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Liturgy/Holy Mass on January 29, 2013
The Feast of St. Joseph Freinademetz
Commentator: (Introduction)
Priest:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
All:
Amen
Priest:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the
communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
All:
And also with your spirit
Priest:
(Introduction)
Priest:
As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ’s love, let us
acknowledge our failures and ask the Lord for pardon and
strength.
Lord, have mercy (sung)
Priest:
May Almighty God have mercy on us forgive us our sins and
bring us to everlasting life
All:
Amen.
Glory to God
Opening Prayer (For Missionaries p 882 of the Missal)
Priest:
Let us pray: O God, who through St. Joseph Freinademetz
brought peoples without faith from darkness to the light
of truth, grant us, through his intercession, that we may
stand firm in faith and remain constant in the hope of the
Gospel he preached. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your
Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God forever and ever.
All:
Amen.
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LITURGY OF THE WORD
I READING
A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans (15:13-19a, 20-21)
May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of
your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of
the Holy Spirit. My friends: I myself feel sure that you are full of goodness,
that you have all knowledge, and that you are able to teach one another.
But in this letter I have been quite bold about certain subjects of which I
have reminded you. I have been bold because of the privilege God has given
me of being a servant of Christ Jesus to work for the Gentiles. I serve like a
priest in preaching the Good News from God, in order that the Gentiles may
be an offering acceptable to God, dedicated to him by the Holy Spirit. In
union with Christ Jesus, then, I can be proud of my service for God. I will be
bold and speak only about what Christ has done through me to lead the
Gentiles to obey God. He has done this by means of words and deeds, by
the power of miracles and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God.
My ambition has always been to proclaim the Good News in places where
Christ has not been heard of, so as not to build on a foundation laid by
someone else. As the scripture says,
"Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand."
The Word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Response: YOU ARE TO BE MY WITNESSES EVEN TO THE ENDS OF THE
EARTH.
I will ask the Father and He will give you another Paraclete to be with you
always. (Response)
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you to all truth. (Response)
I will send some of those who have been saved to the people in the sea, to
the distant islands that have never of me. (Response)
They will bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations as an
offering to the Lord, to my holy mountain. (Response)
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SECOND READING:
From one of the Spiritual conferences given by St. Joseph
Freinademetz to his confreres in Tsining, China
All sanctimoniousness and sweet sentiments mean nothing at all if
practice is lacking. Everything must once again be set in order. If I leave
these exercises unchanged, they have been in vain.
“Learn of me” (says Jesus). What then? To become an able
missionary? To deliver beautiful sermons? To work miracles? No! Learn of
me because I am meek of heart. How simple, how concise, how all
embracing!”.
An entire army of useless servants is worth less than just one servant
who does his duty. Lord, what would you have me do? My heart is ready!”
What does our mission need? Not money but good missionaries!” To
urge you to use these days (of recollection) to pray much in spirit and in
truth, seems to me, as ridiculous as asking you not to forget to breath.
Thus far the Holy Reading.
All: Thanks be to God
Gospel
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (10:1-9)
The Lord chose another seventy-twoa men and sent them out two by two, to
go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go.
He said to them, "There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in.
Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in
his harvest. v3Go! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Don't take a
purse or a beggar's bag or shoes; don't stop to greet anyone on the road.
Whenever you go into a house, first say, 'Peace be with this house.' If
someone who is peace-loving lives there, let your greeting of peace remain
on that person; if not, take back your greeting of peace. Stay in that same
house, eating and drinking whatever they offer you, for workers should be
given their pay. Don't move around from one house to another. Whenever
you go into a town and are made welcome, eat what is set before you, heal
the sick in that town, and say to the people there, 'The Kingdom of God has
come near you.'
The Gospel of the Lord
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Optional Homily/Reflections:
A hundred years ago, on Tuesday, 28 January 1908, about six o’clock in the
evening, after almost 30 years of uninterrupted missionary service, Joseph
Freinademetz expired in the SVD central house in Taikia, South Shandong,
China. The word “expire” is a good word to describe the death of Joseph
Freinademetz, because Joseph came to china to give his life for his dear
Chinese. He gave all, in such a way that, in the end, nothing remained. He
literally “expired” or “extinguished himself” – like a candle which gives light
in the dark until the very end. And, in the end it simply expires. But more
than the end of a life, the death of Joseph Freinademetz was rather the
fulfillment of a dream. In 1886, seven years after his arrival in China, he
wrote to his family in Val Badia: “I love China and the Chinese, and I would
die a thousand deaths for them”. Six years later, in 1892, he wrote again:
“As for myself, I really love my dear Chinese and I have no other desire than
to live and die among them”.
So, that evening of 28 January 1908, the missionary life of Joseph
Freinademetz was not really ended, but rather fulfilled.
