The Garden Tomb: a grave from the Iron Age?

Doubtless non-Catholics (and some Catholics, as well) would have heard of the so-called Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. First proposed as the actual tomb of Jesus by Major-General Charles George Gordon, who spent time in Palestine in 1882-83, this site has become very popular as an alternative to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Church of England originally committed itself to the site as the place of Jesus' burial and "Gordon's Tomb" became the "Garden Tomb." The Church has since withdrawn its formal support, but the Garden Tomb continues to be identified by popular Protestant piety.

However, this popular identification is now questioned by a number of scholars, including Professor Jeffrey R. Chadwick, Associate Professor of Church History at Brigham Young University. While believing that Gordon got it right in identifying Gordon's Calvary as the Golgotha of the Gospels (as opposed to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre), he presents an argument, based on archeology, that the Garden Tomb is centuries too early - dating somewhere from Iron Age II (1000–586 BC)! - to be that of Jesus, and that some of its features are actually from the Crusader period.

Two announcements, for the present

Astute readers may notice that I have only put up the readings up to the Third Sunday of Lent. It's just that 'real life' had caught up to me - with my graduation from middle school and all - and am currently working on some other projects. But I did write them (yet unpublished), and am hoping to get them up before this month ends, so do not worry too much.

For now, there are some articles of high interest over at The New Liturgical Movement: the Compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions by Pope Pius XII, as of now in two parts.

The Fifth Sunday of Lent / Passion Sunday

1.) OLD ROMAN LECTIONARY

Introit

(Ps. 42 [43]:1-2a, 3)

Judge me, O God, and defend my cause against an unholy nation; deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man, for you are my God and my strength.
Send forth your light and your truth; they have led me, and brought me to your holy mountain, and into your tabernacles.
(The Gloria Patri is omitted)
Judge me, O God...

Epistle

(Hebrews 9:11-15)

Brethren:
Christ, when He came, as a High Priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), He entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, and so He Himself obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works to worship the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the New Covenant, so that, since a death having occurred for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gradual

(Ps. 142 [143]:9a, 10a; 17 [18]:48, 49)

Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; teach me to do your will.
V: You are my deliverer, O Lord, from the angry nations. You will lift me up above those who rise up against me; you will deliver me from the unjust man.

Tract

(Ps. 128 [129]:1-4)

"Often have they attacked me from my youth."
V: Let Israel now say, "Often have they attacked me from my youth;"
V: "Yet they could not prevail against me; the wicked have wrought upon my back."
V: "They have lengthened their iniquities; the LORD who is just will cut the necks of sinners."

Gospel

(John 8:46-59)

At that time, Jesus said to the multitudes of the Judeans, "Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God." Then the Judeans answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?"
Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father – and you dishonor me. I am not seeking my glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Amen, Amen, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death for ever."
Therefore the Judeans said to Him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps my word he will never taste of death for ever.' You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets are dead - whom do you make yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. The one who glorifies me is my Father, He of whom you say, 'He is our God,' yet you have not known Him, but I know Him; if I say, 'I do not know him,' I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad."
Then the Judeans said to Him, "You do not yet have fifty years, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, Amen I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM!" Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the Temple.

Offertory

(Psalm 138:1; 118 [119]:17, 25b)

I offer you thanks, Lord, with all my heart; be kind to your servant so that I might live and keep your word; grant me life in accordance with your word, O Lord.

Communion

(1 Corinthians 11:24, 25)

"This is my body which is given for you; this cup is the new covenant in My blood," says the Lord. "Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

2.) NEW ROMAN LECTIONARY, Year B

First Reading

(Jeremiah 31:31-34)

"Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them," says the LORD.
"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days," says the LORD. "I will put My law within their bowels and write it on their hearts; and I shall be their God, and they shall be my people. They shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," says the LORD; "for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more."

