OC: Feast

OCD: Memorial

 

Albert degli Abbani was born in Trapani in Sicily in the 13th century.

Having joined the Carmelites and been ordained a priest, he soon became

famous for his preaching and miracles.  He was provincial in Sicily in 1296,

and died in Messina, probably in 1307, with a reputation for purity and

prayer.

 

Office of Readings

 

First Reading

2 Corinthians 4:1-14

Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we are

not discouraged.

Rather, we have renounced shameful, hidden things; not acting deceitfully or

falsifying the word of God, but by the open declaration of the truth we

commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even

though our gospel is veiled, it is veiled for those who are perishing, in

whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so

that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is

the image of God.  For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,

and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.  For God who said, "Let

light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to bring to light the

knowledge of the glory of God on the face of (Jesus) Christ.  But 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.

 

Second Reading (OCD)

A reading from The Book of the Institution of the First Monks

 

The Word of the Lord came to Elijah saying:  "Depart from here and turn

eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is east of the

Jordan.  You shall drink from the brook."

 

These salutary commands, which the Holy Spirit incited Elijah to obey, and

these welcome promises, which He encouraged him to strive for, should be

meditated upon by us hermit monks word by word, not only historically but

also mystically and with greater application since the Order is more fully

comprehended in them, that is, the rule for arriving at the perfection of

the prophets and the goal of the eremitical religious life.

 

The goal of this life is twofold.  One part we acquire, with the help of

diving grace, throught our efforts and virtuous works.  This is to offer God

a holy heart, free from all stain of actual sin.  We do this when we are

perfect and in Cherith, that is hidden in that charity of which the Wise Man

says:  "Charity covers all offenses."  God desired Elijah to advance thus

far, when He said to him:  "Hide yourself by the brook Cherith."

 

The other part of the goal of this life is granted us as the free gift of

God:  namely, to taste somewhat in the heart and to experience in the soul,

not only after death but even in this mortal life, the intensity of the

divine presence and the sweetness of the glory of heaven.  This is to drink

of the torrent of the love of God.  God promised it to Elijah in the

words:  "You shall drink from the brook."

 

Because of both aims the eremitical life of a prophet should be adopted by

the monk, as the prophet bears

witness:  "as in a dry and weary land where no water is; so I have looked

upon thee in the sanctuary beholding Thy power and glory."  By thus choosing

to remain "in a dry and weary land where no water is," and so come before

God "in the sanctuary," that is, with a heart free from sin, he indicated

the first end of the solitary life chosen by him, which is to offer a holy

heart, free from all actual sin.  By adding "beholding Thy power and glory,"

he clearly declares the second end of this life, which is to experience

somewhat even in this life, or to see mystically in the heart, the intensity

of the divine presence and to taste the sweetness of the glory of heaven.

The first of these, namely, purity of heart, is attained with the help of

divine grace through our efforts and virtuous works.  And through purity of

heart and perfection of love, the second is attained, namely, an

experimental knowledge of the divine presence and the glory of heaven, as

the Lord says:  "He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love

him and manifest Myself to him."

 

Responsory

R/.  I have called you friends, for I have made know to you all that I have

heard from My Father. * Remain in My love.

V/.  I have chosen you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that shall last. *

Remain in My love.

 

 

Canticle of Zechariah

The just man will speak the wisdom he has pondered in his heart.

Truth will come from his lips.

 

Prayer

Lord God,

You made St. Albert of Trapani

a model of purity and prayer,

and a devoted servant of Our Lady.

May we practice these same virtues

and so be worthy always

to share the banquet of your grace.

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

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

 

Canticle of Mary

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

 

***********

for Mass

 

 

Entrance Antiphon

The mouth of the just man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is

right; the law of his God is in his heart.

 

Prayer

(see above)

 

Prayer over the Gifts

Father,

our prayers rise up before You

as we present these offerings.

Following the example of St. Albert of Trapani may we give ourselves up to

the contemplation of Your divine mysteries without neglecting the needs of

our brothers and sisters.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon

I solemnly tell you:  those who have left everything and followed me will be

repaid a hundredfold and will gain eternal life.

 

Prayer after Communion

Lord,

we have been refreshed with food from heaven.

Following the example of St. Albert of Trapani may we ever draw closer to

Christ and serve with greater loyalty the Mother of Him Who lives and reigns

with You for ever and ever.

 

First Reading

Isaiah 58: 6-12

  "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to

undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break

every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the

homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not

to hide yourself from your own flesh?  Then shall your light break forth

like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness

shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.  Then

you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say,

Here I am.  "If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing

of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the

hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise

in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.  And the LORD will guide

you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your

bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of

water, whose waters fail not.  And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you

shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the

repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.

 

Responsorial Psalm

R/.  The Lord guards the way of the just.

 

Happy indeed is the man

who follows not the counsel of the wicked; nor lingers in the way of sinners

nor sits in the company of scorners, but whose delight is the law of the

Lord and who ponders His law day and night.  R/.

 

He is like a tree that is planted

beside the flowing waters,

that yields its fruit in due season

and whose leaves shall never fade;

and all that he does shall prosper.  R/.

 

Not so are the wicked, not so!

For they like winnowed chaff

shall be driven away like the wind;

for the Lord guards the way of the just

but the way of the wicked leads to doom.  R/.

 

Second Reading

Corinthians  4:1-6

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice

cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth

we would commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are

perishing.   In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of

the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the

glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God.  For what we preach is not

ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for

Jesus' sake.  For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"

who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory

of God in the face of Christ.

 

Gospel

Mark 10: 17-30

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him,

and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And

Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not

steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and

mother.'"  And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my

youth."  And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack

one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have

treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." At that saying his countenance

fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for

those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"  And the disciples were

amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is

to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye

of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  And they were

exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?"  Jesus

looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for

all things are possible with God."  Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have

left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there

is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or

children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a

hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers

and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal

life.