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At the Procession with Psalms – Gospel

Mt 21:1-11

When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem
and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,
Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,
"Go into the village opposite you,
and immediately you will find an ass tethered,
and a colt with her.
Untie them and bring them here to me.
And if anyone should say anything to you, reply,
'The master has need of them.'
Then he will send them at once."
This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Say to daughter Zion,
"Behold, your king comes to you,
meek and riding on an ass,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden."
The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them.
They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them,
and he sat upon them.
The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
while others cut branches from the trees
and strewed them on the road.
The crowds preceding him and those following
kept crying out and saying:
"Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;
hosanna in the highest."
And when he entered Jerusalem
the whole city was shaken and asked, "Who is this?"
And the crowds replied,
"This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee."

At the Mass - Reading I

Is 50:4-7

The Lord GOD has given me
a well-trained tongue,
that I might know how to speak to the weary
a word that will rouse them.
Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I may hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

Response– My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

All who see me scoff at me;
they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:
“He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, if he loves him.”
R– My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
R– My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

They divide my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
R– My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I will proclaim your name to my brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:
“You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”
R– My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Second Reading: Phil 2:6-11

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Verse Before the Gospel: Phil 2:8-9

Christ became obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.

Gospel: Mt 26:14–27:66

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Verse Before the Gospel: Phil 2:8-9

Christ became obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.

The Readings and Gospel were sourced from:

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Saint Hugh of Grenoble

Saint Hugh of Grenoble, also called as Hugh of Châteauneuf, was born at Châteauneuf-sur-Isère, County of Albon. Even at a young age, he already showed piety and theological facility.

While still a layman, Saint Hugh of Grenoble was made a canon of Valence. In 1080, he was elected bishop of Grenoble, though he was not yet ordained. The See of Grenoble had fallen into a very poor state and Saint Hugh was selected to be its Gregorian renovator. Upon his return, he immediately set to the task of reforming the abuses in his new diocese. When he had succeeded in countering abuse and fostering devotion after two years, he tried to resign his bishopric and enter the Benedictine monastery at Cluny. However, the Pope ordered him to continue his episcopal work.

Saint Hugh was also instrumental in the foundation of the Carthusian Order. He received Bruno of Cologne, perhaps his own teacher, and six of his companions in 1084, after seeing them under a banner of seven stars in a dream. Saint Hugh installed the seven in a snowy and rocky Alpine location called Chartreuse. They founded a monastery and devoted their lives to prayer and study, being oft visited by Hugh, who was reported to have adopted much of their way of life. He also founded the nearby Monastère de Chalais, which grew into an independent order.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_of_Ch%C3%A2teauneuf
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.
"Histoire de l'Ordre de Chalais". Fédération des abbayes chalaisiennes. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12.

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Saint Benjamin

Saint Benjamin was a deacon martyred circa 424 in Persia. He was imprisoned for a year for his Christian faith, and later released with the condition that he abandon preaching or speaking of his religion. His release was obtained by the Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius II through an ambassador. However, Saint Benjamin declared that it was his duty to preach about Christ and that he could not be silent. As a consequence, Benjamin was tortured mercilessly until his death in the year 424, specifically, “sharpened reeds [were] stuck under the nails of his fingers and toes.”

According to his hagiography, when the king was apprised that Saint Benjamin refused to stop preaching, he “… caused reeds to be run in between the nails and the flesh, both of his hands and feet, and to be thrust into other most tender parts, and drawn out again, and this to be frequently repeated with violence. Lastly, a knotty stake was thrust into his bowels, to rend and tear them, in which torment he expired….”

Saint Benjamin was executed during a period of persecution of Christians that lasted forty years and through the reign of two Persian kings: Isdegerd I, who died in 421, and his son and successor, Varanes V. King Varanes carried on the persecution with such great fury that Christians were submitted to the most cruel tortures.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_the_Deacon_and_Martyr
Shea, John Dawson Gilmary. “Saint Benjamin, Deacon, Martyr”. Pictorial Lives of the Saints, 1889. CatholicSaints.Info. 6 February 2014
nto his urethra, by this account: Collin (1738), p.57, the stake finally thrust up his anus was studded with sharp nails according to the same source, * Collin, Johann E. (1738). Der Kampff und Sieg der ersten Blut-Zeugen Jesu Christi: durch Glauben und Gedult, nach alphabetischer Ordnung entworffen, und in Kupffern vorgestellet. Frankfurt and Leipzig.

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Saint Peter Regalado

Saint Peter Regalado lived at a very busy time in history. The Great Western Schism (1378-1417) was settled at the Council of Constance (1414-1418). France and England were fighting the Hundred Years’ War, and in 1453, the Byzantine Empire was completely wiped out by the loss of Constantinople to the Turks. At Peter’s death, the age of printing had just begun in Germany, and Columbus’s arrival in the New World was less than 40 years away.

Saint Peter came from a wealthy and pious family in Valladolid, Spain. At the age of 13, he was allowed to enter the Conventual Franciscans. Shortly after his ordination, he was made superior of the friary in Aguilar. He became part of a group of friars who wanted to lead a life of greater poverty and penance. In 1442, he was appointed head of all the Spanish Franciscans in his reform group.

Saint Peter Regalado led the friars by his example. A special love of the poor and the sick characterized Peter. Miraculous stories are told about his charity to the poor. For example, the bread never seemed to run out as long as Peter had hungry people to feed. Throughout most of his life, Peter went hungry; he lived only on bread and water.

Immediately after his death on March 30, 1456, his grave became a place of pilgrimage. Saint Peter Regalado was canonized in 1746.

Source:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-peter-regalado/

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Isaiah 54:17

Verse:

“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.” - Isaiah 54:17

Prayer For God’s Promise Of Peace

Times are hard Lord Jesus, and my soul is getting troubled and afraid, and yet I know You told us never to be dismayed or troubled. Keep me I pray from thoughts that vex my mind, for I know Lord that they are destructive to my soul and serve no positive purpose.

Lord Jesus, I know that only You can bring true peace to our troubled hearts. Thank You for the precious gift of peace that You have promised to Your children. Your peace is so different from what the world has to offer - You have promised that You will keep all in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You. Keep the eyes of my heart firmly fixed on my Lord Jesus.

I ask this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, my Saviour,

Amen.

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Psalm 19:14

Psalm 19:14erse:

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” - Psalm 19:14

A Prayer For Strong Love For God

O Lord, when you said to your disciples, “One of you shall betray Me, they each asked, “Lord, is it I?” I pray, O God, for a love so strong that I will never betray Thee.

Amen.

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