The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

We bring bread and wine 

which Christ transforms.

This Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ represents the Church�s act of homage and gratitude to Christ for instituting the Holy Eucharist, in which He gave the Church her greatest treasure, the source and summit of the Christian life as it contains the Church�s entire spiritual wealth of Christ Himself, our Passover and living bread..The feast brings our attention to the Holy Eucharist, the Real Presence of Christ in it and the Church, Christ body in which He is the head of the Church, which are the two manifestations of the Body of Christ. The feast accents the joyous aspect of institution of the blessed sacrament the Holy Eucharist on Holy Thursday which was in the somber atmosphere as it's nearness to Good Friday.

This feast a moveable feast, where Corpus Christi is celebrated on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday therefore the celebration may be transferred to the following Sunday.

O Sacrament most holy,

O Sacrament divine!

All praise and all thanksgiving

Be ev'ry moment Thine.

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,�This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.� In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, �This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ~ Luke 22:19-20

Come let's share in the banquet of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament,

Come let's share in the supper of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament.

Chorus:

Eat the bread and drink the wine,

Flesh and blood of the Lord divine,

Share His life, it is yours and mine,

For we are one in His design.

Come let's share in the passion of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament,

Come let's share the resurrection of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament.

Come let's share in the ascension of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament,

Come let's share our union with the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament.

Come let's share in the life of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament,

Come let's share in the love of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament.

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading 1
Exodus 24:3-8
When Moses came to the people
and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD,
they all answered with one voice,
"We will do everything that the LORD has told us."
Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and,
rising early the next day,
he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar
and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites
to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls
as peace offerings to the LORD,
Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls;
the other half he splashed on the altar.
Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people,
who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do."
Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying,
"This is the blood of the covenant
that the LORD has made with you
in accordance with all these words of his."


Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.


Reading 2

Hebrews 9:11-15
Brothers and sisters:
When Christ came as high priest
of the good things that have come to be,
passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle
not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,
he entered once for all into the sanctuary,
not with the blood of goats and calves
but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and bulls
and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes
can sanctify those who are defiled
so that their flesh is cleansed,
how much more will the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from dead works
to worship the living God.

For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant:
since a death has taken place for deliverance
from transgressions under the first covenant,
those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.


Sequence � Lauda Sion

Laud, O Zion, your salvation,
Laud with hymns of exultation,
Christ, your king and shepherd true:

Bring him all the praise you know,
He is more than you bestow.
Never can you reach his due.

Special theme for glad thanksgiving
Is the quick�ning and the living
Bread today before you set:

From his hands of old partaken,
As we know, by faith unshaken,
Where the Twelve at supper met.

Full and clear ring out your chanting,
Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting,
From your heart let praises burst:

For today the feast is holden,
When the institution olden
Of that supper was rehearsed.

Here the new law�s new oblation,
By the new king�s revelation,
Ends the form of ancient rite:

Now the new the old effaces,
Truth away the shadow chases,
Light dispels the gloom of night.

What he did at supper seated,
Christ ordained to be repeated,
His memorial ne�er to cease:

And his rule for guidance taking,
Bread and wine we hallow, making
Thus our sacrifice of peace.

This the truth each Christian learns,
Bread into his flesh he turns,
To his precious blood the wine:

Sight has fail�d, nor thought conceives,
But a dauntless faith believes,
Resting on a pow�r divine.

Here beneath these signs are hidden
Priceless things to sense forbidden;
Signs, not things are all we see:

Blood is poured and flesh is broken,
Yet in either wondrous token
Christ entire we know to be.

Whoso of this food partakes,
Does not rend the Lord nor breaks;
Christ is whole to all that taste:

Thousands are, as one, receivers,
One, as thousands of believers,
Eats of him who cannot waste.

Bad and good the feast are sharing,
Of what divers dooms preparing,
Endless death, or endless life.

Life to these, to those damnation,
See how like participation
Is with unlike issues rife.

When the sacrament is broken,
Doubt not, but believe �tis spoken,
That each sever�d outward token
doth the very whole contain.

Nought the precious gift divides,
Breaking but the sign betides
Jesus still the same abides,
still unbroken does remain.

The shorter form of the sequence begins here.

Lo! the angel�s food is given
To the pilgrim who has striven;
see the children�s bread from heaven,
which on dogs may not be spent.

Truth the ancient types fulfilling,
Isaac bound, a victim willing,
Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling,
manna to the fathers sent.