Responsorial Psalm

(Psalm 51 [50]:3-4, 12-13, 14-15 [1-2, 10-11, 12-13])

R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
According to your great mercy wipe away my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit in my inner being.
Do not cast me away from before you,
And do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
And with a willing spirit sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Second Reading

(Hebrew 5:7-9)

Brethren: in the days of His flesh Christ Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His godly fear. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through the things He suffered; and having been perfected, He became the Source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

Gospel

(John 12:20-33)

There were some Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast of the Passover. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and were asking him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; and Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life destroys it, and he who hates his life in this world keeps it for eternal life. If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him my Father will honor.
"Now my soul is restless, and what should I say — 'Father, deliver me from this hour?' No, but for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him!"
Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come for my sake but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world - now the ruler of this world will be thrown out! And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" (This He said to indicate by what death He would die).

March 25 - The Annunciation

1.) OLD ROMAN LECTIONARY

Introit

(Ps. 44:13, 15, 16, 2 [45:14, 16, 17; 3])

All the rich men of the people will entreat your countenance; after her will virgins be brought to the king; her neighbors will be brought to you in gladness and rejoicing.
My heart has uttered a good word; I speak my works to the king.
V: Glory to the Father...
All the rich men of the people...

EPISTLE

(Isaiah 7:10-15)

In those days the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, "Ask a sign from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or make it high upwards." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not test the LORD!"

And he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin is to conceive and bear a son, and will call his name 'Imanu-El'. He will eat curds and honey for his knowing to reject the evil and choose the good."

Gradual

(Ps. 44:3, 5 [45:4, 6])

Grace is poured freely into your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.
V: Because of truth and meekness and justice, and right hand shall lead you wondrously.

Tract

(Ps. 44:11, 12)

Hear, O daughter, and see, and turn your ear; for the King has greatly desired your beauty.
V: All the rich men of the people will entreat your countenance with gifts; the daughters of kings in your honor.
V: After her will virgins be brought to the king; her neighbors will be brought to you.
V: They will be brought with gladness and rejoicing; they will be brought into the temple of the king.

GOSPEL

(Luke 1:26-38)

At that time the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was 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 [, blessed are you amongst women]!" But [when she saw,] she was troubled at his saying, and began to wonder what kind of greeting this might be.
And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will call His name Jesus; this one will be great, and will be called 'the Son of the Most High', and the Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have not known man?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the one born holy [by you] will be called the Son of God.
"And behold, your relative Elizabeth 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 with God!" And Mary said, "Behold, I am the bondservant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

OFFERTORY

(Luke 1:28, 42)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb.

COMMUNION

(Isaiah 7:14)

Behold, the virgin is to conceive and bear a son, and will call his name Immanuel.

2.) NEW ROMAN LECTIONARY

First Reading

(Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10)

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, "Ask a sign from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or make it high upwards." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and will I not test the LORD!"

And he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin is to conceive and bear a son, and will call his name 'Imanu-El', which means 'With us is God'."

Responsorial Psalm

(Psalm 40 [39]:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11 [6-7a, 7b-8, 9, 10])

R. (8a and 9a) Here I am, LORD; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but ears you hollowed out for me. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required, then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here I am, LORD; I come to do your will.
"In the roll of the scroll it is written about me, I delight to do your will, O my God; and your Law is in the midst of my belly!"
R. Here I am, LORD; I come to do your will.
I proclaim justice in the great assembly; behold, my lips I do not restrain, O LORD, you know.
R. Here I am, LORD; I come to do your will.
Your justice I have not hidden in the midst of my heart; your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of; I have not concealed your mercy and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
R. Here I am, LORD; I come to do your will.

Second Reading

(Hebrews 10:4-10)

Brethren:
It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins, therefore when [Christ] came into the world, He said, "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come – it is written of me in the scroll of the book – to do your will, O God.'"
When He says above, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), then He says, "Behold, I have come to do Your will [O God]." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second; by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Gospel

(Luke 1:26-38)

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was 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 [, blessed are you amongst women]!" But [when she saw,] she was troubled at his saying, and began to wonder what kind of greeting this might be.
And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will call His name Jesus; this one will be great, and will be called 'the Son of the Most High', and the Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have not known man?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the one born holy [by you] will be called the Son of God.
"And behold, your relative Elizabeth 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 with God!" And Mary said, "Behold, I am the bondservant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

3.) BYZANTINE LECTIONARY

Apolytikion

Today is the crowning of our salvation and the manifestation of the Mystery from the ages: the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the tidings of grace: wherefore do we shout out with him to the Theotokos, 'Rejoice, O full of grace, the Lord is with you!'

