Ant. On the feast of Saint Gaspar, come everyone:
let us praise the Lord, our eternal salvation.
PSALM 95 Invitation to praise God
Encourage yourself daily while it is still “today” (Heb 3:13).
Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving, *
and sing joyful songs to the Lord. (Ant.)
The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands. (Ant.)
Come, then, let us bow down and worship, *
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
the flock he shepherds. (Ant.)
Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: Do not grow stubborn, *
as your fathers did in the wilderness, †
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works. (Ant.)
Forty years I endured that generation; †
I said: “They are a people whose hearts go astray *
and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.” (Ant.)
Glory to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever will be. Amen (Ant.)
Alternative Invitatory Psalms: 100, 67, 24
HYMN
Your sons rejoice
on this holy day:
may they imitate you in works,
and exalt you in song.
Tenacious, brave apostle,
you were guide to Heaven:
may your followers radiate in the world
the light of the Gospel.
Faithful admirer
of the noble Xavier,
you became a missionary,
a herald of Love.
Wherever your blazing
words resounded,
the depraved and impenitent
to Christ returned.
May the Blood most precious,
That saved us from evil,
refresh our spirit
with immortal bliss.
We praise the Father on high,
The Redeemer Son,
And the Spirit Paraclete:
The one only God of Love. Amen.
Or another suitable hymn approved by ecclesiastic authority.
Ant.1 We place our life at the service of the Lord,
certain of his fidelity.
PSALM 21, 2-8. 14 In thanksgiving for the victory of the Messiah-King
Lord, the king finds joy in your power; *
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire; *
you did not refuse the prayer of his lips.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings; *
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you; you gave it to him, *
length of days forever.
Great is his glory in your victory; *
majesty and splendor you confer upon him.
You make him the pattern of blessings forever, *
you gladden him with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord, *
stands firm through the love of the Most High.
Arise, Lord, in your power! *
We will sing and chant the praise of your might.
Ant. 1 We place our life at the service of the Lord,
certain of his fidelity.
Ant. 2 Blessed are those who seek God with a sincere heart
and who love him for ever.
PSALM 92 Praise the creator Lord
I (1-9)
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, *
to sing praise to your name, Most High,
To proclaim your love in the morning, *
your faithfulness in the night,
With the ten-stringed harp, *
with melody upon the lyre.
For you make me jubilant, Lord, by your deeds; *
at the works of your hands I shout for joy.
How great are your works, Lord! *
How profound your purpose!
A senseless person cannot know this; *
a fool cannot comprehend.
Though the wicked flourish like grass *
and all sinners thrive,
They are destined for eternal destruction; *
for you, Lord, are forever on high.
Ant. 2 Blessed are those who seek God with a sincere heart
and who love him for ever.
Ant. 3 In the blood of Christ we will bring abundant fruits
for our God and Father.
II (10-16)
Indeed your enemies, Lord, †
indeed your enemies shall perish;
all sinners shall be scattered.
You have given me the strength of a wild bull; *
you have poured rich oil upon me.
My eyes look with glee on my wicked enemies; *
my ears delight in the fall of my foes.
The just shall flourish like the palm tree, *
shall grow like a cedar of Lebanon.
Planted in the house of the Lord, *
they shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall bear fruit even in old age, *
always vigorous and sturdy,
As they proclaim: “The Lord is just;*
our rock, in whom there is no wrong.”
Ant. 3 In the blood of Christ we will bring abundant fruits
for our God and Father.
V. The Lamb upon the throne will take care of them
R. And will lead them to the source of living waters.
FIRST READING
From the Book of Revelation of Saint John, the apostle. Revelation 5:1-14
The vision of the Lamb
I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it.
I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.
Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the (seven) spirits of God sent out into the whole world. He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. They sang a new hymn: “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and to break open its seals, for you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.”
I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, and they cried out in a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.”
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out:
“To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.”
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: “To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.”
The four living creatures answered, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
RESPONSORY Revelation 4:8, 7:10
R. They cried out in a loud voice: * “Salvation comes from our God and from the Lamb.”
V. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty.”
R. “Salvation comes from our God and from the Lamb.”
SECOND READING
From the writings of Saint Gaspar del Bufalo, priest
(Circular letter, Spiritual exercises of 1835)
Who is the Missionary of the Most Precious Blood?