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us,
Jesu, of your love befriend us,
You refresh us, you defend us,
Your eternal goodness send us
In the land of life to see.

You who all things can and know,
Who on earth such food bestow,
Grant us with your saints, though lowest,
Where the heav�nly feast you show,
Fellow heirs and guests to be. Amen. Alleluia.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven,
says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,
Jesus� disciples said to him,
"Where do you want us to go
and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
He sent two of his disciples and said to them,
"Go into the city and a man will meet you,
carrying a jar of water.
Follow him.
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house,
'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room
where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.
Make the preparations for us there."
The disciples then went off, entered the city,
and found it just as he had told them;
and they prepared the Passover.
While they were eating,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, gave it to them, and said,
"Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,
and they all drank from it.
He said to them,
"This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many.
Amen, I say to you,
I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine
until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Then, after singing a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives.

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinity Sunday) ~ 31 May, 2015

"O Most Holy Trinity, I adore You! 

My God, my God, I love You 

in the Most Blessed Sacrament!"

Prayer taught to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francesco 

by the Angel of Peace at Fatima

.... the mystery of the Holy Trinity renews the Christian mission 

of living in communion with God and others ....... and 

the Church is called to build an ecclesial community 

�that is more and more a family.�

He called on the faithful 

to entrust themselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary, 

�who more than any other creature has known, adored, and loved 

the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity.�

~*~ Pope Francis ~*~

Shine, Jesus, shine,

fill this land with the Father�s glory.

Blaze, Spirit, blaze,

set out hearts on fire.

A week after the Descend of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, we now honour the Holy Trinity, the three persons of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who are all equally God, and cannot be divided. The Holy Trinity is the most fundamental belief of Christians. The Father is the first Divine Person, the Son is the second Divine Person, begotten from the nature of the Father from eternity, and the Holy Spirit is the third Divine Person, proceeding from the Father and the Son.

God is a Triune God.

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

All three are One Person 

and Completely God.

All three is of the same nature, same substance, 

and same being.

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life. God alone can make it known to us by revealing himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. ~ ccc 261

"Now this is the Catholic faith: We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son's is another, the Holy Spirit's another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal" (Athanasian Creed: DS 75; ND 16). ~ ccc 266

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father�the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father�he will testify about me. ~ John 15:26

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. ~ 2 Corinthians 13:14

God our Father, who by sending into the world the Word of truth and the Spirit of sanctification made known to the human race your wondrous mystery, grant us, we pray, that in profession the true faith, we may acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory and adore your Unity, powerful in majesty. 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. Amen.

Reading 1

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40
Moses said to the people:
"Ask now of the days of old, before your time,
ever since God created man upon the earth;
ask from one end of the sky to the other:
Did anything so great ever happen before?
Was it ever heard of?
Did a people ever hear the voice of God
speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself
from the midst of another nation,
by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,
all of which the LORD, your God,
did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
This is why you must now know,
and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God
in the heavens above and on earth below,
and that there is no other.
You must keep his statutes and commandments that I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper,
and that you may have long life on the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."


Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made;
by the breath of his mouth all their host.
For he spoke, and it was made;
he commanded, and it stood forth.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.


Reading 2

Romans 8:14-17
Brothers and sisters:
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you received a Spirit of adoption,
through whom we cry, �Abba, Father!�
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
to God who is, who was, and who is to come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Matthew 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

The Nativity of the Lord - Christmas (Solemnity) ~ 25 December

JESUS CHRIST is born,

GLORIFY Him.

Let the earth rejoice! The Nativity of the Lord, Christmas is a day of great joy for the church. At the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord (25 March), angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38), and announce to Mary, the Blessed Virgin that she had been chosen to be the Mother of Our Lord, and Mary's fiat was her willing acceptance of God's holy plan and exactly nine months later comes the Nativity of the Lord, (Christmas, 25 December). Christmas is more than a the birth of Christ Jesus, far more important Christmas acclaims the Incarnation. God chose to become a human being in the person of Jesus,. the advent of messianic salvation. Christ was sent among us in order to save us. Therefore at Christmas day, what we celebrate is that of the ultimate fulfilment of God�s saving purpose begins with the birth of Jesus (the word became flesh), the messianic Saviour. At sundown on 24 December, Advent ends and we begin the Christmas Season, the period between 25 December (Christmas day) and 6 January (Epiphany) has become an occasion for the church to celebrate and give thanks for the arrival of God�s Word made flesh, Jesus the Emmanuel, �God with us" who is the light of God that has come into the world, the light that even death could not extinguish.

