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13th Sunday after Pentecost PDF Print E-mail

Summary of comments of this office by Dom Schuster, in his work L'année liturgique.

The readings from the Epistle to the Corinthians having been completed, today begins the reading of the Epistle to the Galatians, which will be continued in the following Sundays. It should be remarked that the order followed for the entire reading of the sacred Scriptures at Mass during the annual cycle at Rome predates the institution of the daily Divine Office; moreover, it takes no account of the Divine Office, thus conserving the memory of its ancient origins, where the first part of the Mass-that which later on was named the Mass of the Catechumens-with its splendid alternation of psalms and readings, constituted the unique rite in preparation for the divine Sacrifice. The divers parts of the Divine Office represent nothing less than the ancient breaking up of the primitive celebration of Apostolic time.

The psalm for the Introït is the 73rd: "Have regard, O Lord, to Thy covenant and forsake not to the end the souls of Thy poor: arise, O Lord, and judge thy cause, and forget not the voices of them that seek Thee."


The Gradual, also taken from the Psalm 73, is the same as for the Thursday preceding Passion Sunday. God is reminded of His promises to the Patriarchs, and their merits are invoked.


The verse of the Alleluia, which used to come after a second reading preceding the one from the Gospel-it is good to recall this fact from time to time-is taken from Psalm 89: "Lord, Thou hast been our refuge, from generation to generation."


The verse for the Offertory is taken from Psalm 30; it is the same as that of the first Tuesday of Lent: "In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped; I said: Thou art my God, my times are in Thy hands."


The antiphon for the Communion is taken from the Book of Wisdom (16:20) where are described the attributes of the manna, which was the symbol of the Eucharist: "Thou hast given us, O Lord, bread from heaven, having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste."

 

 
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