“To die a thousand deaths” is, indeed, an appropriate description of the
missionary life of Joseph Freinademetz in China. From the time he reached
China in 1879, he did not spare himself in preaching the Gospel to his dear
Chinese, even in the most far-flung villages. He had to suffer much, but
never once retreated from any suffering or sacrifice: long trips, resistance to
his preaching, hostility of non-beleivers, persecutions, attacks by bandits,
death threats. In 1884 he wrote to his parents, saying: “Many were the
times when I was in danger of death, when the pagans conspired to kill me,
but the Lord has always protected me until now”. And again in 1884, he
wrote4: “Those villages are very dangerous; at certain times of the year, it
is almost impossible to go there because travelers are attacked by bandits,
robbed and even killed”. And then a year afterwards, he narrated the now
well-known incident when he once tried to save a poor Chinese who was
being punished by a Mandarin for having consented to be baptized. For this
Joseph was struck and hit, tied up and thrown to the ground, dragged to the
road and left half dead. Thus, even before his death that evening of 28
January 1908, Joseph had already died a thousand deaths for the gospel and
for his dear Chinese.
Arriving in Hong Kong , he did not lose time. He immediately dedicated
himself to the study of the Chinese language, and the attempt to transform
himself exteriorly so as to have the appearance of a Chinese. His name
became “Fu Shenfu”. His reddish blond hair was shorn except for a crop at
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the back to which a black pigtail was fastened. Cloth shoes replaced the
leather ones.
Chinese clothing did not turn Joseph Freinademetz into a new man. He
recognized that and realized what had to be done. He said: “The main work
still remains: transformation of the inner person; to study the Chinese way
of thought, Chinese customs and usages, Chinese character and disposition.
All that cannot be achieved in a day, not even in one year, and also not
without some painful surgery”. With these words, Joseph formulated his life
plan without actually realizing it. He began to free himself from his narrow
thinking and became a graced missionary. Thus, 12 years later, he could
declare: “ I am now more Chinese than Tyrolese, and I would like to remain
a Chinese also in heaven”. Thus, Joseph repeatedly said: The greatest task
of the missionary is the transformation of the inner self”.
The painting made for his canonization in Rome shows him clasping the
cross with his hands close to his breast. He wrote to his parents in 1888: “As
for us missionaries, there is no lack of crosses. I could write you an entire
book recounting all the calumnies that the pagans throw at us….But with
God’s grace we are now accustomed to carry the cross; the cross is the daily
bread of the missionary. He told the catechists in Tsining: “There is one path
all have to take if they wish to become saints, I mean meditation on the
bitter suffering of our Lord Jesus.
In 1884, he wrote: “I cannot thank the Lord enough for having made me a
missionary in China…… I confess that I could cry. The most beautiful
vocation in the world is being a missionary”.
Let us pray that, as younger brothers and sisters of St. Joseph in the same
religious missionary family, we may, by following his footsteps, be truly
“infatigabiles Evangelii praecones, verbo et opera clari”; that is, “tireless
preachers of the Gospel, outstanding in words and deeds.” (Edited version of
the Homily of Fr. Tony Pernia, SVD in “Precious is the Life given for Mission,
pp 114-117)
Creed
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
Priest:
Our Lord Jesus Christ said to his disciples: “Go into the whole
world and preach the Good News to all creatures!” Let us pray to
God the Father that he may pour his blessings on the missionary
work of the Church, particularly on the Society of the Divine
Word. Our response is: Bless us, O Lord.
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L1:
We pray for Pope Benedict, Bishop -------------, priests, religious
Brothers and Sisters and all missionaries. May the Holy Spirit fill
them with wisdom and zeal to carry out the mission they have
received to preach the Word of God to all nations. May they have
a deep concern for the bodily as well as the spiritual needs of
those entrusted to them. Let us pray to the Lord.
L2:
We pray for the leaders of the governments of all nations. May
they more keenly aware than ever of the needs for unity and
solidarity in the world of our times. And through the help of
Mary, Queen of Peace, may they progress towards lasting peace
and happiness of all peoples. Let us pray to the Lord.
L 3:
We pray for all our Christian families. May parents show more
awareness of their role in building the Church of Christ by giving
their children the needed religious training and values and to
promote missionary awareness among their children. Let us pray
to the Lord.
L:4
We pray for vocation to priestly and religious life. May god
implant the seed of vocation in the hearts of our young men and
women and that those who have been chosen to enter priestly
and religious life recognize their call and generously follow it. Let
us pray to the Lord.
L:5
We pray for all catholic men and women. May they realize the
greatness of their calling as partakers in the priesthood of Christ
by more involvement in the missionary life of the Church
through their generous material and spiritual support. Let us
pray to the Lord.
L:6
For those who are sick and lonely, for those who are hungry and
jobless, for those who are dying that they may find comfort in
God’s love and in the loving assistance shown to them by men
and women of good will. Let us pray to the Lord.
L: 7
We pray for the Society of the Divine Word. Lord, bless our
missionary endeavors, “the dimension ministries that developed
in the course of time namely, mission animation, media
communication, bible apostolate, justice, peace and integrity of
creation”. By constantly preaching the Gospel command of
Christ, may we bring about oneness and love in the flock
entrusted to our care. Let us pray to the Lord.