What is a missionary? He is a man who, spiritually dead to everything which could hinder the purpose of the ministry and his holy vocation, lives in union with God and for his glory alone: For to me life is Christ. He is a man who nourishes himself with no other food than with the heavenly food to which the sacred text refers: My food is to do the will of the one who sent me. He thirsts after justice and sanctity: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness. His heart, animated by the heavenly fire of the love of God, is pierced and moved when he sees that men do not love God: Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led to sin, and I am not indignant?
So, now, let us consider how we ought to examine ourselves in these days on the things that we have mentioned up to this point, so that we might renew within ourselves the fervor of that type of life which confirms what Jesus once said to his apostles: And you also testify. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. By this self-examination, we will come to realize better how our Society provides us with these means through which we are to advance toward a more and more vigorous life of virtue - withdrawal from the world, recollection, silence, examination of conscience, and all the other means enumerated in our “Practices”. These means, indeed, do develop a strengthening of the Spirit and the progress to be made in reaching perfection! They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary.
This interior cultivation of the Spirit lays the foundation for the exterior life of the ministry. We are ordained to perform duties towards God, towards our Society, and towards our neighbor. In each one of us, the words of the Lord should be verified when he speaks of the just man who seeks always to advance and mature in holiness: Happy are those… whose hearts are set on pilgrim roads. As they pass through the Baca valley, they find spring water to drink.
May we diligently keep these few sentiments in our hearts and let them be deeply imprinted there. Let us imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary, who cherished the words of our blessed Savior, for she was the very mirror of sanctity who kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. After Jesus, may our good Mother be our guide and teacher, our prototype and model. In a spirit of deep humility, let us listen to and cherish those teachings of God which are given in the sacred passages quoted above. May our hearts be filled with those holy desires which bring about a most intimate union with the highest Good. May he always direct our tongue in announcing the eternal truths to the people: My heart is stirred by a noble theme ... Lord, open my lips. May our lips, then, be closed for this reason. I will listen for the word of God; surely the Lord will proclaim peace to his people. Notice! First, I myself must listen, so that I, then, may be listened to by the people. With the grace of God and in accordance with each one’s capacity, there will be realized both in me and in the others that very system of peace which establishes the kingdom of God firmly in our hearts: I will listen for the word of God.
RESPONSORY
R. The missionary lives only * for God and for his glory;
V. he gives himself totally to others,
R for God and for his glory.
HYMN Te Deum
We praise you, O God; *
we acclaim you Lord and Master.
Everlasting Father, *
all the world bows down before you.
All the angels sing your praise, *
the hosts of heaven and all the angelic powers;
All the cherubim and seraphim *
call out to you in unending chorus:
Holy, holy, holy *
is the Lord God of angel hosts!
The heavens and the earth are filled, Lord, *
with your majesty and glory.
Your praises are sung *
by the renowned Apostles;
By all the prophets, *
who themselves deserve our praise;
By that mighty white-robed army *
who shed their blood for Christ.
And to the ends of the earth, *
the holy Church proclaims her faith in you:
Father, *
whose majesty is boundless;
Your only Son, *
who is true God and who is to be adored;
The Holy Spirit, *
sent to be our Advocate.
O Christ, the King of glory! *
You alone are the Father’s eternal Son.
When you were to become man so as to save humankind, *
you did not shrink back from the chaste Virgin’s womb.
When you triumphantly destroyed death’s sting, *
you opened up to believers the kingdom of haven.
You are now enthroned at God’s right hand, in the Father’s glory: *
We believe that you will come for judgment.
We therefore implore you to grant your servants grace and aid, *
for you shed your precious blood for their redemption.
Admit them all to the ranks of your saints *
in everlasting glory.
Be their Shepherd, Lord, *
uphold and exalt them forever and ever.
Day by day we praise you, *
daily we acclaim you.
We will confess and glorify your hold name, *
now and for all eternity.
In your great mercy, Lord, throughout this day *
keep us free from sin by your protection.
Have mercy on us, we humbly pray; *
Lord, have mercy on us.
May your mercy, Lord, your loving-kindness, always remain with us; *
for we have placed our confidence in you.
In you alone, Lord, I have hoped; *
may I not be disappointed.
Prayer
Almighty and merciful God, who gave us an ardent witness of love for your divinity and for our neighbour in Saint Gaspar del Bufalo, priest and dedicated missionary of the Precious Blood of Christ; through his intercession, listen to the voice of the blood of your Son which daily rises to you from the earth in the painful cry of suffering humanity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
