Double Feast of Saint Peter of Alcantara, Confessor

White Vestments

Missa "Justus ut palma florebit"

    Saint Peter of Alcantara was born in Alcantara, Spain in 1499. His father, Peter Garavita, was the governor of the province, and his mother was of the noble family of Sanabia. After a course of grammar and philosophy in his native town, he was sent, at the age of fourteen, to the University of Salamanca. Returning home, he became a Franciscan in the convent of the Stricter Observance at Manxaretes in 1515.

    At the age of twenty-two he was sent to found a new community of the Stricter Observance at Badajoz. He was ordained priest in 1524, and the following year made guardian of the convent of St. Mary of the Angels at Robredillo. A few years later he began preaching with much success. He preferred to preach to the poor; and his sermons, taken largely from the Prophets and Sapiential Books, breathe the tenderest human sympathy. The reform of the "Discalced Friars" had, at the time when Peter entered the order, besides the convents in Spain, the Custody of St. Maria Pietatis in Portugal, subject to the General of the Observants.

    Having been elected minister of St. Gabriel's province in 1538, Peter set to work at once. At the chapter of Plasencia in 1540 he drew up the Constitutions of the Stricter Observants, but his severe ideas met with such opposition that he renounced the office of provincial and retired with John of Avila into the mountains of Arabida, Portugal, where he joined Father Martin a Santa Maria in his life of eremitical solitude. Soon, however, other friars came to join him, and several little communities were established. Peter being chosen guardian and master of novices at the convent of Pallais. In 1560 these communities were erected into the Province of Arabida.

    Returning to Spain in 1553 he spent two more years in solitude, and then journeyed barefoot to Rome, and obtained permission of Pope Julius III to found some poor convents in Spain under the jurisdiction of the general of the Conventuals. Convents were established at Pedrosa, Plasencia, and elsewhere; in 1556 they were made a commissariat, with Peter as superior, and in 1561, a province under the title of St. Joseph. Not discouraged by the opposition and ill-success his efforts at reform had met with in St. Gabriel's province, Peter drew up the constitutions of the new province with even greater severity. The reform spread rapidly into other provinces of Spain and Portugal.

    In 1562 the province of St. Joseph was put under the jurisdiction of the general of the Observants, and two new custodies were formed: St. John Baptist's in Valencia, and St. Simon's in Galicia (see Friars Minor). Besides the above-named associates of Peter may be mentioned St. Francis Borgia, John of Avila, and Venerable Louis of Granada. In St. Teresa of Avila, Peter perceived a soul chosen of God for a great work, and her success in the reform of Carmel was in great measure due to his counsel, encouragement, and defense. (See St. Teresa of Avila.) It was a letter from St. Peter (14 April, 1562) that encouraged her to found her first monastery at Avila on August 24 of that year. St. Teresa's autobiography is the source of much of the information regarding Peter's life, work, and gifts of miracles and prophecy.

    Perhaps the most remarkable of Peter's graces were his gift of contemplation and the virtue of penance. Hardly less remarkable was his love of God, which was at times so ardent as to cause him, as it did St. Philip Neri, sensible pain, and frequently rapt him into ecstasy. The poverty he practised and enforced was as cheerful as it was real, and often let the want of even the necessaries of life be felt. In confirmation of his virtues and mission of reformation God worked numerous miracles through his intercession and by his very presence.

    He died at the age of 63 on October 18, 1562 and was beatified by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, and canonized by Pope Clement IX in 1669. Besides the Constitutions of the Stricter Observants and many letters on spiritual subjects, especially to St. Teresa, he composed a short treatise on prayer, which has been translated into all the languages of Europe and spread to other tongues as well. In 1826 Pope Leo XII named him the Patron of Brazil.

      We want to thank the Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for expediting these resources of the Propers. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945 Bio: Catholic Encyclopedia 1913 edition


Missa "Justus ut palma florebit"
Go to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS
INTROIT: Psalm 91: 13, 14
    Justus ut palma florebit ; sicut cedrus Libani multiplicabitur. Plantati in domo Domini, in atriis domus Dei nostri florebunt. v. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancti sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et saecula saeculorum. Amen.
    Repeat Justus ut palma florebit...
    The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Lebanon. They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Repeat In the midst of the Church...
    Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS
    COLLECT
    Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

    Oremus. Deus, qui beátum Petrum Confessórem tuum admirábilis pæniténtiæ et altíssimæ contemplatiónis múnere illustráre dignátus es: da nobis, quæsumus; ut, ejus suffragántibus méritis, carne mortificáti, facílius coeléstia capiámus. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Qui vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
    Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
    R. Amen.

    The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

    Let us pray. God, Who didst vouchsafe to make blessed Peter, Thy confessor, glorious by the gift of a wonderful spirit of penance and most lofty contemplation, grant us, we beseech Thee, that, through his interceding merits, being mortified in the flesh, we may the more easily understand the things of Heaven. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
    Forever and ever.
    R.Amen.


