Friday December 27, 2024
SAINT JOHN, Apostle and Evangelist (Feast)
Office: Feast; Proper of Octave, Te Deum
Mass prop. Gloria. Preface (Communicantes)
of Christmas
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mystery

Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
This is John, who reclined on the Lord’s breast at supper, the blessed Apostle to whom celestial secrets were revealed and who spread the words of life through all the world.

Or: 

Sir. 15:5
In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory.

The Gloria
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

COLLECT
O God, who through the blessed Apostle John have unlocked for us the secrets of your Word, grant, we pray, that we may grasp with proper understanding what he has so marvellously brought to our ear. Through our Lord…

FIRST READING      
That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you.
The beginning of the first Letter of Saint John (1 John 1:1-4)

Beloved: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 97:1-2.5-6.11-12 (R. 12a)
R/.  Rejoice in the Lord, you just.

The Lord is king, let earth rejoice; 
let the many islands be glad.
Cloud and darkness surround him;
justice and right are the foundation of his throne. R/.

The mountains melt like wax 
before the face of the Lord,
before the face of the Lord of all the earth. 
The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory. R/.

R/.  Rejoice in the Lord, you just.

Light shines forth for the just one, 
And joy for the upright of heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you just;
To the memory of his holiness give thanks. R/.

ALLELUIA
Alleluia. We praise you, O God; we acclaim you as the Lord; the glorious band of apostles sings your praise, O Lord! Alleluia.

GOSPEL    
“The other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 20:2-8)

On the first day of the week: Mary Magdalene ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went towards the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.

The Gospel of the Lord.

The Creed (I Believe)
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Celebrant:
The Apostle John dedicated his life to the transmission of the Gospel of Christ. Let us pray for the grace to be bearers and witnesses of the message he passionately propagated.

FOR PASTORS OF THE CHURCH: that, inspired by the apostolic life of Saint John, they may be zealous in proclaiming the risen Christ to all persons. We pray O Lord.

FOR THOSE IN CIVIL AUTHORITY: that the laws and policies they make may be such that enhance the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ and the safety of the agents of evangelization. We pray O Lord.

FOR MISSIONARIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN PLACES MARKED WITH HOSTILITY TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH: that the Lord will give them the courage to remain resolute in preaching the Gospel, and that their missionary activities may lead many more souls to Christ. We pray O Lord.

FOR MEMBERS OF OUR WORSHIPPING COMMUNITY: that, as the Apostle John faithfully remained with our Lord Jesus Christ, even during his passion and death, we may persevere in our Christian faith, especially in times of trial. We pray O Lord.

For other intentions: (the sick, church projects or other activities).

FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. We pray O Lord.

Celebrant:
God our Father, we praise and acknowledge you to be the Lord. We humbly beg you to hear our prayers and help us to proclaim your Gospel to the ends of the earth. Through Christ our Lord.

R/. Amen.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
On the feast-day of your beloved disciple John, we are given to meditate on his own first-hand account of your resurrection. The mystery lying unseen in the baby in the manger at Bethlehem is to unfold through the mystery of the cross and of the empty tomb. John’s meticulous recording of the details of his discovery of the empty tomb baffles me. What was the sign that led John to faith in your resurrection? Was it the empty tomb? Or was it how he found the burial linen and the head-napkin neatly folded and kept in a place? When he saw that the tomb stone was rolled away he must have suspected that the body might have been removed. Lord, you give us numerous little signs to lead us to believe that you are alive and with us as our risen Lord. Help us to read the signs of the times and so believe in your abiding presence in our midst.

TODAY’S SAINT: SAINT JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST FEAST
Today we celebrate the feast of Saint John, the disciple whom Jesus loved the most, the one who stood by the cross with Mary. He was the one who believed when he saw the empty tomb, the one who was chosen to remain with the Christian community for a long time as a witness of God’s love. We too are drawn into a new way of discipleship as we contemplate what God has done in the life of Saint John.

PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
“I will sing for ever of your mercies, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your fidelity”

  • Lord show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy and at your right hand are pleasures forever more…
  • Lord, remove everything within me that prevents me from hearing from you.
  • Let every hopeless situation in my life be revived in Jesus name.
  • Lord, I believe in what you have said concerning my situation

Let Us Pray,
Father I release myself from all evil association (if you have involved yourself in unresolved occultism of any kind or have visited witch doctor (s)’, water spirits in search of business success before).

O Lord take charge of my life and have mercy in Jesus name.