Latin Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 705 N. Waterloo Street, Jackson, MI 49202 US - December 16, 2007

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, 705 N. WATERLOO, JACKSON

Every Sunday at 10:00 AM

December 16, 2007 A.D.

MEDITATION BEFORE MASS:  This Sunday is called "Gaudete" (Rejoice) from the first word of the Introit.  The whole of this Mass is filled with the sentiments of joy with which the Church wishes our souls to be filled at the approach of the Saviour.  Psalm 84, the psalm of joy, is used in the Introit, Offertory and Communion.  The Collect is a little different from the previous Sundays of Advent and compares darkness and light, the former state of sin enlightened by God's Grace.  "The Lord is nigh," says St. Paul in the Epistle, "rejoice in the Lord; again I say rejoice."  "Behold our God shall come," adds the Communion and "He will save us."  "Lord, come that Thou mayest save us," sings the Church in the Gradual; and in the Gospel we see John the Forerunner who announces the coming of the Messiah, who tells of His greatness and effaces himself before Him, for "he is not the Light, but he gives testimony of the true Light, Who is Jesus."  St. John made it clear that "there hath stood One in your midst  Whom you know not."  In the liturgy this indicates that Christ is present in His Church until the end of time. 

ENTRANCE HYMN NO. 7  VENI, VENI, EMMANUEL 

INTROIT  Philippians 4:4-6.  Rejoice in the Lord always;  again I say, rejoice!  Let your modesty be known to all men:  for the Lord is nigh.  Be nothing solicitous:  but in every thing by prayer let your petitions be made known to God.  Ps. 84:2.  Lord, Thou hast blessed Thy land:  Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.  Glory be to the Father...  (Repeat Psalm)

COLLECT  Incline Thine ear to our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation.  Who lives and reigns, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God world without end. Amen. 

EPISTLE  Philippians 4:4-7.  Brethren:  rejoice in the Lord always;  again I say, rejoice.  Let your modesty be known to all men.  The Lord is nigh.  Be nothing solicitous:  but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

GRADUAL  Psalm 79:2,3,2.  Thou, O Lord, That sittest upon the Cherubim,  stir up Thy might and come.  Give ear, O Thou that rulest Israel:  that leadest Joseph like a sheep. 

ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA.  Stir up, O Lord, Thy might, and come to save us.  Alleluia. 

GOSPEL  John 1:19-28.  At that time, the Jews sent priests and levites from Jerusalem to John, to ask him:  Who art thou?  And he confessed and did not deny; and he acknowledged:  I am not the Christ.  And they asked him:  What then?  Art thou Elias?  And he said:  I am not.  Art thou the Prophet?  And he answered:  No.  They therefore said to him:  Who art thou, that we may give an answer to those who sent us.  What hast thou to say of thyself?  He said:  I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Isaias.  And they that were sent were of the Pharisees.  And they asked him, and said to him:  Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the Prophet?  John answered them, saying:  I baptize with water:  but there hath stood One in the midst of you, Whom you know not.  He it is Who is to come after me, Who has been set above me, the strap of Whose sandal I am not worthy to loose.  These things took place in Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 

OFFERTORY  Psalm 84:2,3.  Lord, Thou hast blessed Thy land;  Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob:  Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people. 

SECRET  May the sacrifice of our devotion, we beseech Thee, O Lord, be always offered unto Thee:  that it may both fulfill the end for which Thou didst institute this sacred Mystery, and wonderfully work in us Thy salvation.  Through our Lord... 

COMMUNION HYMN NO. 139 O ESCA VIATORUM (Words Only)

COMMUNION  Isaias 1:48-49.  Say to the fainthearted, take courage and fear not:  behold our God will come, and will save us. 

POSTCOMMUNION  We implore Thy mercy, O Lord, that these Divine Mysteries, by atoning for our sins, may prepare us for the coming festival.  Through our Lord... 

CLOSING HYMN NO.175  O MARIA, VIRGO PIA 

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.

Any men or boys interested in serving at this Mass or anyone needing a Mass Booklet, please call 517-784-1612.