3rd November
Feast of Blessed Pio Campidelli, Passionist
13th November
Feast of Blessed Eugene Bossilkov, Passionist
18th November
Feast of Blessed Grimoaldo Santamaria, Passionist
21st November
Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
22nd November
Anniversary of the Clothing of St. Paul of the Cross (1720)
28th November
Anniversary of the Clothing of Ven. John Baptist Daneo (1721)
St. Paul of the Cross,
our father and brother,
as we stand with you before the Cross of Christ
may our minds, our hearts and our lives
be overwhelmed by the love shown there for us.
As you followed the example of Jesus Crucified
may we too be emptied of all things
but the desire to do God’s will
and so keep alive the memory
of the Passion and Death
of Jesus Christ our only hope.
Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord God, you gave St. Paul of the Cross, a wonderful spirit of love in preaching Christ Crucified. By his prayers and example, may we gain souls for Christ through the power of his passion and share with them the grace of his paschal mystery. 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.
FIRST READING – A READING FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH (61:1-3)
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to those captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favour from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn, to place on those who mourn in Zion a diadem instead of ashes, to give them oil of gladness in place of mourning, a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Response: I will proclaim your salvation, Lord.
Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you pleases. (R)
For steadfast is his kindness towards us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. (R)
SECOND READING – A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS (1 Cor 1:17-25)
Christ did not send me to baptise but to preach the gospel – not with wordy “wisdom,” however, lest the cross of Christ he rendered void of its meaning! The message of the cross is complete absurdity to those who are headed for ruin, but to those who are experiencing salvation it is the power of God. Scriptures says: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and thwart the cleverness of the clever”. Where is the wise man to be found? Where is the master of worldly argument? Has not God turned the wisdom of the world into folly? Since in God’s wisdom the world did not come to know him through “wisdom,” it pleased God to save those who believe through the absurdity of the preaching of the gospel. Yes, Jews demands “signs” and Greeks look for “wisdom”, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews, and an absurdity to gentiles; but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s folly is wiser than men, and his weakness more powerful than men.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Cf. Luke 4:18)
Alleluia, alleluia. The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives. Alleluia
A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK (6:7-13)
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing on the journey but a walking stick – no food, no travelling bag, not a coin in the purse in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals. “Do not bring a second tunic,” he said to them and added: “Whatever house you find yourself in, stay there until you leave the locality. If any place will not receive you or hear you, shake its dust from your feet in testimony against them as you leave”. With that they went off, preaching the need of repentance. They expelled many demons, anointed the sick with oil, and worked many cures.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord, accept the gifts we offer you on this Solemnity of St. Paul of the Cross. May we stand before you as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing in your sight. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
PREFACE
Father, all powerful and ever living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord. You showed the wonders of your power in raising up St. Paul of the Cross to keep alive the memory of Christ’s Passion. As he contemplated the supreme love of your Son for us, you have him mystical insight and wisdom and special gifts of grace. You marked him out by his spirit of penance, by his love of poverty, and by his desire for prayer and solitude. You made him a spiritual guide and a preacher of the gospel. As he proclaimed the rich harvest of salvation, his words and example brought back to you countless sinners who had strayed from you and kept before the eyes of your people the Passion of Jesus Christ, our Lord. And so with all the choirs of angels in heaven, we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise –
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord Jesus, we have received your wonderful sacrament, the ever-present sign of your infinite love. Through the prayers and example of St. Paul of the Cross, may we proclaim your death in word and deed. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
OUR PASSIONIST CHARISM 