Jesus, prize and crown
of your faithful servants,
glorify your name.
Grant to your Church,
who venerates Francis Xavier,
victory over evil.
Following your steps
on the way of the cross,
he pleased God the Father.
Wise and vigilant,
he proclaimed the gospel
in words and in works.
From the city of saints,
where he reigns, glorious,
may he guide and protect us.
To you, O Christ, be glory,
to the Father and to the Spirit
for ever and ever. Amen.
Ant.1 Through the gift of God
I became a minister of the gospel.
PSALM 113 Give praise to the name of the Lord
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly (Luke1:52).
Praise, you servants of the Lord, *
praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord *
both now and forever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting *
let the name of the Lord be praised.
High above all nations is the Lord; *
above the heavens God’s glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God enthroned on high, *
looking down on heaven and earth?
The Lord raises the needy from the dust, *
lifts the poor from the ash heap,
Seats them with princes, *
the princes of the people,
Gives the childless wife a home, *
the joyful mother of children.
Ant.1 Through the gift of God
I became a minister of the gospel.
Ant. 2 I do all that I do for the sake of the gospel,
to inherit the promise.
PSALM 146 Blessed are they who hope in the Lord
Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them (Matthew 11:5).
Praise the Lord, my soul; *
I shall praise the Lord all my life, †
sing praise to my God while I live.
I put no trust in princes, *
in mere mortals powerless to save.
When they breathe their last, they return to the earth; *
that day all their planning comes to nothing.
Happy those whose help is Jacob’s God, *
whose hope is in the Lord, their God,
The maker of heaven and earth, *
the seas and all that is in them,
Who keeps faith forever, *
secures justice for the oppressed, †
gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free; *
the Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord raises up those who are bowed down; *
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord protects the stranger, †
sustains the orphan and the widow, *
but thwarts the way of the wicked.
The Lord shall reign forever, *
your God, Zion, through all generations!
Ant. 2 I do all that I do for the sake of the gospel,
to inherit the promise.
Ant. 3 To me was given the grace to preach to the Gentiles
the unfathomable riches of Christ.
CANTICLE cf. Ephesians 1, 3-10 God our Savior
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, †
who has blessed us in Christ *
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him, †
before the foundation of the world, *
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us †
for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, *
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace *
that he granted us in the beloved.
In Christ we have redemption by his blood, *
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace *
that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight †
God has made known to us the mystery of his will *
in accord with his favor that he set forth in him,
as a plan for the fullness of times, *
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.
Ant. 3 To me was given the grace to preach to the Gentiles
the unfathomable riches of Christ.
READING 2 Timothy 4:6-8
For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.
RESPONSORY Philippians 1:21; Galatians 6:14
R. For to me life is Christ * and death is gain.
-- For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
V. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
-- and death is gain.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-- For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
Magnificat Ant. Many will come from the east and the west and will find a place at the banquet in the kingdom of God with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; *
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; *
behold, from now on all ages will call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, *
and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age *
to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, *
dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones*
but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things; *
the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, *
remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers, *
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
Magnificat Ant. Many will come from the east and the west and will find a place at the banquet in the kingdom of God with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
INTERCESSIONS
As we joyfully honor Saint Francis Xavier, let us with confidence call upon God who is honored in his saints:
Lord, hear our prayer.
O God, through the mission of Saint Francis Xavier you revealed your love of a merciful father:
- help us communicate the same love in our lives.
O God, you wonderfully inflamed the soul of Saint Francis Xavier to spread the Gospel of your Son:
- grant that we may burn with the same apostolic zeal.
O God, you entrusted to Saint Francis Xavier the mission for the people in the Orient.
- grant that they may always be witnesses of your word and proclaim it faithfully.
O God, through your apostles you opened the way of truth to all peoples:
- grant that all may know you, the one true God, and him whom you have sent, Jesus Christ.
O God, you willed that your Son shed his Blood for the entire human race:
- mercifully admit our departed into the heavenly home.
Our Father.
Prayer
O God, who through the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier won many peoples for yourself, grant that the hearts of the faithful may burn with the same zeal for the faith, and that Holy Church may everywhere rejoice in abundant offspring. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
