Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious (1303 – 1391)
Green/White
She was married to a nobleman and had eight children. At the age of 30 she was summoned to the court of the King of Sweden, where she served as lady-in-waiting to the queen. She tried without much success to moderate the riotous and indecent life of the royal court.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 53: 6, 8
See, I have God for my help. The Lord sustains my soul. I will sacrifice to you with willing heart, and praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.
Collect
Show favour, O Lord, to your servants, and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace, that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity, they may be ever watchful in keeping your commands. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Micah 7:14-15,18-20
With shepherd’s crook, O Lord, lead your people to pasture, the flock that is your heritage, living confined in a forest with meadow land all around. Let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. As in the days when you came out of Egypt grant us to see wonders. What god can compare with you: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing mercy? Once more have pity on us, tread down our faults, to the bottom of the sea throw all our sins. Grant Jacob your faithfulness, and Abraham your mercy, as you swore to our fathers from the days of long ago.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 84:2-8
R/ Let us see, O Lord, your mercy.
O Lord, you once favoured your land and revived the fortunes of Jacob, you forgave the guilt of your people and covered all their sins. You averted all your rage, you calmed the heat of your anger.
Revive us now, God, our helper! Put an end to your grievance against us. Will you be angry with us for ever, will your anger never cease?
Will you not restore again our life that your people may rejoice in you? Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.
Gospel Acclamation : 1Jn2:5
Alleluia, alleluia! Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has said, God’s love comes to perfection in him. Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 12:46-50
Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’
Prayer over the Offerings
O God, who in the one perfect sacrifice, brought to completion varied offerings of the law, accept, we pray, this sacrifice from your faithful servants and make it holy as you blessed the gifts of Abel, so that what each has offered to the honour of your majesty may benefit the salvation of all. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 110: 4-5
The Lord, the gracious, the merciful, has made a memorial of his wonders; he gives food to those who fear him.
Prayer after Communion
Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass from former ways to newness of life. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
When Jesus began his public ministry, many gathered around him to follow him. The followers stayed with him, listened and obeyed his words, creating a deeper relationship with him than natural family bonds. The disciples who formed as part of his family united with him by doing the will of the Father. Jesus’ response to the information concerning the presence of his mother and brothers does not undermine the importance of Jesus’ mother. She is the first and the best disciple of Jesus. She obeyed the will of the Father and believed his word (Luke 1:38, 45). Thus she is not only the natural mother of Jesus but also the preeminent member of his family of disciples. Are you a member of the family of Jesus? Do you discern the will of the Father and do it?