13. Votive Mass of Saint Joseph
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Cf. Lk 12: 42
Behold a faithful and prudent steward,
whom the Lord set over his household.
COLLECT
O God, who in your inexpressible providence
were pleased to choose Saint Joseph
as spouse of the most holy Mother of your Son,
grant, we pray,
that we, who revere him as our protector on earth,
may be worthy of his heavenly intercession.
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.
READING I
2 Samuel 7
Gen 1:26—2:3
Fill the earth and subdue it.
A reading from the Book of Genesis
God said:
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
the birds of the air, and the cattle,
and over all the wild animals
and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.”
God created man in his image;
in the divine image he created him;
male and female he created them.
God blessed them, saying:
“Be fertile and multiply;
fill the earth and subdue it.
Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air,
and all the living things that move on the earth.”
God also said:
“See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth
and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food;
and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air,
and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground,
I give all the green plants for food.”
And so it happened.
God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.
Evening came, and morning followed—the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed.
Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing,
God rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken.
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,
because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.
The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father. (Luke 1:32)
A reading from the second Book of Samuel
The Lord spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David,
‘When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
It is he who shall build a house for my name.
And I will make his royal throne firm forever.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.’”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 90
Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
℟. (37) The son of David will live for ever.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever;”
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
℟. The son of David will live for ever.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”
℟. The son of David will live for ever.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.”
℟. The son of David will live for ever.
Reading II
Verse Before the Gospel
Ps 90:2, 3-4, 12-13, 14 and 16
℟. (See 17b) Give success to the work of our hands.
or:
℟. Alleluia.
Before the mountains were begotten
and the earth and the world were brought forth,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
℟. Give success to the work of our hands.
or:
℟. Alleluia.
You turn men back to dust,
saying “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
℟. Give success to the work of our hands.
or:
℟. Alleluia.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
℟. Give success to the work of our hands.
or:
℟. Alleluia.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children.
℟. Give success to the work of our hands.
or:
℟. Alleluia.
READING II
Colossians 3
Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22
Abraham believed, hoping against hope.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,
and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.
The word of the Lord.
Verse Before the Gospel
Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24
Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for men.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians
Brothers and sisters:
Over all these things put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one Body.
And be thankful.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Whatever you do, do from the heart,
as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that you will receive from the Lord
the due payment of the inheritance;
be slaves of the Lord Christ.
The word of the Lord.
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
℟. Alleluia, alleluia.
1. Ps 68:20
Blessed be the Lord day by day,
God, our salvation, who bears our burdens.
2. Ps 84:5
Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord;
they never cease to praise you.
℟. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 1
Matthew 13
Luke 2
Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Prayer Over the Offerings
Mt 13:54-58
Is he not the carpenter’s son?
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter’s son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?
Where did this man get all this?”
And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house.”
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith
The Gospel of the Lord.
Prayer Over the Offerings
Luke 2:41-51a
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them.
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
As we prepare to offer the sacrifice of praise, O holy Father,
we humbly ask to be sustained in our service
by the prayers of Saint Joseph,
whom you called to watch like a father on earth
over your Only Begotten Son.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
PREFACE
℣. 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 on the commemoration of Saint Joseph
to give you fitting praise,
to glorify you and bless you.
For this just man was given by you
as spouse to the Virgin Mother of God
and set as a wise and faithful servant
in charge of your household
to watch like a father over your Only Begotten Son,
who was conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit,
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him the Angels praise your majesty,
Dominions adore and Powers tremble before you.
Heaven and the Virtues of heaven and the blessed Seraphim
worship together with exultation.
May our voices, we pray, join with theirs
in humble praise, as 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
Mt 25: 21
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Come, share your master’s joy.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Restored by these life-giving Sacraments, Lord,
may we live for you always in justice and holiness,
helped by the example and intercession of Saint Joseph,
who in carrying out your great mysteries
served you as a man just and obedient.
Through Christ our Lord.