And for all time their progeny will endure,
their glory will never be blotted out;
Their bodies are peacefully laid away,
but their name lives on and on.
At gatherings their wisdom is retold,
and the assembly proclaims their praise.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 132:11, 13-14, 17-18
R.(13) The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
The LORD has chosen Zion;
he prefers her for his dwelling.
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
“In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David;
I will place a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
but upon him my crown shall shine.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
ALLELUIA See Lk 2:25c
R./ Alleluia, alleluia.
They yearned for the comforting of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit rested upon them.
R./ Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL READING Matthew 13:16-17
Jesus said to his disciples, "Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it".
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Lord,
receive these gifts as signs of our love
and give us a share in the blessing you promised
to Abraham and his descendants.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON See Ps. 23:5
They received a blessing from the Lord, and kindness from God their Savior.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Father,
your Son was born as a man
so that men could be born again in you.
As you nourish us with the bread of life,
given only to your sons and daughters,
fill us with the Spirit who makes us your children.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
The Liturgy of the Hours
Ann and Joachim
From the Common of Holy Men, except the following
Office of Readings
SECOND READING
From a sermon by Saint John Damascene, bishop
(Orat. 6 in Nativitatem B. Mariae V. 2,4,5,6: PG 96, 663,667,670)
By their fruits you will know them
Anne was to be the mother of the Virgin Mother of God, and hence nature did not dare to anticipate the flowering of grace. Thus nature remained sterile, until grace produced its fruit. For she who was to be born had to be a first born daughter, since she would be the mother of the first-born of all creation, in whom all things are held together.
Joachim and Anne, how blessed a couple! All creation is indebted to you. For at your hands the Creator was offered a gift excelling all other gifts: a chaste mother, who alone was worthy of him.
And so rejoice, Anne, that you were sterile and have not borne children; break forth into shouts, you who have not given birth. Rejoice, Joachim, because from your daughter a child is born for us, a son is given us, whose name is Messenger of great counsel and universal salvation, mighty God. For this child is God.
Joachim and Anne, how blessed and spotless a couple! You will be known by the fruit you have borne, as the Lord says: By their fruits you will know them. The conduct of your life pleased God and was worthy of your daughter. For by the chaste and holy life you led together, you have fashioned a jewel of virginity: she who remained a virgin before, during and after giving birth. She alone for all time would maintain her virginity in mind and soul as well as in body.
Joachim and Anne, how chaste a couple! While safeguarding the chastity prescribed by the law of nature, you achieved with God’s help something which transcends nature in giving the world the Virgin Mother of God as your daughter. While leading a devout and holy life in your human nature, you gave birth to a daughter nobler than the angels, whose queen she now is. Girl of utter beauty and delight, daughter of Adam and mother of God, blessed the loins and blessed the womb from which you come! Blessed the arms that carried you, and blessed your parents’ lips, which you were allowed to cover with chaste kisses, ever maintaining your virginity. Rejoice in God, all the earth. Sing, exult and sing hymns. Raise your voice, raise it and be not afraid.
RESPONSORY See Luke 2:37,38; 7:16
They worshipped God day and night
in fasting and in prayer.
- They looked forward to the deliverance of Israel.
They prayed that God would come to save his people
- They looked forward to the deliverance of Israel.
PRAYER
God of our fathers,
you gave Saints Joachim and Anne
the privilege of being the parents of Mary,
the mother of your incarnate Son.
May their prayers help us to attain
the salvation you have promised to your people.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
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