12:30pm on Sunday 12th June at
St Francis of Assisi Llay Chain Llay LL12 0NT
The Collect is a prayer that the course of the world may be ordered by the Lord and “joyfully serve Thee to quiet devotion.” In the Epistle we ask for “deliverance” from corruption into the “liberty” enjoyed by a child of God. The Gradual continues the theme of asking for help from God lest the “Gentiles” ridicule our religion.
The Gospel teaches that Christ is the great Fisher of Men who relies upon the Apostles, priests and Bishops, for success. We are the fish drawn out of the water by the teaching of Christ from the sea of the world. In the Offertory we ask Jesus to “enlighten my eyes” and in the Secret entreat Him to “draw our rebellious wills” to Him. The Communion reflects the sentiment that the Lord is my “firmament...and ...refuge,” while the Postcommunion tells us that the Mass and Holy Sacrament of the Altar will “purify” our hearts and protect us.
Today is Feast of St. John of St. Facundo C., known as a peacemaker from early childhood. Giving all his worldly goods to the poor, he became a Saint devoted completely to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, joined the Augustinian Order, finally passed away in 1479. A commemoration in the Mass of St. John of Ss Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor and Nazarius Mm., martyred at Rome. Although not commemorated in the newer rubrics of the Mass, pray to the Saints for courage to help those less fortunate to the best of our ability, to love Holy Mass as did the holy Saint, and to be ready to become a martyr for Our Lord if called upon by Him to do so.