Troparion

Today is the crowning of our salvation and the manifestation of the Mystery from the ages...

Kontakion

To you, the Champion Leader, we your faithful dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos. But as you are one with might which is invincible, deliver us from all dangers that can be so that we may cry out to you, 'Rejoice, O Bride unwedded!'

Prokeimenon

(Psalm 96 [95]: 2, 1)

From day to day proclaim the salvation of our God.
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Epistle

(Hebrews 2:11-18)

Brethren, He who makes holy and those being made holy are all from One; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them 'brethren', saying, "I will declare your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to you," and again, "I will put my trust in him," and again, "Behold, I and the children whom God has given me." Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He likewise partook of the same, that through death He might destroy him who holds the power of death (that is, the devil) and set free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For truly He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Gospel

(Luke 1:24-38)

Alleluia

(Psalm 71 [72]:6, 17)

He descends like the rain on the grass, like showers that water the earth.
May His name be blessed forever, His name continue as long as the sun.

Communion

(Psalm 131 [132]:13)

The LORD has chosen Zion; He prefers her for His dwelling.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

The Fourth Sunday of Lent

1.) OLD ROMAN LECTIONARY

Introit

(cf. Isaiah 66:10, 11; Ps. 121 [122]:1)

Rejoice, Jerusalem, and come together all you that love her; rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow, that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolations.
I rejoiced in the things that were said to me: "We shall go into the house of the Lord."
V: Glory to the Father...
Rejoice, Jerusalem...

Epistle

(Galatians 4:22-31; 5:1a)

Brethren:
It is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. But he of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are spoken about allegorically. For these are the two covenants: one is from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage; this is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage with her children – but the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate are more numerous than those of she who has a husband."
Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now. But what does the scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son; for the son of the slave will not share the inheritance with the son" of the free woman. Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman; and this is the freedom with which Christ has set us free.

Gradual

(Ps. 121 [122]:1, 7)

I rejoiced in the things that were said to me: "We shall go into the house of the Lord."
V: Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your towers!

Tract

(Ps. 124 [125]:1-2)

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; he who dwells in Jerusalem shall not be moved forever.
V: Mountains surround it; and the LORD surrounds His people, from this time forward and even forever.

Gospel

(John 6:1-15)

At that time Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee - which is the Sea of Tiberias. A great multitude was following Him because they were observing the signs He was performing on the sick. So Jesus went on up the mountainside and there He sat down with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.
Then Jesus, when He lifted up His eyes, and saw a great multitude coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread that these may eat?" (But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do). Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for each one to get a little."
One of His disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Him, "There is a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many?" Jesus said, "Make the people recline." (Now there was much grass in the place.)
So the men reclined, in number about five thousand. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those reclining; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were all satisfied, He said to his disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost." So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
Then those people, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!" Then Jesus, because He knew they were going to come and seize Him by force to make Him king, departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Offertory

(Ps. 134 [135]:3, 6)

Praise the LORD, for He is good; sing to His name, for it is sweet. All things whatsoever that He willed, He did in heaven and on earth.

Communion

(Ps. 121:4, 5 [122:3 ,4])

Jerusalem has been built as a city, a city which is joined to her together. For to that place the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD: the testimony of Israel to praise the name of the LORD.

2.) NEW ROMAN LECTIONARY, Year B

Reading 1

(2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23)

In those days, [all the leaders of Judah, and] all the priests and the people added infidelity to infidelity, following all the abominations of the nations; and they defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent persistently to them by the hand of His messengers, getting up early and sending, for He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising His words, and ridiculing His prophets, until the anger of the LORD went up against His people until there was no healer.
They burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious vessels, and those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had accepted its sabbaths. All the days of the desolation it kept sabbath to fulfill the seventy years.
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,

"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD God of the heavens has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!"

