July 25: SAINT JAMES THE GREATER, APOSTLE. MASS PRAYERS AND PROPER READINGS.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Ámbulans Iesus iuxta mare Galilaéæ, vidit lacobum Zebedaéi; et Ioánnem fratrem eius, reficiéntes rétia sua, et vocávit eos.
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother mending their nets and he called them.
[–» Greeting]
The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is said.
COLLECT
Almighty ever-living God, who consecrated the first fruits of your Apostles by the blood of Saint James, grant, we pray, that your Church may be strengthened by his confession of faith and constantly sustained by his patronage. Through our Lord.
Proper Readings
READING I
Acts 4:33. 5:12,27-33. 12:2
With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.
Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico.
When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them,“We gave you strict orders [did we not?] to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,j though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand* as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.
He had James, the brother of John,* killed by the sword
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R.
READING II
2 Cor 4:7–15
Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.
ALLELUIA
I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, to go and bear fruit that will last.
GOSPEL
Mt 20:20–28
The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
REFLECTION FOR ST. JAMES THE GREATER HERE AND HERE.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Cleanse us, Lord, by the saving baptism of your Son’s Passion, so that on the Feast of Saint James, whom you willed to· be the first among the Apostles to drink of Christ’s chalice of suffering, we may offer a sacrifice pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.
[–» Eucharistic Prayer
Preface of the Apostles
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
For you have built your Church to stand firm on apostolic foundations, to be a lasting sign of your holiness on earth and offer to all humanity your heavenly teaching. Therefore, now and for ages unending, with all the host of Angels, we sing to you with all our hearts, crying out as we acclaim:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
They drank the chalice of the Lord, and became the friends of God.
[–» Communion]
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Help us, O Lord, we pray, through the intercession of the blessed Apostle James, on whose feast day we have received with joy your holy gifts. Through Christ our Lord.
[–» Concluding Rite]
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