MONDAY WITHIN THE TWELFTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS JOHN FISHER, BISHOP AND
THOMAS MORE, MARTYRS
FEAST
St John Fisher (1469-1535) was born at Beverley (Yorkshire) and studied at the University of Cambridge, which he eventually served as Chancellor. In 1504 he became Bishop of Rochester and proved to be a model bishop; indeed, St Charles Borromeo hung his portrait in his apartment with that of St Ambrose. Imprisoned after refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy, Pope Paul III created him a Cardinal. He was beheaded on Tower Hill, London on 22 June 1535.
St Thomas More (1477-1535) was born in London (England). He was a well-respected lawyer and humanist scholar and served as Chancellor to King Henry VIII. He was devoted to his family and managed to maintain his life of prayer amid his many duties. St Thomas retired from public life as the King attempted to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. He was eventually beheaded on Tower Hill on 6 July 1535. Blessed John Paul II declared him patron of politicians in 2000.
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Examen
Before listening to the Word of God take a moment to reflect.
For what am I grateful to God for today? Where did I stray from God: through words, actions or things I did not do. How might I do better tomorrow? What grace do I ask from God in order to live more closely in his love?
You may wish to conclude by saying:
Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father:
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth:
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal life:
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Collect
O God, who in martyrdom
have brought true faith to its highest expression,
graciously grant
that, strengthened through the intercession
of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More,
we may confirm by the witness of our life
the faith we profess with our lips.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
First Reading
A reading from the second book of Maccabees 6: 18, 21, 24-31
I am glad to suffer because the awe which he inspires in me.
Eleazar, one of the foremost teachers of the Law, a man already advanced in years and of most noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth wide to swallow pig’s flesh. Those in charge of the impious banquet, because of their long-standing friendships with him took him aside and privately urged him to have meat brought of a kind he could properly use, prepared by himself, and only pretend to eat the portions of sacrificial meat as prescribed by the king. ‘Such pretence’, he said, ‘does not square with our time of life; many young people would suppose that Eleazar at the age of ninety had conformed to the foreigner’s way of life, and because I had played this part for the sake of a paltry brief spell of life might themselves be led astray on my account; I should only bring defilement and disgrace on my old age. Even though for the moment I avoid execution by man, I can never, living or dead, elude the grasp of the Almighty. Therefore if I am man enough to quit this life here and now I shall prove myself worthy of my old age, and I shall have left the young a noble example of how to make a good death eagerly and generously, for the venerable and holy laws.’
With these words he went straight to the block. His escorts, so recently well disposed towards him, turned against him after this declaration, which they regarded as sheer madness. Just before he died under the blows, he groaned aloud and said, ‘The Lord whose knowledge is holy sees clearly that, though I might have escaped death, whatever agonies of body I now endure under this bludgeoning, in my soul I am glad to suffer, because of the awe which he inspires in me.’
This is how he died, leaving his death as an example of nobility and a record of virtue not only for the young but for the great majority of the nation.
The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 30: 2, 6, 8-9, 15-17, 25. R. Luke 23:46
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
In you, O Lord, I take refuge.
Let me never be put to shame.
In your justice, set me free.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
It is you who will redeem me, Lord. R.
You who have seen my afflication
and taken heed of my soul’s distress,
have not handed me over to the enemy,
but set my feet at large. R.
But as for me, I trust in you, Lord,
I say: ‘You are my God.
My life is in your hands, deliver me
from the hands of those who hate me.’ R.
‘Let your face shine on your servant.
Save me in your love.’
Be strong, let your heart take courage,
all who hope in the Lord. R.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Happy the man who stands firm when trials come.
He has proved himself,
and will win the crown of life.
Alleluia!
Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 24: 4-13
You will be hated by all the nations on account of my name.
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Take care that no one deceives you; because many will come using my name and saying, “I am the Christ”, and they will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumours of wars; do not be alarmed, for this is something that must happen, but the end will not be yet. For nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes here and there. All this is only the beginning of the birthpangs.
‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured and put to death; and you will be hated by all the nations on account of my name. And then many will fall away; men will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise; they will deceive many, and with the increase of lawlessness, love in most men will grow cold; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Profession of Faith
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen,
Prayers
Intercessions
Pray for family and loved ones so that they may be held in God’s compassionate care. Pray for other countries who are struggling with the effects of the COVID 19 virus.
For those in authority: may they offer advice with care and integrity, may they seek to protect the poor and vulnerable.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
For all who work in healthcare: give strength to all who look after the sick so that they may bring comfort and relief to the suffering.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
For the Church: may she offer prayers and consolation for all those affected.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
For our local community and all for those in need: may those who are isolated know the support and service of their neighbours.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed by thy name;
they kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Prayer for Spiritual communion
I prostrate myself at your feet, O my Jesus, and I offer you the repentance of my contrite heart, which abases itself in its nothingness in Your Holy Presence. I adore you in the Sacrament of Your Love; I desire to receive You in the poor abode that my heart offers You. While waiting for the happiness of a Sacramental Communion, I want to possess You in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, that I may come to You. May Your love inflame my whole being, in life and in death. I believe in You. I hope in You. I love You.
Amen.
Daily Prayer
Almighty ever-living God,
you set the perfection of true faith in martyrdom.
Strengthen us by the prayers of the martyrs
Saint John Fisher and Saint Thomas More,
so that our lives may bear witness
to the faith we profess.
We make our prayer through our Lord.
Memorare
Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone
who fled to thy protection, implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do we come,
before thee do we stand sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not our petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer us.
Amen.
Prayer for the Year of the Word
Living God, you walk alongside us and speak to us throughout the Scriptures.
Your Son, Jesus Christ, listens to our hopes and fears and shows us how to live for one another.
Send us the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds, so that we may be your witnesses throughout the world.
Amen.
Your word is our path and your truth is our light.
This day and every day.
Our Lady of the Annunciation. Pray for us.
St Matthew. Pray for us.
St. Jerome. Pray for us.
A Prayer for protection in times of pandemic
O Mary,
you always brighten our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the Cross,
took part in Jesus’ pain while remaining steadfast in faith.
O loving Mother,
you know what we need,
and we are confident you will provide for us as at Cana in Galilee.
Intercede for us with your Son Jesus,
the Divine Physician,
for those who have fallen ill,
for those who are vulnerable,
and for those who have died.
Intercede also for those charged with protecting the health and safety of others and for those who are tending to the sick and seeking a cure.
Help us, O Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who took upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows,
so as to lead us, through the Cross,
to the glory of the Resurrection.
Amen.
Under thy protection, we seek refuge, O Holy Mother of God.
In our needs, despise not our petitions, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.
Conclusion
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.