September 21: SAINT MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST [Feast]. MASS PRAYERS AND READINGS.

September 21
SAINT MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST [Feast]
MASS PRAYERS AND READINGS.

Also called Levi, St. Matthew was the son of Alphaeus. He was a publican, that is, a tax collector for the Romans. His profession was hateful to the Jews. Nevertheless, our Lord called him. Matthew’s vocation reminds us that sanctity is not reserved for privileged persons. Tradition unanimously acknowledges him as the author of the first Gospel, written in Aramaic, the language that our Lord himself spoke, and translated into Greek afterwards. For 15 years, St. Matthew preached the Gospel in Hebrew to the Jewish community in Judea, before going to other countries and dying a martyr. Ancient writers do not agree as to what these countries are, but others say that he went to Persia.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Eúntes, docéte omnes gentes, baptizántes eos, et docéntes eos serváre ómnia quæcúmque mandávi vobis, dicit Dóminus.
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, says the Lord.
[–» Greeting]
The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is said.
 
COLLECT
O God, who with untold mercy were pleased to choose as an Apostle Saint Matthew, the tax collector, grant that, sustained by his example and intercession, we may merit to hold firm in following you. Through our Lord.

Proper Readings

READING I 
Eph 4:1–7, 11–13 
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ. 
 
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
In omnem terram exívit sonus eórum.
The heavens declare the glory of God; 
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 
Day pours out the word to day, 
and night to night imparts knowledge. 
R.
Not a word nor a discourse 
whose voice is not heard; 
Through all the earth their voice resounds, 
and to the ends of the world, their message. 
R.
 
ALLELUIA 
Te Deum laudámus, te Dóminum confitémur; te gloriósus Apostolórum chorus laudat, Dómine. 
You are God: we praise you, you are the Lord: we acclaim you; the glorious company of apostles praise you.
 
GOSPEL 
Mt 9:9–13 
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
 
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
As we celebrate anew the memory of Saint Matthew, we bring you sacrifices and prayers, O Lord, humbly imploring you to look kindly on your Church, whose faith you have nourished by the preaching of the Apostles. Through Christ our Lord.
[–» Eucharistic Prayer]
[–» Preface of the Apostles]
 
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Non veni vocáre iustos, sed peccatóres, dicit Dóminus.
I did not come to call the just but sinners, says the Lord.
[–» Communion]
 
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Sharing in that saving joy, O Lord, with which Saint Matthew welcomed the Savior as a guest in his home, we pray: grant that we may always be renewed by the food we receive from Christ, who came to call not the just, but sinners to salvation. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
[–» Concluding Rite]