Readings
for the Feast of
St Joseph the Worker
May 1
MASS
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Ps 128 (127): 1-2
Beatus omnis qui timet Dominum, qui ambulat in viis eius. Labores manuum tuarum manducabis, beatus es, et bene tibi erit, alleluia.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
By the labor of your hands you shall eat;
blessed are you, and blessed will you be, alleluia.
COLLECT
Rerum conditor, Deus, qui legem laboris humano generi statuisti, concede propitius, ut, beati Ioseph exemplo et patrocinio, opera perficiamus quae praecipis, et praemia consequamur quae promittis.
O God, Creator of all things,
who laid down for the human race the law of work,
graciously grant
that by the example of Saint Joseph and under his patronage
we may complete the works you set us to do
and attain the rewards you promise.
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 Genesis 1:26-2:3
God said:
"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
the birds of the air, and the cattle,
and over all the wild animals
and all the creatures that crawl on the ground."
God created man in his image;
in the divine image he created him;
male and female he created them.
God blessed them, saying:
"Be fertile and multiply;
fill the earth and subdue it.
Have dominion over the fish of the sea,
the birds of the air,
and all the living things that move on the earth."
God also said:
"See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth
and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it
to be your food; and to all the animals of the land,
all the birds of the air,
and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground,
I give all the green plants for food."
And so it happened.
God looked at everything he had made,
and he found it very good. Evening came,
and morning followed—the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed.
Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing,
God rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken.
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,
because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.
Or: Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24
Brothers and sisters:
Over all these things put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one Body.
And be thankful.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Whatever you do, do from the heart,
as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that you will receive from the Lord
the due payment of the inheritance;
be slaves of the Lord Christ.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 90: 2,3-4,12-13,14 and 16
Domine, opus manuum nostrarum dirige.
R. Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
Before the mountains were begotten
and the earth and the world were brought forth,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
R. Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Let your work be seen by your servants,
and your glory by their children.
R. Lord, give success to the work of our hands.
ALLELUIA Ps 68:20
Blessed be the LORD, day by day,
God, our salvation, who bears our burdens.
GOSPEL Matthew 13:54-58
Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
"Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?"
And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them,
"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house."
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Fons totius misericordiae, Deus, respice ad munera nostra, quae in commemoratione beati Ioseph maiestati tuae deferimus, et concede propitius, ut oblata dona fiant praesidia supplicantium.
O God, fount of all mercy,
look upon our offerings,
which we bring before your majesty
in commemoration of Saint Joseph,
and mercifully grant that the gifts we offer
may become the means of protection for those who call upon you.
Through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE The mission of Saint Joseph
Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus: Et te in sollemnitate beati Ioseph debitis magnificare praeconiis, benedicere et praedicare. Qui et vir iustus, a te Deiparae Virgini Sponsus est datus, et fidelis servus ac prudens, super Familiam tuam est constitutus, ut Unigenitum tuum, Sancti Spiritus obumbratione conceptum, paterna vice custodiret, Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem maiestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Caeli caelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces ut admitti iubeas, deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes: Sanctus.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up to the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R. It is right and just.
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
and on the commemoration of Saint Joseph
to give you fitting praise,
to glorify you and bless you.
For this just man was given by you
as spouse to the Virgin Mother of God
and set as a wise and faithful servant
in charge of your household
to watch like a father over your Only Begotten Son,
who was conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
Through him the Angels praise your majesty,
Dominions adore and Powers tremble before you.
Heaven and the Virtues of heaven and the blessed Seraphim
worship together with exultation.
May our voices, we pray, join with theirs
in humble praise, as we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts . . .
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Col 3: 17
Omne quodcumque facitis in verbo aut in opere, omnia in nomine Domini, gratias agentes Deo, alleluia.
Whatever you do in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord,
giving thanks to God through him, alleluia.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Caelestibus, Domine, pasti deliciis, supplices te rogamus, ut, exemplo beati Ioseph, caritatis tuae in cordibus nostris testimonia gerentes, perpetuae pacis fructu iugiter perfruamur.
Having fed upon heavenly delights,
we humbly ask you, O Lord,
that, by Saint Joseph’s example,
cherishing in our hearts the signs of your love,
we may ever enjoy the fruit of perpetual peace.
Through Christ our Lord.
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.