| White | Major Sunday of the 1st Class |
[Station at St. Pancras']
This Sunday is called from the first words of the Introit, the Sunday of Quasimodo, or Sunday in Albis (deponendis), because the neophytes on that day put aside their white garments. In English the term Low Sunday is in contrast with Easter or High Sunday. Another Latin name Pascha clausum is preserved in the French: Paques closes and in the Dutch or Flemish: Beloken Pasen: close of Easter, this Sunday ending the Octave. -- Let us proclaim our faith in the risen Lord, and in His divine Presence in the Holy Eucharist.
INTROIT ¤ I. Peter 2. 2
| Quasi modo geniti infantes, alleluia: rationabiles, sine dolo lac concupiscite, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. -- Exsultate Deo adjutori nostro: jubilate Deo Jacob. V.: Gloria Patri . . . Quasi modo . . . | As newborn babes, alleluia, desire the rational milk without guile, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. -- (Ps. 80. 2). Rejoice to God our Helper; sing aloud to the God of Jacob. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- As newborn babes . . . |
COLLECT.--Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who have celebrated the Paschal Feast, may, by Thy bounty, retain its fruits in our daily habits and behavior. Through our Lord Jesus Christ . . .
EPISTLE ¤ I. John 5. 4-10
Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed John the Apostle.
[The faith of those who are born of God overcomes the world.]
Dearly beloved, Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory, which overcometh the world, our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth that Christ is the truth. And there are three who give testimony in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that give testimony on eath: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three are one. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater: for this is the testimony of God, which is greater, because He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth in the Son of God hath the testimony of God in himself.
GRADUAL ¤ Matth. 28. 7
| Alleluia, alleluia. V.: In die resurrectionis meae, dicit Dominus, praecedam vos in Galilaeam. Alleluia. V.: Post dies octo januis clausis, stetit Jesus in medio discipulorum suorum, et dixit: Pax vobis. Alleluia. | Alleluia, alleluia. V.: On the day of My Resurrection, saith the Lord, I will go before you into Galilee. Alleluia. V.: (John 20. 26). After eight days, the doors being shut, Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples and said: Peace be to you. Alleluia. |
GOSPEL ¤ John 20. 19-31
† Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. John.
[The Evangelist shows us how Our Lord Jesus Christ, twice appearing in the Cenacle, dispelled the doubts of the Apostle Thomas, and praised those who, without having seen Him, believed in Him.]
At that time, when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together for fear of the Jews, Jesus came, and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you. And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent Me, I also send you. When He had said this, He breathed on them, and He said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. And after eight days, again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you. The He saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see My hands, and bring hither thy hand, and put into My side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered and said to Him: my Lord and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, you may have life in His Name.
OFFERTORY ¤ Matth. 28. 2, 5, 6
| Angelus Domini descendit de caelo, et dixit mulieribus: Quem quaeritus, surrexit, sicut dixit. Alleluia. | An Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and said to the women; He whom you seek is risen, as He said. Alleluia. |
SECRET.--Receive, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gifts of Thine exultant Church: and to her whom Thou hast given cause for so great joy, grant the fruit of perpetual happiness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son . . .
PREFACE
Preface for Easter
| Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, te quidem Domine omni tempore, sed in hoc potissimum die gloriosis praedicare, cum Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus. Ipse enim verus est Angus qui abstulit peccata mundi. Qui mortem nostram moriendo destruxit, et vitam resurgendo reparavit. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omnia milita coelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes: | It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially this day when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the Lamb Who hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath destroyed our death: and by rising again hath restored us to life. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying: |
SPECIAL FORM OF COMMUNICANTES
Communicantes for Easter
| Communicantes, et diem sacratissimum celebrantes Resurrectionis Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum carnem: set et memoriam venerantes, in primis gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genitricis ejusdem Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi: set et . . . | Communicating, and keeping this most holy day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh; and also reverencing the memory, first, of the glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of the same our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also . . . |
SPECIAL FORM OF HANC IGITUR
| Hanc igitur oblationem servitutis nostrae, set et cunctae familiae tuae, quam tibi offerimus pro his quoque, quos regenerare dignatus es ex aqua, et Spiritu Sancto, tribuens eis remissionem omnium peccatorum, quaesumus Domine, ut placatus accipias: diesque nostros in tua pace disponas, atque ab aeterna damnatione nos eripi, et in electorum tuorum jubeas grege numberari. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. | We therefore beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously to accept this oblation of our service, as also of Thy whole family, which we make unto Thee on behalf of these whom Thou hast vouchsafed to bring to a new birth by water and the Holy Ghost, granting them remission of all their sins: and to dispose our days in Thy peace, preserve us from final damnation and rank us in the number of Thine Elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
COMMUNION ¤ John 20. 27
| Mitte manum tuam, et cognosce loca clavorum, alleluia: et noli esse incredulis, sed fidelis, alleluia, alleluia. | Put in thy hand, and know the place of the nails, alleluia; and be not faithless, but believing, alleluia, alleluia. |
POSTCOMMUNION.--We beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, to make the most holy Mysteries which Thou hast given us as a defense of our renewal, a remedy for us now, and in the future. Through our Lord Jesus Christ . . .