    EPISTLE: Philippians 3: 7-12
    Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Philippénses. Fratres: Quæ mihi fuérunt lucra, hæc arbitrátus sum propter Christum detriménta. Verúmtamen exístimo ómnia detriméntum esse, propter eminéntem sciéntiam Jesu Christi Dómini mei: propter quem ómnia detriméntum feci, et árbitror ut stércora, ut Christum lucrifáciam, et invéniar in illo, non habens meam justítiam, quæ ex lege est, sed illam quæ ex fide est Christi Jesu: quæ ex Deo est justítia in fide, ad cognoscéndum illum et virtútem resurrectiónis ejus, et societátem passiónum illíus, configurátus morti ejus: si quo modo occúrram ad resurrectiónem, quæ est ex mórtuis: non quod jam accéperim, aut jam perféctus sim: sequor autem, si quo modo comprehéndam, in quo et comprehénsus sum a Christo Jesu. Deo Gratias.
    Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Philippians. Brethren, the things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ. Furthermore, I count all things to be but loss, for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as dung, that I may win Christ; and may be found in Him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God, justice in faith; that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings; being made conformable to His death, if by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead; not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus. Thanks be to God.

    GRADUAL: Psalm 44: 5
    Spécie tua, et pulchritúdine tua inténde, próspere procéede, et regna. V. Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam: et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua. Allelúja, allelúja. V. (Ps.111: 1) Beatus vir, qui timet Dóminum: in mandátis ejus cupit nimis. Allelúja.
    With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. V. Because of truth, and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 111: 1) Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, he delights exceedingly in His commandments. Alleluia.

    GOSPEL:   Luke 11: 33-36
    Dominus vobiscum.
    R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
    Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum
    R.Gloria tibi, Domine

    In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis suis: "Nemo lucérnam accéndit et in abscóndito ponit, neque sub módio: sed supra candelábrum, ut qui ingrediúntur, lumen vídeant. Lucérna córporis tui est óculus tuus. Si óculus tuus fúerit simplex, totum corpus tuum lúcidum erit: si autem nequam fúerit, étiam corpus tuum tenebrósum erit. Vide ergo, ne lumen, quod in te est, ténebræ sint. Si ergo corpus tuum totum lúcidum fúerit, non habens áliquam partem tenebrárum, erit"
    Laus tibi Christe.

    The Lord be with you.
    R. And with thy spirit.
    The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew. R. Glory to Thee, O Lord

    At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "No man lighteth a candle, and putteth it in a hidden place, nor under a bushel: but upon a candlestick, that they that come in may see the light. The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body will be lightsome; but if it be evil, thy body also will be darksome. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If then thy whole body be lightsome, having no part of darkness, the whole shall be lightsome, and as a bright lamp shall enlighten thee."
    Praise be to Christ


    OFFERTORY:    Psalm 20: 2,3
    Dominus vobiscum.
    R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

    In virtúte tua, Dómine, lætábitur justus, et super salutáre tuum exsultábit veheménter: desidérium ánimæ ejus tribuísti ei.
    The Lord be with you.
    R. And with thy spirit.

    Let us pray.In thy strength, O Lord, the just shall joy, and in Thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly: Thou hast given him his heart's desire.
    Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE OFFERTORY
    SECRET
    Præsta nobis, quæsumus, ómnipotens Deus: ut nostræ humilitátis oblátio, et pro tuórum tibi grata sit honóre sanctórum, et nos córpore páriter et mente puríficet. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
    Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
    R. Amen.
    Grant us, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that the offering of our lowliness may be pleasing to Thee in honor of Thy saints, and purify us in both body and mind. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
    Forever and ever.
    R.Amen.

    PREFACE   Common Preface
    Dominus vobiscum.
    R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
    Sursum corda.
    R.Habemus ad Dominum.
    Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
    R. Dignum et justum est.

    Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos Tibi simper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem Tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates, Coeli, Coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim socia exultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti, jubeas, supplici confessione dicentes:
    SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS...
    The Lord be with you.
    R. And with thy spirit.
    Lift up your hearts.
    R.We have lifted them up to the Lord.
    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
    R. It is meet and just.

    It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:
    HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

    Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE CANON OF THE MASS
    COMMUNION:   Matthew 19: 28-29
    Amen dico vobis: quod vos, qui reliquistis omnia et secuti estis Me, centuplum accipietis, et vitam aeternam possidebitis.
    Amen I say to you, that you, who have left all things and followed Me, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.

    POSTCOMMUNION
    Dominus vobiscum.
    R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
    Oremus.
    Quæsumus, omnípotens Deus: Præsta quæsumus, Dómine Deus noster: ut, quorum festivitáte votiva sunt sacraménta, eórum intercessióne salutária nobis reddántur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
    Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
    R. Amen.

    The Lord be with you.
    R. And with thy spirit.
    Let us pray.
    Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, that by the intercession of those on whose feast the mysteries are offered, they may be made efficacious for our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
    For ever and ever.
    R. Amen.
    Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS CONCLUSION OF THE HOLY MASS



    Feast of St. Peter of Alcantara