THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / WHITE
Our Lord said of His Precursor that among those born of
women there had not risen a greater than John the Baptist. John was more than a
prophet because it was his office to point out to mankind the Saviour whom the
ancient prophets had foretold obscurely and from afar. The Baptist practiced in
a heroic degree the virtues of purity, penance, and incessant prayer; but the
crown of his great holiness was his selfless humility. "He must increase,
but I must decrease," John said of Christ. These words are the inspiration
of foreign missioners striving to train native priests, in order to yield their
places to them. They also mark the goal of all sincere Catholics, in whom self
must die before they can attain "to the mature measure of the fullness of
Christ" (Eph. 4:13).
INTROIT Isa. 49:1, 2
The Lord has called me by name from my
mother's womb, and He has made my mouth as a sharp sword. Under the shadow of
His hand He has protected me, and has made me a chosen arrow.
Ps. 91:2. It is good to praise the Lord, and sing to Your
name, O Most High!
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
O God, the birth of blessed John made this day one of honour
to us. Grant the grace of spiritual happiness to Your people everywhere, and
lead Your people in the path of eternal salvation. Through our Lord . . .
LESSON Isa. 49:1-3, 5, 6, 7
Give ear, ye islands, and hearken, ye people from afar. The
Lord hath called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother he hath been
mindful of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword: in the shadow
of his hand he hath protected me, and hath made me as a chosen arrow: in his
quiver he hath hidden me. And he said to me: Thou art my servant Israel, for in
thee will I glory. And now the Lord, who formed me from the womb to be his
servant, says, "Behold, I have given thee to be the light of the Gentiles,
that thou mayst be my salvation even to the farthest part of the earth. Kings
shall see, and princes shall rise up, and adore for the Lord's sake, because he
is faithful, and for the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee."
GRADUAL Jer. 1:5, 9
Before I formed you in the body of your mother, I knew you;
and before you came forth from the womb, I sanctified you.
V. The Lord stretched forth His hand and touched my mouth,
and said to me:
Alleluia, alleluia! V. Luke 1:76
"Thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most
High, for thou shall go before the Lord to prepare His ways." Alleluia!
GOSPEL Luke 1:57-68
At that time, Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was
come: and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolks heard that
the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her: and they congratulated with
her. And it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the
child: and they called him by his father's name Zachary. And his mother
answering, said: "Not so. But he shall be called John." And they said
to her: "There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name."
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And demanding
a writing table, he wrote, saying: "John is his name." And they all
wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed: and he
spoke, blessing God. And fear came upon all their neighbours: and all these
things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea. And all they that
had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: "What an one, think
ye, shall this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. And Zachary
his father was filled with the Holy Ghost. And he prophesied, saying:
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: because he hath visited and wrought
the redemption of his people."
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 91:13
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall
grow like a cedar of Lebanon.
SECRET
We place our gifts upon Your altar, O Lord, in solemn
celebration of the birthday of John. John was the herald of the coming of the
Saviour of the world, and pointed Him out when He arrived as Jesus Christ, Your
Son our Lord; who lives and rules with You.
The Preface for Weekdays is said.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Luke 1:76
Thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High,
for thou shalt go before the Lord to prepare His ways.
POSTCOMMUNION
O God, let Your Church rejoice over the birth of blessed
John the Baptist, for through him she came to know the author of her own birth,
Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord; who lives and rules with You ..
And:
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