Readings
for the Memorial of
SAINT AMBROSE
Bishop of Milan
December 7
MASS
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Sirach 15:5
In medio Ecclesiae aperuit os eius, et implevit eum Dominus spiritu sapientiae et intellectus: stolam gloriae induit eum.
In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth,
and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and
understanding
and clothed him in a robe of glory.
COLLECT
Deus, qui beatum Ambrosium episcopum catholicae fidei doctorem et apostolicae fortitudinis exemplum effecisti, excita in Ecclesia tua viros secundum cor tuum, qui eam fortiter et sapienter gubernent.
O God, who made the Bishop Saint Ambrose
a teacher of the Catholic faith
and a model of apostolic courage,
raise up in your Church men after your own heart
to govern her with courage and wisdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READING Ephesians 3:8-12
Brothers and sisters:
To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who created all things,
so that the mani-fold wisdom of God
might now be made known through the Church
to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.
This was according to the eternal purpose
that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness of speech
and confidence of access through faith in him.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 89:2-3,4-5,21-22,25,27
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the Lord I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David, my servant:
For ever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
"I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
"My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'"
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Jn 10:14
Ego sum pastor bonus, dicit Dominus; et cognosco oves meas, et cognoscunt me meae.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
GOSPEL John 10:11-16
Jesus said:
"I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd."
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Illa nos, quaesumus, Domine, divina tractantes, Spiritus Sanctus fidei luce perfundat, qua beatum Ambrosium ad gloriae tuae propagationem iugiter collustravit.
As we celebrate the divine mysteries, O Lord, we pray,
may the Holy Spirit fill us with that light of faith
by which he constantly enlightened Saint Ambrose
for the spreading of your glory.
Through Christ our Lord.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Cf. Ps 1: 2-3
Qui meditabitur in lege Domini die ac nocte, dabit fructum suum in tempore suo.
He who ponders the law of the Lord day and night
will yield fruit in due season.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Huius sacramenti, Domine, virtute roboratos, fac nos beati Ambrosii documentis ita proficere, ut, viriliter per tuas semitas festinantes, ad aeterni suavitatem convivii praeparemur.
Lead us, who have been strengthened
by the power of this Sacrament, O Lord,
so to profit from the teaching of Saint Ambrose
that, hastening fearlessly along your paths,
we may be prepared for the delights of the eternal banquet.
Through Christ our Lord.
From the Common of Doctors, except for the following:
Office of Readings
SECOND READING
From a letter by St. Ambrose, bishop
(Epist. 2:1-2,4-5,7: PL edit. [845,] 879, 881)
By the grace of your words win over your people
You have entered upon the office of bishop. Sitting at the helm of the Church, you pilot the ship against the waves. Take firm hold of the rudder of faith so that the severe storms of this world cannot disturb you. The sea is mighty and vast, but do not be afraid, for as Scripture says: he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.
The Church of the Lord is built upon the rock of the apostles among so many dangers in the world; it therefore remains unmoved. The Church's foundation is unshakeable and firm against the assaults of the raging sea. Waves lash at the Church but do not shatter it. Although the elements of this world constantly beat upon the Church with crashing sounds, the Church possesses the safest harbour of salvation for all in distress. Although the Church is tossed about on the sea, it rides easily on rivers, especially those rivers that Scripture speaks of: The rivers have lifted up their voice. These are the rivers flowing from the heart of the man who is given drink by Christ and who receives from the Spirit of God. When these rivers overflow with the grace of the Spirit, they lift up their voice.
There is also a stream which flows down on God's saints like a torrent. There is also a rushing river giving joy to the heart that is at peace and makes for peace. Whoever has received from the fullness of this river, like John the Evangelist, like Peter and Paul, lifts up his voice. Just as the apostles lifted up their voices and preached the Gospel throughout the world, so those who drink these waters begin to preach the good news of the Lord Jesus.
Drink, then, from Christ, so that your voice may also be heard. Store up in your mind the water that is Christ, the water that praises the Lord. Store up water from many sources, the water that rains down from the clouds of prophecy.
Whoever gathers water from the mountains and leads it to himself or draws it from springs, is himself a source of dew like the clouds. Fill your soul, then, with this water, so that your land may not be dry, but watered by your own springs.
He who reads much and understands much, receives his fill. He who is full, refreshes others. So Scripture says: If the clouds are full, they will pour rain upon the earth.
Therefore, let your words be rivers, clean and limpid, so that in your exhortations you may charm the ears of your people. And by the grace of your words win them over to follow your leadership. Let your sermons be full of understanding. Solomon says: The weapons of the understanding are the lips of the wise; and in another place he says: Let your lips be bound with wisdom. That is, let the meaning of your words shine forth, let understanding blaze out. See that your addresses and expositions do not need to invoke the authority of others, but let your words be their own defence. Let no word escape your lips in vain or be uttered without depth of meaning.
RESPONSORY 2 Timothy 4:2; Sirach 48: 4,8
Proclaim the message, in season and out of season;
- refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience.
Who is able to boast as you can?
You have anointed kings as champions of righteousness.
- Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience.
COLLECT
O God, who made the Bishop Saint Ambrose
a teacher of the Catholic faith
and a model of apostolic courage,
raise up in your Church men after your own heart
to govern her with courage and wisdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
The English translation of Psalm Responses, Alleluia Verses, Gospel Verses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); the English translation of Antiphons, Invitatories, Responsories, Intercessions, Psalm 95, the Canticle of the Lamb, Psalm Prayers, Non-Biblical Readings from The Liturgy of the Hours © 1973, 1974, 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.