Friday May 3, 2024
SS PHILIP AND JAMES, App. (FEAST)
Office: Proper, Te Deum
Mass Prop. Gloria., Preface of Apostles
Vestment: Red
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mysteries
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
These are the holy men whom the Lord chose in his own sheer love; and he gave them eternal glory, alleluia.
COLLECT
O God, who gladden us each year with the feast day of the Apostles Philip and James, grant us, through their prayers, a share in the Passion and Resurrection of your Only Begotten Son, so that we may merit to behold you for eternity. Through our Lord. . .
FIRST READING
The Lord appeared to James, then to all the Apostles.
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
The word of the Lord.
Also Read: Daily Reading for Thursday, May 2nd, 2024
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 19: 19:2-3.4-5 (R. 5a)
R/. Their sound goes forth through all the earth.
Or: Alleluia.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.
Day unto day conveys the message,
and night unto night imparts the knowledge. R/.
No speech, no word, whose voice goes unheeded;
their sound goes forth through all the earth,
their message to the utmost bounds of the world. R/.
ALLELUIA John 14:6b, 9c
Alleluia. I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord; Philip, he who has seen me has seen the Father. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Have I been with you so long and yet you do not know me? ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 14:6-14)
At that time: Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
As we celebrate today the feast of Saints Philip and James, let us ask God to listen to our petitions, as we trust in their intercessions on our behalf.
FOR THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH:that God may strengthen our Pope, Bishops and priests in their faith and make them good and holy ministers of his word. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR THOSE IN PUBLIC AUTHORITY: that they may give adequate care to internally displaced persons by providing the psychological and material assistance they need in order to rebuild their lives. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR THOSE PREPARING FOR THE PRIESTHOOD: that the Lord may fill their hearts with a true love for the church and the desire to please God in all their endeavours. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR THOSE PRESENT AT THIS CELEBRATION: that God may give us the grace to seek him at all times and to have the enthusiasm to bear witness to the Gospel of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
God our loving Father, grant that the heroic examples of saints Philip and James may inspire us towards loving you above all else. By their intercession, may you hear and answer our prayers. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
St Paul affirms that the truth of the resurrection of Christ is indubitable. It is the climax of our Christian faith and the fount of the hope of our salvation. Our personal belief in this divine reality must also be rooted in our own personal encounter with the risen Christ in the sacraments. It is in this personal encounter that for us Christ becomes the way, the truth and the life. Therefore our Christian faith must always have a personal dimension which creates room for a personal encounter with God. This divine intimacy can be strengthened by pious devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints, and daily meditations.
SS PHILIP AND JAMES, AP. (FEAST)
Today the Church celebrates the feast of two apostles, Philip and James. Their relics are kept together in the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome and, from the day of its dedication in 565, these two apostles have been celebrated together. Philip came from Bethsaida, on the shore of the Lake of Galilee. He was a disciple of John the Baptist and later became an apostle of Jesus. James, son of Alphaeus and cousin of the Lord, ruled the Church of Jerusalem, and probably authored the letter we find in the New Testament. He suffered martyrdom in the year 62.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL IN HONOUR OF B.V.M
Our Mother Mary knew who Jesus is and she did not doubt that He could do something to change any difficult situation that is brought to Him in prayer.
She has shown us example at the wedding at Cana in Galilee that we should not be afraid to approach Jesus in prayer no matter the need we have, but we must have faith to believe that He can do something for us. Therefore, we must be people of faith who will always take our matter to Jesus in prayer trusting that He will answer us. Our Mother Mary can help us to connect to Jesus if we asked her for help.
Let us pray,
Heavenly Father, help me to always seek your face in prayer as our Mother Mary sought the help of Jesus at the wedding at Cana and may I find you when I seek you with my whole heart. Amen.
Meditation: John 14:12-14
MAY DEVOTION
Proposed Program of Daily Events for May Devotion (Personal / Group)
1. Opening / Introduction: Sign of the Cross + / (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament optional)
2. ACT OF CONTRITION: O my God because you’re so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you and by the help of your grace I will not sin again.
3. ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY: O most pure heart of Mary, full of goodness, show your love towards us. Let the flame of your heart, O Mary, descend on all people. We love you immensely. Impress on our hearts true love so that we may long for you. O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we sin. You know that all we sin. Grant that through your most pure and motherly heart, we may be healed from every spiritual sickness. Grant that we may always experience the goodness of your motherly heart, and that through the flame of your heart we may be converted. Amen.
4. Rosary Recitation and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Begin with the invocation of the Holy Spirit: Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the heart……….
5. ART OF REPARATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY: O Most Holy Virgin, and Our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of your immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns placed therein at every moment by the blasphemies and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity. We are moved by the ardent desire of loving you as Our Mother and of promising a true devotion to your Immaculate Heart. We therefore kneel before you to manifest the sorrow we feel for the grievances that people cause you, and to atone by our prayers and sacrifices for the offenses with which they return your love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. Hasten the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus Christ and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended. Turn your eyes of mercy toward us, that we may love God with all our heart on earth and enjoy him forever in Heaven.
6. Talk on Blessed Virgin Mary (optional).
7. Gift of candle light and offering of petition. (Lighting of candles and submission of petition).
8. MEMORARE: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
9. Prayers for the intention of Our Holy Father (One Our Father, One Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father).
10. Closing / Benediction; Sign of the Cross