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Priest:
All:
Let us pray for our personal intentions in silence….
God our Father, all that we have and are come from your
goodness. Through the intercession of St. Arnold, We plead for
your mercy and grant us the grace we need to accomplish the
mission you willed for each one of us for your greater glory. We
ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
(Offertory Procession)
Preparation of the Gifts
Offertory Song
Priest:
Brothers and sisters, let us pray that our sacrifice may be
acceptable to God the Almighty Father.
All:
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise
and glory of his name for our good and the good of all church.
Prayer over the Gifts
Priest:
Look upon the sacrificial gifts we offer, almighty God, on
the feast of St. Joseph Freinademetz and grant that we
who celebrate the mysteries of the Lord’s Passion, may
imitate what we now do. Through Christ our Lord.
All:
Amen.
PREFACE
It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation. Always
and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, Holy Father,
almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.
For, as on the festival of Saint, Joseph Freinademetz you
bid your Church rejoice, so too, you strengthen her by the
example of his holy life, teach her by his words of
preaching, and keep her safe in answer to his prayers.
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And so with the company of Angels and Saints we sing the
hymn of your praise as without end we acclaim:
All:
Holy………..
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER (God Guides His Church along the way of
Salvation, Missal p. 618)
Priest:
(Celebrant alone) You are indeed Holy and to be glorified, O
God, who love the human race and who always walk with us on
the journey of life. Blessed indeed is your Son, present in our
midst when we are gathered by his love and when, as once for
the Scriptures and breaks the bread.
(Celebrant with concelebrants) Therefore, Father most merciful,
we ask that you send forth your Holy Spirit to sanctify these gifts
of bread and wine, that they may become for us the Body and +
Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
On the day before he was to suffer, on the night the Last
Supper, he took bread and said the blessing, broke the bread
and gave it to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT,
FOR THIS IS MY BODY,
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU
In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice,
gave you thanks and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT,
WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
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Priest:
The mystery of faith
All:
(to be sung).
Priest:
(Celebrant with concelebrants) Therefore, holy Father, as we
celebrate the memorial of Christ your Son, our Savior, whom
you led through his Passion and Death on the Cross to the glory
of the Resurrection, and whom you have seated at your right
hand, we proclaim the work of your love until he comes again
and we offer you the Bread of life and the Chalice of blessing.
Look with favor on the oblation of your Church, in which we
show forth the paschal sacrifice of Christ that has been handed
on to us, and grant that, by the power of the Spirit of your Love,
we may be counted now and until the day of eternity among the
members of your Son, in whose Body and Blood we have
communion.
Con 1:
And so, having called us to your table, Lord, confirm us in unity,
so that, together with Benedict our Pope and --------- our
Bishop, with all Bishops, Priests and Deacons, and your entire
people, as we walk your ways with faith and hope, we may strive
to bring joy and trust into the world.
Con 2:
Remember our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the
peace of your Christ, and all the dead, whose faith you alone
have known. Admit them to rejoice in the light of your face, and
in the resurrection give them the fullness of life.
Grant also to us, when our earthly pilgrimage is done, that we
may come to an eternal dwelling place and live with you forever;
there in communion with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of
God, with the Apostles and Martyrs, with Saint Arnold Janssen,
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and with all the Saints, we shall praise and exalt you through
Jesus Christ, your Son.
All celebrants:Through him, and with him, and in Him, O God, almighty
Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor
is yours, forever and ever.
All:
Amen.
Communion Rite
Priest:
Let us pray for the coming of the kingdom as Jesus taught us:
OUR FATHER
Priest:
Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant
peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be
always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we wait the
blessed hope and the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.
All:
forever.
For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours, now and
Priest:
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you,
my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of
your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in
accordance with your will. Who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen
Priest:
All:
Priest:
The peace of the Lord be with you always
And with your spirit
Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
Lamb of God
Priest:
(sung)
This is Jesus the Divine Word; the Lamb of God takes away the
sins of the world. Happy are we who are called to his banquet.
All:
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter my roof, but only
say the Word and my soul shall be healed.
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Communion songs
Commentator:
Please all rise.
Priest:
Let us pray: By the power of this mystery, O Lord, confirm
your servants in the true faith, that they may everywhere
profess in word and deed the faith for which St. Joseph
Freinademetz never ceased to labor and for which he
spent his whole life.
Through Christ our Lord.
All:
Priest:
Amen
All:
And also with your spirit.
Priest:
Bow down for the blessing:
Priest:
May almighty God keep you from all harm and bless you with
The Lord be with you
every good gift.
All:
Priest:
Amen.
May he set his Word in your heart and fill you with lasting joy.
All:
Priest:
Amen.
May you walk in his ways, always knowing what is right and
good until you enter your heavenly inheritance.
All:
Priest:
Amen.
May Almighty God Bless you: The Father, and the Son and the
Holy Spirit.
All:
Priest:
Amen.
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord. All:
God.
Thanks
be
to