The main liturgical colour for the Christmas Season is white, which expresses joy and glory. Gold, which expresses honor and praise, and is sometimes used in place of white. The Catholic church will celebrate five important feast during the Christmas Season which are as follows:

1. The Nativity of the Lord, 25 December is the of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2. The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, on the first Sunday after Christmas dedicated to each member of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph of their life together and the celebration focuses on religious family life.
3. Mary, the Holy Mother of God, 1 January is the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. However, when it falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated (temporarily waive).
4. The Epiphany of the Lord, 6 January celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the Christ Child, signifying the extension of salvation to the Gentiles.
5. The Baptism of the Lord, the Sunday after 6 January commemorates Christ's Baptism by St. John the Baptist.

Wednesday, 25 December, 2013
The Nativity of the Lord - Christmas (Solemnity)

Midnight Mass
Reading 1

Isaiah 9: 1 - 6
1	But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2	The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
3	Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy; they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4	For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as on the day of Mid'ian.
5	For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6	For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Psalm

Psalms 96: 1 - 3, 11 - 13
1	O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2	Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
3	Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
11	Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12	let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy
13	before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

Reading 2

Titus 2: 11 - 14
11	For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men,
12	training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world,
13	awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14	who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Gospel

Luke 2: 1 - 14
1	In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2	This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria.
3	And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
4	And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5	to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6	And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
7	And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8	And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9	And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
10	And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;
11	for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12	And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13	And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14	"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"

Morning Mass
Reading 1

Isaiah 62: 11 - 12
11	Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, "Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him."
12	And they shall be called The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought out, a city not forsaken.

Psalm

Psalms 97: 1, 6, 11 - 12
1	The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
6	The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.
11	Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12	Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

Reading 2

Titus 3: 4 - 7
4	but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5	he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit,
6	which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7	so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Gospel

Luke 2: 15 - 20
15	When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
16	And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17	And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child;
18	and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19	But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20	And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Day Mass

Reading 1

Isaiah 52: 7 - 10
7	How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
8	Hark, your watchmen lift up their voice, together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.
9	Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10	The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Psalm

Psalms 98: 1 - 6
1	O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2	The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3	He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4	Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5	Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6	With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

Reading 2

Hebrews 1: 1 - 6
1	In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets;
2	but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3	He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4	having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs.
5	For to what angel did God ever say, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"?
6	And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."

Gospel

John 1: 1 - 18
1	In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2	He was in the beginning with God;
3	all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
4	In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5	The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6	There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7	He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
8	He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
9	The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
10	He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.
11	He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.
12	But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;
13	who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14	And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
15	(John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'")
16	And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace.
17	For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18	No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

OR

John 1: 1 - 5, 9 - 14
1	In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2	He was in the beginning with God;
3	all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
4	In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5	The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
9	The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
10	He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.
11	He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.
12	But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;
13	who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14	And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is universally celebrated on 8 December, nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated on 8 September. Mary herself, who is the Immaculate Conception, this day does not refer to Mary's conceiving Jesus by the Holy Spirit, but to the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, by Mary's father, St. Joachim.

On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX officially declared the Immaculate Conception a dogma of the Church, which means that all Christians are bound to accept it as true. As the Holy Father wrote in the Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus, "We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful."

Why is the solemnity celebrated on the 9 December in 2013? This is due to that the feast of the Immaculate Conception falls on Sunday, December 8, 2013 which is the Second Sunday in Advent, therefore the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is transferred to the following day, Monday, December 9, 2013.

Mary is the All Holy, and it had to be this way: Christ took from her His very Flesh and Blood, the Flesh that was scourged for us, the Blood that was spilt for us, the Bread of Life that saves us! 

Monday, 9 December, 2013
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

Reading 1
Genesis 3:9-15, 20

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, �Where are you?�
He answered, �I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.�
Then he asked, �Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!�
The man replied, �The woman whom you put here with meC
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.�
The LORD God then asked the woman,
�Why did you do such a thing?�
The woman answered, �The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.�

Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
�Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.�

The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm  98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

R. (1) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Reading 2

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

Brothers and sisters:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.

Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin�s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
�Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.�
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
�Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.�
But Mary said to the angel,
�How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?�
And the angel said to her in reply,
�The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.�
Mary said, �Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.�
Then the angel departed from her.