Responsorial Psalm

(Psalm 137 [136]:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6)

R. (6ab) Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sit down, also we weep when we remember Zion.
On the poplars in her midst we hang up our harps.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
For our captors there ask us for the words of a song, and our tormentors ask for mirth, saying, "Sing for us a song about Zion!"
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget!
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you – If I do not lift up Jerusalem over the top of my joy.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!

Reading II

(Ephesians 2:4-10)

Brethren:
God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! – and raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not from works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand so that we might walk in them.

Gospel

(John 3:14-21)

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever is believing in Him may not perish but may have eternal life, for God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest their deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been done in God."

The Third Sunday of Lent

1.) OLD ROMAN LECTIONARY

Introit

(Ps. 24 [25]:15, 16; 1, 2)

My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He will pluck my feet out from a net; turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and poor.
To you, O LORD, I have lifted up my soul; In you, O my God, I trust; do not let me be put to shame.
V: Glory to the Father...
My eyes are ever toward the LORD...

Epistle

(Ephesians 5:1-9)

Brethren, be imitators of God as dearly loved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness. But fornication and all impurity or greed, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither obscenity, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which is to no purpose, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disbelief. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth.

Gradual

(Psalm 9:20, 4 [19, 3])

Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in your sight.
V: When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at your presence.

Tract

(Ps. 122[123]:1-3a)

To you have I lifted up my eyes, Who dwells in heaven.
V: Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hand of their masters;
V: And as the eyes of a handmaid to the hand of her mistress, so are our eyes to the LORD our God, until He has mercy on us.
V: Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us!

Gospel

(Luke 11:14-28)

At that time Jesus was casting out a devil, and it was mute. And it happened that when the demon had gone out that the mute spoke, and the multitudes were amazed. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.
But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and house falls on house. So if Satan also is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? —because you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebub. Now if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and conquers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places seeking rest; and finding none he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it swept clean and put in order. Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
And it happened that as He said these things that a certain woman in the crowd lifted up her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!" But He said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it."

Offertory

(cf. Ps. 18 [19]:9-11)

The justices of the LORD are right, rejoicing hearts: and His judgments are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb; for your servant keeps them.

Communion

(Ps. 83:4-5 [84:3-4])

The sparrow has found a home, and the turtledove a nest for herself, where she may lay her young: your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they shall praise you forever and ever.

2.) NEW ROMAN LECTIONARY, Year B

1st Reading

(Exodus 20:1-17 or 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17)

In those days, God delivered all these commandments:
"I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to thousands, to those who love me and keep my commandments.
"You shall not take the Name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His Name in vain.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart as holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work — you, your son or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the alien who is in your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
"You shall not murder.
"You shall not commit adultery.
"You shall not steal.
"You shall not answer as a lying witness against your neighbor.
"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Responsorial Psalm

(Psalm 19 [18]:8, 9, 10, 11)

R. (John 6:68c) Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and altogether righteous.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
More to be desired are they than gold, than much pure gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
Moreover your servant is warned by them; in the keeping of them there is great reward.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

2nd Reading

(1 Corinthians 1:22-25)

Brothers and sisters:
Jews demand signs and Greeks ask for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Gospel

(John 2:13-25)

Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at tables. And He made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.
And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Stop making my Father’s House a house of trade!" Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house will devour me."
Then the Judeans answered and said to Him, "What sign can you show to us since you are doing these things?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
Then the Judeans said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body; so after He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Now when He was in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He was doing. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and He did not need anyone to testify about man, for He knew what was in man.

Peregrinus Expectavi Pedes Meos In Cymbalis

Peregrinus expectavi pedes meos in cymbalis. A silly (when translated) and grammatically-incorrect nonsense Latin phrase which the composer Sergey Prokofiev used as one of the lyrics in his score for the 1938 propaganda film Alexander Nevsky. This is notably heard in the background as the Teutonic Knights charge towards the army of Russians during the Battle of the Ice:


(clip with better audio viewable here)

