Friday November 22, 2024
SAINT CECILIA, Virgin and Martyr (Memorial)
Office: Memorial, Psalter Week 1
Mass and Preface of the Memorial
Vestment: Red
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Behold, now she follows the Lamb who was crucified for us, powerful in virginity, modesty her offering, a sacrifice on the altar of chastity.
Or
Blessed is the virgin who by denying herself and taking up her cross imitated the Lord, the spouse of virgins and prince of martyrs.
COLLECT
O God, who gladden us each year with the feast day of your handmaid Saint Cecilia, grant, we pray, that what has been devoutly handed down concerning her may offer us examples to imitate and proclaim the wonders worked in his servants by Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READING
“I took the little scroll and ate it.”
A reading from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1 0:8-11)
The voice which I, John, had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll which is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, “Take it and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.” And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 119:14.24.72.103.111. 131 (R. 103a)
R/. How sweet is your promise to my tongue, O Lord!
I rejoice in the way of your precepts,
as though all riches were mine. R/.
See, your decrees are my delight;
your statutes are my counsellors. R/.
The law from your mouth means more to me
than large quantities of silver and gold. R/.
R/. How sweet is your promise to my tongue, O Lord!
How sweet is your promise to my tongue,
more than honey in the mouth. R/.
Your decrees are my heritage forever,
the joy of my heart. R/.
I have opened my mouth and I sigh,
for I yearn for your commands. R/.
ALLELUIA John10:27
Alleluia. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
You have made my house a den of robbers.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 19:45-48)
At that time: Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.” And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon his words.
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
The Temple of Jerusalem was, for the Jewish people, the most revered house of prayer and the offering of sacrifice. However, it had become a centre of such commercial activity like buying, selling exchanging and of conversion of currency that it had lost its sanctity. Cleansing the temple and cleansing it of such elements and activity was a bold act on the part of Jesus, burning as he was with Zeal for the house of God. It has the symbolic meaning of Jesus as Saviour of the world, coming to redeem us from the evil powers and sin. This cleansing should begin right from the heart of each one of us as every person is a dwelling place of God.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. – 1 Corinthians 5:11
-Pray for grace and strength to depart from sinful associations.
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that you took the pain of the Cross to give me new life. I ask you to come into my life and to give me your peace and Joy. I confess that I am a sinner, that I have gone my own way and have done wrong. Please forgive me for my sins. I receive you now as my Lord and Saviour. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to follow you
and to serve you all my life. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.
