INTROIT
Ps 91:13-14
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow: planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. (P. T. Alleluia, alleluia.)
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…
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow: planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. (P. T. Alleluia, alleluia.)
COLLECT
May the merits of Your most holy Mother’s spouse help us, we beseech You, O Lord, that through his intercession we may receive what we cannot obtain by our own efforts.
Who livest…
COMMEMORATION COLLECT
Commemoration Feria III of Passion Week
May our fasting be acceptable to You, we beseech You, O Lord; may it be atonement for our sins, make us worthy of Your grace, and lead us to the everlasting remedy of the life to come.
Through our Lord…
EPISTLE
Lesson from the book of Ecclesiasticus
Ecclus 45:1-6
Beloved of God and men, whose memory is held in benediction. He made him like the Saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words He made prodigies to cease. He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him Commandments in the sight of his people, and revealed to him His glory. He sanctified him in his faith and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh. For He heard him and his voice, and brought him into a cloud. And, face to face, He gave him the Commandments, the law of life and understanding.
GRADUAL
Ps 20:4-5
O Lord, You welcomed him with goodly blessings, You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
℣. He asked life of You: You gave him length of days forever and ever.
Ps 111:1-3
Happy the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commands.
℣. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed.
℣. Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever.
GOSPEL
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 1:18-21
When Mary the Mother of Jesus had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. But Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wishing to expose her to reproach, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David, to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.
OFFERTORY
Ps 88:25
My faithfulness and My kindness shall be with him, and through My name shall his horn be exalted. (P.T. Alleluia.)
SECRET
O Lord, we dutifully worship You, humbly entreating You by the prayers of blessed Joseph, Spouse of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whose honor we offer these sacrifices of praise, that You protect Your gifts within us.
Through the same Christ our Lord…
COMMEMORATION SECRET
Commemoration Feria III of Passion Week
O Lord, we bring You the gifts for sacrifice, as tokens of consolation in this life, so that we may not despair of Your eternal promises.
Through our Lord…
PREFACE
St. Joseph
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: and that we should magnify with due praises, bless and proclaim Thee on the solemnity of blessed Joseph; who, being a just man, was given by Thee as a Spouse to the Virgin Mother of God, and, as a faithful and prudent servant was set over Thy Family, that, with fatherly care, he might guard Thine only-begotten Son, conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, and the Powers stand in awe. The heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION
Matt 1:20
Do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David, to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. (P.T. Alleluia.)
POSTCOMMUNION
Be with us, we beseech You, O merciful God, and by the intercession of blessed Joseph, Your Confessor, graciously keep safe the gifts You have given us.
Through our Lord…
COMMEMORATION POSTCOMMUNION
Commemoration Feria III of Passion Week
Grant us, we beseech You, almighty God that by constantly performing these holy acts, we may be worthy to come closer to the gifts of heaven.
Through our Lord…