Many people have attempted (and failed?) to decipher this short elusive phrase (which is otherwise unattested in Biblical, Patristic, Ecclesiastical, or indeed even secular literature), often with strange results; while others just deal with it briefly and never mention it again, shrugging it off as either an obscure medieval hymn - which would be odd, since were it a true hymn we should either be singing it in church right now or have manuscripts that give its lyrics! - or a feeble attempt by Eisenstein and Prokofiev at concocting a Latin phrase and coming up with nonsense (Prokofiev originally intended to use authentic medieval chant for the score, but found the music "so far removed" and "emotionally alien" to the 20th century listener).
However, Morag G. Kerr, soprano for the BBC Symphony Chorus, may hold the true answer to this riddle: the nonsense phrase is actually a jab against Prokofiev's colleague-slash-rival Igor Stravinsky, who wrote The Symphony of Psalms in 1930. The Latin words of the phrase are apparently taken from phrases found in the Latin Vulgate, specifically, from Psalm 39:12-13 [38:13-14]; Psalm 40:1-3 [39:2-4]; and Psalm 150 (this can be observed here). The clincher is, these are the exact same Psalms Stravinsky used in his symphony, so saying that it is coincidental would be rather unsatisfying.

Random minor trivia: In the clip above, a keen observer would notice that the Teutonic bishop blesses/makes the Sign of the Cross in the Eastern manner (moving from the right shoulder to the left) as opposed to the present-day Catholic left shoulder-to-right movement!

The Second Sunday of Lent

1.) OLD ROMAN LECTIONARY

Introit

(Ps. 24:6, 3, 22; 1, 2)

Remember, O LORD, your mercies and your steadfast love, for they are from of old. Do not let our enemies triumph over us; deliver us, O God of Israel, from all our distress.
To you, O LORD, I have lifted up my soul; in you, my God, I trust. Let me not be put to shame!
V: Glory be to the Father...
Remember, O LORD...

Epistle

(1 Thessalonians 4:1-7)

Brethren:
We urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God (just as you actually do walk), that you should abound more and more; for you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality, that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in holiness and honor; not in passion of lust like the gentiles who do not know God; and that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the Avenger of all these things, as we also told you earlier and have all testified. For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.

Gradual

(Ps. 24 [25]:17, 18)

The troubles of my heart have been multiplied; deliver me from my necessities, O LORD.
V: See my abjection and my hardship, and release all my sins.

Tract

(Ps. 105 [106]:1-4)

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy is forever.
V: Who will declare the powers of the LORD? Who will set forth all His praises?
V: Blessed are those who keep judgment, and do righteousness at all times!
V: Remember us, O LORD, in the favor of your people; visit us with your salvation.

Gospel

(Matt. 17:1-9)

At that time Jesus took Peter, and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here! If you want, let us make here three booths – one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" And when the disciples heard this, they fell down on their faces and were greatly terrified. And Jesus came and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid." When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but only Jesus.
And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

Offertory

(cf. Ps. 118 [119]:47-48)

I will meditate on your commandments, which I exceedingly loved; and I will lift my hands to your commandments which I love.

Communion

(cf. Ps. 5:2b-4a)

Understand my cry; hearken to the voice of my prayer, my King and my God; for to you will I pray, O LORD.

2.) NEW ROMAN LECTIONARY

First Reading

(Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18)

God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" and he said, "Here I am."
He said, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will say to you."
When they came to the place God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and placed the wood in order. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife in order to slaughter his son. But the messenger of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
He said, "Do not extend your hand toward the boy! Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me."
And Abraham lifted his eyes and saw - and behold - behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So Abraham went and got the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
Then the messenger of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, "'By myself I swear' - an oracle of the LORD - 'that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your seed shall take possession of the gates of their enemies; by your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.'"

Responsorial Psalm

(Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19)

R: (116:9) I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
I believed, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted."
Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of His godly ones.
R: I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
O LORD, I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; You have loosed my bonds.
To You I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call upon the name of the LORD.
R: I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people,
In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
R: I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Second Reading

(Romans 8:31b-34)

Brethren:
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all – how will He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Who will bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is he who will condemn? Christ [Jesus] is the one who died (yes, who was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.

