11. Votive Mass of the Holy Angels
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Cf. Ps 103 (102): 20
Bless the Lord, all you his angels, mighty in power,
fulfilling his word and heeding his voice.
COLLECT
O God, who dispose in a marvelous order
ministries both angelic and human,
graciously grant
that our life on earth may be defended
by those who watch over us
as they minister perpetually to you in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READING
Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel
As I watched:
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened, and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Or:
Rev 12:7-12ab
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
A reading from the Book of Revelation
War broke out in heaven;
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The dragon and its angels fought back,
but they did not prevail
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth,
and its angels were thrown down with it.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them.”
The word of the Lord.
[Guardian Angels]
Ex 23:20-23
My angel will go before you.
A reading from the Book of Exodus
Thus says the LORD:
“See, I am sending an angel before you,
to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.
Be attentive to him and heed his voice.
Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin.
My authority resides in him.
If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you,
I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.
“My angel will go before you and bring you to the
Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites,
Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites;
and I will wipe them out.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 138
Ps 91:1-2, 3-4ab, 4c-6, 10-11
℟. (11) The Lord has put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust.”
℟. The Lord has put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions he will cover you,
and under his wings you shall take refuge.
℟. The Lord has put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
His faithfulness is a buckler and a shield.
You shall not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day;
Nor the pestilence that roams in the darkness,
nor the devastating plague at noon.
℟. The Lord has put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
No evil shall befall you,
nor shall affliction come near your tent,
For to his angels he has given command about you,
that they guard you in all your ways.
℟. The Lord has put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
Verse Before the Gospel
Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5
℟. (1) In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
℟. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
℟. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
when they hear the words of your mouth;
And they shall sing of the ways of the Lord:
“Great is the glory of the Lord.”
℟. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
Ps 103:21
℟. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the Lord, all you his angels,
his ministers who do his will.
℟. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Jn 1:47–51
You will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Or: [Guardian Angels]
Mt 18:1-5, 10
Their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
We offer you a sacrifice of praise, O Lord,
humbly entreating,
that, as these gifts are borne by the ministry of Angels
into the presence of your majesty,
so you may receive them favorably
and make them profitable for our salvation.
Through Christ our Lord.
Preface of the Angels.
PREFACE
God is glorified through his angels.
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with your spirit.
℣. Lift up your hearts.
℟. We lift them up to the Lord.
℣. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
℟. It is right and just.
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
and to praise you without end
in your Archangels and Angels.
For the honor we pay the angelic creatures
in whom you delight
redounds to your own surpassing glory,
and by their great dignity and splendor
you show how infinitely great you are,
to be exalted above all things,
through Christ our Lord.
Through him the multitude of Angels extols your majesty,
and we are united with them in exultant adoration,
as with one voice of praise we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Ps 138 (137): 1
In the presence of the Angels I will praise you, my God.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Having been nourished with heavenly bread,
we beseech you humbly, O Lord,
that, drawing from it new strength,
under the protection of your Angels,
we may advance boldly along the way of salvation.
Through Christ our Lord.