Acts 1:12-14; John 19

Memorial of Our Lady, Mother of the Church
Special readings have been assigned to this memorial.

Entrance Antiphon.

The disciples were persevering with one accord in prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus.

First Reading: Acts 1:12-14

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

After Jesus had been taken up to heaven,
the Apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet,
which is near Jerusalem,
a sabbath day’s journey away.
When they entered the city
they went to the upper room where they were staying,
Peter and John and James and Andrew,
Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew,
James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot,
and Judas son of James.
All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,
together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus,
and his brothers and sisters.

The Word of the Lord.

 

 

 

 

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 87:1-2, 3 & 5, 6-7

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.

His foundation upon the holy mountains
the Lord loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.

Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High Lord.”

They shall note when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”

R/. Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.

Please stand for the Gospel.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
O happy Virgin, you gave birth to the Lord; O blessed mother of the Church, you warm our hearts with the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ.
Alleluia.

 

 

 

Gospel: John 19:25-34

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

At that time:
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother,
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother
and the disciple whom he loved standing near,
he said to his mother,
“Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said
(to fulfil the Scripture), “I thirst.”
A bowl full of vinegar stood there;
So they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop,
and held it to his mouth.
When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said,
“It is finished.”
and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Since it was the day of preparation,
in order to prevent the bodies
from remaining on the cross on the sabbath,
(for that sabbath was a high day),
the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken
and that they be taken away.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
and of the other who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs,
but one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear,
and at once there came out Blood and water.

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon.
As he hung upon the cross, Jesus said to the disciple whom he loved: Behold your mother.