Gospel

(Mark 9:2-10)

Jesus took Peter, and James, and John and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His clothes became gleaming exceedingly white, that a fuller on the earth is not able to whiten.
And Elijah appeared before them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
And answering, Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here, and let us make three booths — one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah" (for he did not know what to answer because they were very frightened). And there was a cloud overshadowing them, and there was a voice from the cloud, "This is my Son, the Beloved; hear Him!"
And suddenly when they looked around they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.
And as they were coming down out of the mountain, He ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen except when the Son of Man should rise from the dead. And they kept the word, discussing among themselves what 'rising from the dead' meant.

The First Sunday of Lent

1.) OLD ROMAN LECTIONARY

Introit

(Ps. 90 [91]:15a, 16, 1)

He will call out to me, and I will hear him; I will deliver him and glorify him; I will satisfy him with length of days.
He who dwells with the aid of the Most High, will abide under the protection of the God of Heaven.
V: Glory be to the Father...
He will call out to me...

Epistle

(2 Cor. 6:1-10)

Brethren:
We urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the 'acceptable time'; behold, now is 'the day of salvation'!
Giving no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed, but in all things commending ourselves as ministers of God in great patience, in afflictions, in hardships, in calamities, in stripes, in imprisonments, in rebellions, in troubles, in vigilance, in fasting;
in chastity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love;
in the Word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left;
by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet known; as dying. and behold. we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, but always rejoicing; as poor, but making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Gradual

(Psalm 90 [91]:11-12)

God has given His angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways.
V: They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Tract

(Psalm 90 [91]:1-7, 11-16)

He who dwells with the aid of the Most High, will abide under the protection of the God of Heaven.
V: He will say to the LORD, "You are my protector and my refuge; my God, in Him will I trust;
V: "For he has delivered me from the snare of the hunters and from the harsh word."
V: He will overshadow you with His shoulders; and you will trust under His wings.

V: His truth will surround you with a shield; you will not be afraid of the terror of the night;
V: Of the arrow that flies by day, of the troubles that wander in darkness; nor of invasion and the midday demon.
V: A thousand will fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not draw near you.
V: For He has given His angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways.
V: They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
V: You will walk over the asp and the basilisk, and you will trample underfoot the lion and the dragon.
V: "Because he hoped in me I will deliver him; I will protect him because he has known my Name.
V: "He will call out to me, and I will hear him; I am with him in tribulation."
V: "I will deliver him and glorify him; I will satisfy him with length of days, and show him my salvation."

Gospel

(Matt. 4:1-11)

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And having fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Then the devil took him to the holy city, and he stood Him on the highest point of the temple and said to Him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning you,' and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not put the LORD your God to the test.'"
Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
And he said to Him, "All these things I will give you if, falling down, you will worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and serve only Him'."
Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Offertory

(Ps. 90:4, 5a)

The LORD will overshadow you with His shoulders; and you will trust under His wings; His truth will surround you with a shield.

Communion

(Ps. 90:4, 5a)

2.) NEW ROMAN LECTIONARY, Year B

First Reading

(Genesis 9:8-15)

God said to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, "I – behold – I confirm my covenant with you and with your seed after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the beasts, and every living creature of the earth with you, all that comes out of the ark – every living creature of the earth. I confirm my covenant with you: Never again will all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and between you and every living creature with you, for future generations: I set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. It will be, when I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow is seen in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant which is between me and between you and with all living creatures of all flesh. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all flesh."

Responsorial Psalm

(Psalm 25:4-5ab, 6-7b, 8-9)

R. (cf. 10) Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Make known to me your ways, O LORD; Teach me your paths,
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior.
R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Remember, O LORD, your mercies and your steadfast love, for they are from of old.
According to Your mercy remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD. R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
Good and just is the LORD; therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble His way.
R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

Second Reading

(1 Peter 3:18-22)

Beloved:
Christ suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who were once disobedient when the patience of God patiently waited in the days of Noah, while an ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water; and the antitype of which – baptism – now saves you (not a removal of the dirt of the flesh but an appeal for a good conscience towards God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers made subject to Him.

Gospel

(Mark 1:12-15)

The Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, and He was in the wilderness forty days, being tested by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

And after John had been handed over, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the good news!"