*Ps 131:9-10.*
May Your priests, O Lord, be clothed with justice; let Your faithful ones shout merrily for joy. For the sake of David Your servant, reject not the plea of Your anointed.
*Ps 131:1*
Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness.
Glory Be to the Father…
May Your priests, O Lord, be clothed with justice; let Your faithful ones shout merrily for joy. For the sake of David Your servant, reject not the plea of Your anointed.
O God, Who glorified blessed Anthony Mary, Your Confessor and Bishop, because of his zeal for souls, and through him established in the Church new households of men and women religious, we beseech You to grant that, with his counsels as a guide, and through the merits of his prayers, we may continually apply ourselves to seeking the salvation of souls.
Through our Lord…
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews
*Heb 7:23-27*
Brethren: The priests were numerous, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but Jesus, because He continues forever, has an everlasting priesthood. Therefore He is able at all times to save those who come to God through Him, since He lives always to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and become higher than the heavens. He does not need to offer sacrifices daily - as the other priests did - first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people; for this latter He did once for all in offering up Himself, Jesus Christ our Lord.
*Ps 131:16-17*
Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her faithful ones shall shout merrily for joy.
℣. In her will I make a horn to sprout for David; I will place a lamp for My anointed. Alleluia, alleluia.
*Ps 109:4*
℣. The Lord has sworn, and He will not repent: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedec.” Alleluia.
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
*Matt 24:42-47*
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Watch, for you do not know at what hour your Lord is to come. But of this be assured, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would certainly have watched, and not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, because at an hour that you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. Who, do you think, is the faithful and prudent servant whom his master has set over his household to give them their food in due time? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, shall find so doing. Amen I say to you, he will set him over all his goods.”
*Ps 88:25*
My faithfulness and My kindness shall be with him, and through My name shall his horn be exalted. (Alleluia.)
May the annual festival of blessed Anthony Mary, Your Confessor and Bishop, we beseech You, O Lord, render us pleasing to Your loving kindness, so that this service of sacred propitiation may be a blessed recompense for him and secure for us the gifts of Your grace.
Through our Lord…
*Common*
It is truly meet and just, and profitable unto salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominions adore it, the Powers are in awe. Which the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed Seraphim joyfully do magnify. And do Thou command that it be permitted us to join with them in confessing Thee, while we say with lowly praise:
*Matt 24:46-47*
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, he will set him over all his goods. (Alleluia.)
