Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Supplement: Commentary on the propers of the Mass from Sermonry
Introit
Introitus
Isa 49:1-2
From my mother’s womb the Lord called me by my name, and made of me a sharp-edged sword; He concealed me in the shadow of His arm, and made me a polished arrow.
Ps 91:2
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to Your name, Most High.
Glory Be to the Father…
From my mother’s womb the Lord called me by my name, and made of me a sharp-edged sword; He concealed me in the shadow of His arm, and made me a polished arrow.
Isa 49:1; 49:2
De ventre matris meæ vocávit me Dóminus in nómine meo: et pósuit os meum ut gládium acútum: sub teguménto manus suæ protéxit me, et pósuit me quasi sagíttam eléctam.
Ps 91:2
Bonum est confitéri Dómino: et psállere nómini tuo, Altíssime.
Glória Patri…
De ventre matris meæ vocávit me Dóminus in nómine meo: et pósuit os meum ut gládium acútum: sub teguménto manus suæ protéxit me, et pósuit me quasi sagíttam eléctam.
Collect
Oratio
O God, Who made this a day most worthy of our celebration because of blessed John; grant Your people the grace of spiritual joys and direct the minds of all the faithful into the path of eternal salvation.
Through our Lord…
Deus, qui præséntem diem honorábilem nobis in beáti Joánnis nativitáte fecísti: da pópulis tuis spirituálium grátiam gaudiórum; et ómnium fidélium mentes dirige in viam salútis ætérnæ.
Per Dominum…
Epistle
Lectio
Lesson from the book of Isaias
Isa 49:1-3, 5-7.
Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb He gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of His arm. He made me a polished arrow, in His quiver He hid me. You are My servant, He said to me, Israel, through whom I show My glory. And now says the Lord Who formed me as His servant from the womb, I will make you a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. When kings shall see you, they shall stand up, and princes shall prostrate themselves because of the Lord, the Holy One of Israel Who has chosen you.
Léctio Isaíæ Prophétæ
Isa 49:1-3; 49:5-7
Audíte, ínsulæ, et atténdite, pópuli, de longe: Dóminus ab útero vocavit me, de ventre matris meæ recordátus est nóminis mei. Et pósuit os meum quasi gládium acútum: in umbra manus suæ protéxit me, et pósuit me sicut sagíttam eléctam: in pháretra sua abscóndit me. Et dixit mihi: Servus meus es tu, Israël, quia in te gloriábor. Et nunc dicit Dóminus, formans me ex útero servum sibi: Ecce, dedi te in lucem géntium, ut sis salus mea usque ad extrémum terræ. Reges vidébunt, et consúrgent príncipes, et adorábunt propter Dominum et sanctum Israël, qui elégit te.
Gradual
Graduale
Jer 1:5, 9
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; and before you were born, I dedicated you.
℣. The Lord put forth His hand, and touched my mouth, and said to me. Alleluia, alleluia.
Luke 1:76
℣. You, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; you shall go before the Lord to prepare His ways. Alleluia.
Jer 1:5; 1:9
Priusquam te formárem in útero, novi te: et ántequam exíres de ventre, santificávi te.
℣. Misit Dóminus manum suam, et tétigit os meum, et dixit mihi.
Allelúja, allelúja.
Luc 1:76
Tu, puer, Prophéta Altíssimi vocáberis: præíbis ante Dóminum paráre vias ejus. Allelúja.
Gospel
Evangelium
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 1:57-68
Elizabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified His mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him by his father’s name, Zachary. And his mother answered and said, Not so, but he shall be called John. And they said to her, There is none of your kindred that is called by this name. And they kept inquiring by signs of his father what he would have him called. And asking for a writing-tablet he wrote the words, John is his name. And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were spoken abroad in all the hill country of Judea. And all who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and wrought redemption for His people.
Sequéntia ☩ sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam
Luc 1:57-68
Elísabeth implétum est tempus pariéndi, et péperit fílium. Et audiérunt vicíni et cognáti ejus, quia magnificávit Dóminus misericórdiam suam cum illa, et congratulabántur ei. Et factum est in die octávo, venérunt circumcídere púerum, et vocábant eum nómine patris sui Zacharíam. Et respóndens mater ejus, dixit: Nequáquam, sed vocábitur Joánnes. Et dixérunt ad illam: Quia nemo est in cognatióne tua, qui vocétur hoc nómine. Innuébant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocári eum. Et póstulans pugillárem, scripsit, dicens: Joánnes est nomen ejus. Et miráti sunt univérsi. Apértum est autem illico os ejus et lingua ejus, et loquebátur benedícens Deum. Et factus est timor super omnes vicínos eórum: et super ómnia montána Judææ divulgabántur ómnia verba hæc: et posuérunt omnes, qui audíerant in corde suo, dicéntes: Quis, putas, puer iste erit? Etenim manus Dómini erat cum illo. Et Zacharías, pater ejus, repletus est Spíritu Sancto, et prophetávit, dicens: Benedíctus Dóminus, Deus Israël, quia visitávit et fecit redemptiónem plebis suæ.
Offertory
Offertorium
Ps 91:13
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
Ps 91:13
Justus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus, quæ in Líbano est, multiplicábitur. (Allelúja.)
Secret
Secreta
We heap Your altar with gifts, O Lord, celebrating the birth of him who announced the coming of the Saviour of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, and made His presence known.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father…
Tua, Dómine, munéribus altária cumulámus: illíus nativitátem honóre débito celebrántes, qui Salvatórem mundi et cécinit ad futúrum et adésse monstravit, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum:
Qui tecum…
Preface
Prefatio
Common
It is truly meet and just, and profitable unto salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominions adore it, the Powers are in awe. Which the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed Seraphim joyfully do magnify. And do Thou command that it be permitted us to join with them in confessing Thee, while we say with lowly praise:
Communis
Vere dignum et justum est, æquum et salutáre, nos tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine sancte, Pater omnípotens, ætérne Deus: per Christum, Dóminum nostrum. Per quem majestátem tuam laudant Angeli, adórant Dominatiónes, tremunt Potestátes. Cæli cælorúmque Virtútes ac beáta Séraphim sócia exsultatióne concélebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces ut admítti jubeas, deprecámur, súpplici confessione dicéntes:
Communion
Communio
Luke 1:76
You, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.
Luc 1:76
Tu, puer, Propheta Altíssimi vocaberis: præíbis enim ante fáciem Dómini paráre vias ejus.
Postcommunion
Postcommunio
May Your Church, O God, rejoice at the birth of blessed John the Baptist, through whom she knew the author of her own rebirth, Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father…
Sumat Ecclésia tua, Deus, beáti Joánnis Baptístæ generatióne lætítiam: per quem suæ regeneratiónis cognóvit auctórem, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum:
Qui tecum…