Art Thou He who is to come, or shall we look for another?  And Jesus answering said to them:  Go and report to John what you have heard and seen:  The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not scandalized in Me.  Then, as they went away, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John:  What did you go out to the desert to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Behold, those who wear soft garments are in the houses of kings.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  For this is he of whom it is written:  Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee. 

OFFERTORY  Psalm 84:7-8.  Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life, and Thy people shall rejoice in Thee:  show us, O Lord, Thy mercy, and grant us Thy salvation.  

SECRET  Be appeased we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the prayers and offerings of our humility: and where we have no merits to plead for us, do Thou help us with Thine aid.  Through our Lord... 

COMMUNION HYMN NO. 101   ADORO TE DEVOTE

COMMUNION  Barruch 5:5, 4:36.  Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and behold the joy that comes to you from Thy God.

POSTCOMMUNION  Filled with the food of this spiritual nourishment, we suppliantly entreat Thee, O Lord, that through our participation in this Mystery Thou wouldst teach us to despise earthly things and to love heavenly ones.  Through our Lord... 

CLOSING HYMN NO. 178 O SANCTISSIMA 

According to the law of the Church, only practicing Catholics who are in the state of grace may receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Communion.  In the custom of the Tridentine Rite, Our Lord is received kneeling and on the tongue.  The communicant does not say “Amen”.

Use this leaflet with the Mass Booklet:

The Mass booklet contains the unchanging parts of the Mass, called the Ordinary; this leaflet contains the parts proper to today's feast, which do change and are called the Proper.  Used in conjunction, these two items give you the total liturgy.

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