Office of Readings

Office of Readings
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Saturday following the Second Sunday after Pentecost
______
O, God, make speed to save us.
O, Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

The Psalms

Ant. 1: Mary received a blessing from the Lord and loving kindness from God her savior.

Domini est terra

1: The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it, *
the world and all who dwell therein.
2: For it is he who founded it upon the seas *
and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
3: "Who can ascend the hill of the LORD? *
and who can stand in his holy place?"
4: "Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *
who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,
nor sworn by what is a fraud.
5: They shall receive a blessing from the LORD *
and a just reward from the God of their salvation."
6: Such is the generation of those who seek him, *
of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
7: Lift up your heads, O gates;
lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
and the King of glory shall come in.
8: "Who is this King of glory?" *
"The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle."
9: Lift up your heads, O gates;
lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
and the King of glory shall come in.
10: "Who is he, this King of glory?" *
"The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory."

Ant. 1: Mary received a blessing from the Lord and loving kindness from God her savior.

Ant. 2: The most high has made his dwelling place a holy temple.

Deus noster refugium

1: God is our refuge and strength, *
a very present help in trouble.
2: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, *
and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;
3: Though its waters rage and foam, *
and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
4: The LORD of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
5: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, *
the holy habitation of the Most High.
6: God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be overthrown; *
God shall help her at the break of day.
7: The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; *
God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
8: The LORD of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
9: Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, *
what awesome things he has done on earth.
10: It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; *
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire.
11: "Be still, then, and know that I am God; *
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted in the earth."
12: The LORD of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Ant. 2:The most high has made his dwelling place a holy temple.

Ant. 3: Glorious things are said of you, O Virgin Mary.

Fundamenta ejus

1: On the holy mountain stands the city he has founded; *
the LORD loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
2: Glorious things are spoken of you, *
O city of our God.
3: I count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me; *
behold Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia:
in Zion were they born.
4: Of Zion it shall be said, "Everyone was born in her, *
and the Most High himself shall sustain her."
5: The LORD will record as he enrolls the peoples, *
"These also were born there."
6: The singers and the dancers will say, *
"All my fresh springs are in you."

Ant. 3: Glorious things are said of you, O Virgin Mary.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Biblical Reading

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10b; 11:1-9

The LORD spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"

Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. for "With us is God!"

But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
  and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
  a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A spirit of counsel and of strength,
  a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
  and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.

Not by appearance shall he judge,
  nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
  and decide aright for the land's afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
  and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
  and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
  and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
  with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
  together their young shall rest;
  the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
  and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
  for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
  as water covers the sea.

Responsory
Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son;
- he shall be called Wonderful, the Almighty God.
He shall sit on the throne of David
and reign over his kingdom for ever.
- He shall be called Wonderful, the Almighty God.

Second Reading

From a sermon by St. Laurence Justinian, bishop
(Sermo 8, in festo Purificationis B.M.V.: Opera, 2, Venetiis 1751, 38-39)

Mary stored up all these things in her heart.

While Mary contemplated all she had come to know through reading, listening and observing, she grew in faith, increased in merits, and was more illuminated by wisdom and more consumed by the fire of charity. The heavenly mysteries were opened to her, and she was filled with joy; she became fruitful by the Spirit, was being directed toward God, and watched over protectively while on earth.

So remarkable are the divine graces that they elevate one from the lowest depths to the highest summit, and transform one to a greater holiness. How entirely blessed was the mind of the Virgin which, through the indwelling and guidance of the Spirit, was always and in every way open to the power of the Word of God. She was not led by her own senses, nor by her own will; thus she accomplished outwardly through her body what wisdom from within gave to her faith.

It was fitting for divine Wisdom, which created itself a home in the Church, to use the intervention of the most blessed Mary in guarding the law, purifying the mind, giving an example of humility and providing a spiritual sacrifice.

Imitate her, O faithful soul. Enter into the deep recesses of your heart so that you may be purified spiritually and cleansed from your sins. God places more value on good will in all we do than on the works themselves.

Therefore, whether we give ourselves to God in the work of contemplation or whether we serve the needs of our neighbor by good works, we accomplish these things because the love of Christ urges us on. The acceptable offering of the spiritual purification is accomplished not in a man-made temple but in the recesses of the heart where the Lord Jesus freely enters.

Responsory
O pure and holy Virgin,
how can I find words to praise your beauty?
- The highest heavens cannot contain God whom you carried in your womb.

Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
- The highest heavens cannot contain God whom you carried in your womb.

Closing Prayer:
Father,
you prepared the heart of the Virgin Mary
to be a fitting home for your Holy Spirit.
By her prayers
may we become a more worthy temple of your glory.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and 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.