Common of Holy Popes
Introit: John xxi: 15-17
If thou lovest Me, Simon Peter, feed My lambs, feed my sheep (Alleluia, alleluia). [Ps.] I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me; and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. Glory be.... If thou lovest.
Collect:
Eternal Shepherd, look graciously upon Thy flock, and through blessed N., Thy (Martyr and) Supreme Pontiff [N. and N., Thy (Martyrs and) Supreme Pontiffs], whom Thou didst appoint pastor(s) of the Universal Church, keep it under Thy continual protection.
Collect: For another Pope.
O God, who hast saved Thy Church, founded upon the solidity of the apostolic rock, from the terror of the gates of hell, grant us, we beseech Thee, that by the intercession of the blessed N., (Thy Martyr and) Sovereign Pontiff, she may persist in the truth and be strengthened in a continual security.
Epistle: 1 Peter v: 1-4, 10-11
A reading from the Epistle of
blessed Peter the Apostle.
Dearly beloved: The ancients that are among you I beseech,
who am also a witness of the sufferings of Christ; as also a partaker of that
glory which is to be revealed in the time to come: Feed the flock of God which
is among you, taking care of it, not by constraint but willingly, according to
God: not for filthy lucre's sake but voluntarily; neither as lording it over the
clergy but being made a pattern for the flock from the heart. And when the
prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive a never ending crown of glory.
But the God of all grace, who has called us unto eternal glory in Christ Jesus,
after you have suffered a little, will Himself perfect you and confirm you and
establish you. To Him be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.
Gradual: Ps. cvi: 32, 31
Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people: and praise him in the chair
of the ancients. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to Him and His wonderful
works to the children of men.
Alleluia, alleluia. Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church.
Alleluia.
After Septuagesima the Alleluia and verse are replaced by the Tract Ps. xxxix: 10-11
I announced Thy justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as Thou, O Lord, know. v. Thy justice I kept not hid within my heart; I have spoken of Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation. v. I have made no secret of Thy kindness and Thy truth in the vast assembly.
During Paschaltide both Gradual and Tract are replaced by the Alleluia Verse:
Alleluia, alleluia. Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church. Alleluia. Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth; they shall remember Thy name, O Lord. Alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew
xvi: 13-19
+
The continuation of the holy Gospel according to
Matthew
At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Cæsarea Philippi, and He asked His disciples, saying, "Whom do men say the Son of man is?" But they said, "Some, John the Baptist, and some others, Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Jesus said to them, "But whom do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, and said, "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answering, said to him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood has not revealed this to thee, but My Father who is in heaven: and I say to thee that thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.
Offertory: Jeremias i: 9-10
Behold I have given My words in thy mouth; lo, I have set thee over the nations and over kingdoms, to root up and pull down, and to build and to plant.
Secret:
We beseech Thee, O Lord, having offered our gifts, benignly enlighten Thy Church, both that the success of Thy flock may everywhere progress, and under Thy guidance Thy pastors may be pleasing to Thy Name.
Secret: For another Pope:
Kindly receive, O Lord, the gifts which we offer Thee with joyfulness and give us, by the intercession of blessed N., that Thy Church may rejoice in the integrity of the faith and delight in quiet days.
Communion: Matthew xvi:
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. (Alleluia).
Postcommunion:
Be appeased, O Lord, we beseech Thee; that Thy Church, nourished with this holy refreshment, and guided by wise direction, may receive both a growth of freedom and continue steadfast in soundness of religion.
Postcommunion: For another Pope:
We pray Thee, O Lord, multiply in Thy Church the spirit of grace which Thou hast given it, in order that by the prayer of blessed N. (Thy Martyr and) Sovereign Pontiff, neither the obedience of the flock to the Shepherd should fail nor the watchfulness of the Shepherd over the flock.
