OC: Optional Memorial

 

from the Common of Holy Men

 

Angelus was born in Florence or near there; the year is unknown but it was

before 1386.  He was the first member of the reform observance of our Lady

of the Wood, was many times prior of various houses and was noted for his

work in preaching the Word of God.  He died in Florence in 1438.

 

Office of Readings

 

Second Reading

>From the "Institution of the First Monks"

 

The Lord says, "The man who hears My commandments and keeps them, he it is

who loves Me."  And the first of all commandments is:  "Hear, O Israel:  The

Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your

heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

This is the greatest and first commandment."  This cannot be observed

without love of neighbor, because "he who does not love his brother whom he

has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen;"  "and the second command-

ment is like it.  You shall love your neighbor as yourself,"

namely, in the things and for the reason that you love yourself.  "His soul

hated him who loves violence," says the Psalmist.  Therefore, love your

neighbor as yourself in good and not in evil, and "whatever you wish that

men would do so you, do so to them" and "what you hate, do not do to any

one."  Thus you must love your neighbor, and so act that he becomes just if

he is wicked, or remains just if he is good.

 

Again you must love yourself, not because of yourself, but because of God.

Whatever is loved because of itself is thus made a source of joy and a happy

life, the hope of attaining which is comforting even on earth.  But you must

not place the hope of a blessed life in yourself or another man.  "Cursed is

the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm whose heart turns away

from the Lord."

Therefore you must make the Lord the source of your joy and the happy life,

as the apostle says:  "But now that you have been set free from sin and have

become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end,

eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 

If you understand this clearly, you must love God because of Himself, and

yourself, not because or yourself, but because of God; and, since, you must

love your neighbor as yourself, you must love him, not because of himself,

nor because of yourself, but because of God, and what else is this but to

love God in your neighbor?  "By this we know that we love the children of

God, when we love God and obey His commandments."  In the preparation of

your soul you do all of this if you love God because of Himself and your

neighbor as yourself because of God.  "On these two commandments depend all

the law and the prophets.

 

Responsory

R/.  Preach the word in season out of season:  refute falsehood, correct

error, call to obedience:  but do all with patience and the intention to

teach. *  Make the preaching of the Gospel your life's work and service.

 

V/.  Attend to His word as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the dawn

comes and the morning star rises in our hearts.  *  Make the preaching of

the Gospel your life's work and service.

 

 

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God,

You made this day holy

by welcoming Bl. Angelus Augustine Mazzinghi into the glory of Your kingdom.

Keep us true to the faith

he professed with untiring zeal,

and help us to bring it to perfection by acting in love.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns

with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

 

*************

for Mass

 

Entrance Antiphon

My words that I have put in your mouth, says the Lord, will never be absent

from your lips, and your gifts will be accepted on my altar.

 

Prayer

(same as above)

 

Prayer over the Gifts

God of all mercy,

You transformed Bl. Angelus Augustine Mazzinghi and made him a new creature

in Your image.

Renew us in the same way

by making our gifts of peace acceptable to You.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon

We preach a Christ Who was crucified; He is the power and the wisdom of God.

 

Prayer after Communion

Almighty God,

may we who are strengthened by the power of this sacrament learn from the

example of Bl. Angelus Augustine Mazzinghi to seek You above all things and

to live in the world as Your new creation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 

Reading may be taken from the Common of Pastors, or the Common

Saints:  for Religious