May 25 Saint Mary Magdalen De’ Pazzi
Virgin
Feast
Born in Florence in 1566, she had a religious upbringing and entered the monastery of the Carmelite nuns there. She led a hidden life of prayer and self-denial, praying particularly for the renewal of the Church and encouraging the sisters in holiness. Her life was marked by many extraordinary graces. She died in 1607.
From the Common of Virgins, except the following:
Invitatory
Come let us adore Jesus, the spouse of virgins, whom Magdalen loved above all things (alleluia).
Office of Readings
Hymn
Fair Star, your rays fall from above
To fill all Carmel with delight;
With humble pride, we sing of you
And praise in you the Lord of might.
All things that are light in the hand
Christ placed in yours, bride of his heart
The God by highest heav’n adored
Espoused you in a place apart.
This Spouse taught you the mystery
of life no death has power to hold;
To seal your life of sacrifice
Placed on your hand a ring of gold.
True bride, apparelled in his blood
Upon the cross with Christ you died,
His passion sharing, shared his life
And rose with Jesus glorified.
L.M. Margarita of Jesus, O.C.D.
Second Reading
From: On Revelation and On Temptation of St. Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi
Come, Holy Spirit
How truly wonderful you are, O Word of God, in the Holy Spirit; you cause him to infuse the soul with you, that it may join itself to God, conceive God, savor God, taste nothing but God.
The Holy Spirit enters the soul, sealed with that precious seal of the blood of the Word, the Lamb that was slain. Indeed it is this blood that urges him to come, although the Spirit is moved of himself and desires to come.
This moving Spirit in himself is the substance of the Father and of the Word, proceeding from the essence of the Father and the will of the Word, coming like a fountain into the soul, which is submerged in it. And just as two streams which rise separately mingle together so that the lesser loses its own name and takes the name of the greater, this divine Spirit acts in the same way when he enters the soul in order to join himself to it. The soul must lose its own name, which is the lesser, and relinquish it to the Spirit; it will do this if it so turns towards the Spirit that it becomes one with him.
This Spirit, the dispenser of the treasures that are in the Father and keeper of the counsels that are between the Father and the Son, pours himself so sweetly into the soul that he is not perceived, and his greatness is understood by few.
Drawn by the force of his love and yet moving with supreme freedom, he moves into all places that are suitable and disposed to receive him. He is heard by all in his frequent utterances and in his profound silence. By the force of love, being both unmoved and swiftest of all in movement, he enters all things.
You do not remain, Holy Spirit, in the unmoved Father, nor in the Word, and yet you are always in the Father and in the Word and in yourself, and in all blessed spirits and creatures. All creatures need you, since the only-begotten Word, by shedding his blood, in his burning love placed all creatures in need of him. You repose in creatures who dispose themselves so that, by receiving your gifts, they may in purity receive your own image in themselves. You repose in those who receive in themselves the effect of the blood of the Word, and make themselves worthy dwelling-places for you.
Come, Holy Spirit. May the union of the Father and the will of the Son come to us. You, Spirit of truth, are the reward of the saints, the refreshment of souls, light in darkness, the riches of the poor, the treasury of lovers, the satisfaction of the hungry, the consolation of the pilgrim Church; you are he in whom all treasures are contained.
Come, you who, descending into Mary, caused the Word to take flesh: effect in us by grace what you accomplished in her by grace and nature.
Come, you who are the nourishment of all chaste thoughts, the fountain of all clemency, the summit of all purity.
Come, and take away from us all that hinders us from being absorbed in you.
Responsory
R/.
What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, things beyond our imagining—all that God has prepared for those who love him:
---these are the very things that God has revealed to us through the spirit (alleluia).
V/.
The Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God:
---these are the very things that God has revealed to us through the spirit (alleluia).
Prayer
Father,
you love those who give themselves completely to your service,
and you filled Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi
with heavenly gifts and the fire of your love.
As we honor her today,
may we follow her example of purity and charity.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
MORNING PRAYER
Hymn
We sing a hymn of holy love —
God’s marriage with an earthly bride;
You lead, Mary, in our song:
In Carmel God is glorified.
God’s loving touch upon your soul,
And all earth’s pleasures round you died
No flowers for you but those that spring
Where Love has passed, the Crucified.
He stole your heart, you gave consent,
And now his own throbs in its place
His voice is speaking through your voice,
His features graven in your face.
Love-wounded, by the Spirit drawn,
With Christ you reach the Father’s side
No secret but he shares with you,
No longer servant — perfect bride!
Like precious nard, your life poured out
Is holy, pure, example still;
Throughout the Church, throughout the world
This holy fragrance you distill.
L.M. Margarita of Jesus, O.C.D. (origin of first verse unknown)
Psalmody
Psalms from the weekday
Scripture Reading
Phil 3:8, 10-11
I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. All I want is to know Christ and experience the power of his resurrection; to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.
Responsory
Easter season
R/.
Of you my heart has spoken; I seek your face
---Alleluia, alleluia.
V/.
Lord, I long to see your face.
---Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory . . .
R/.
Of you my heart has spoken; I seek your face
---Alleluia, alleluia.
Ordinary time
R/.
Of you my heart has spoken;
---I seek your face.
V/.
Lord, I long to see your face.
---I seek your face.
Glory . . .
R/.
Of you my heart has spoken;
---I seek your face.
Canticle of Zechariah
Ant.
The love of God has been poured into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (alleluia).
Intercessions
The Father and the Son are eternally celebrating the joy of their love in the Holy Spirit, and we, by their grace, are called to share their life.
Let us pray:
R/.
We thank you, Father, for choosing us in Christ to praise your glory.
Christ, eternal Word, in your coming to earth you have spread joy like the morning dew;
— gladden our hearts by the grace of your continued presence R/.
Christ, in the blood you poured out on the cross you intercede for us with the Father;
— bring us, pure and without sin, into the presence of the undivided Trinity. R/.
Christ, with the Father you have given us the Holy Spirit, the source of all mercy, to guide our thoughts aright,
— may his abiding presence turn us from anything that would hinder his reign within us R/.
Christ, you gave birth to the Church as you hung on the cross and you nourish it with your precious blood;
— may your Church, free from every blemish, be joined at last with the Holy Trinity in eternal joy. R/.
Christ, you restored our mortal flesh by living in our midst;
— give us a full share in the joy of eternal life. R/.
Our Father . . .
Prayer
Father,
you love those who give themselves completely to your service,
and you filled Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi
with heavenly gifts and the fire of your love.
As we honor her today,
may we follow her example of purity and charity.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
EVENING PRAYER
Hymn
Virgin illustrious through the Spirit’s bounty,
Sharing Christ’s passion, close with him united
God’s Mother also gave you her maternal
Pledge of affection.
Teach all earth’s people how the Cross brings wisdom,
Gives Christ new members, on his Body nourished,
Like fruitful gardens, quick with rain from heaven,
His blood renews us.
Bid Christ’s own flock be undefiled and spotless;
Magdalen, tell them how immense his longing
Since here in exile this is all you worked for,
Prayed for with weeping.
Sister and teacher, may the field of Carmel
Through your example and your brethren’s labor
Shine with rich harvest, fruit of constant giving,
As you have taught us.
Praise to the blessed Trinity eternal
Whom you have worshipped with such yearning ardor;
May we be granted through your intercession
Joys everlasting.
L 11.11.11.5. Margarita of Jesus, O.C.D. (origin of verses 3-4 unknown)
Psalmody
Psalms from the weekday
Scripture Reading
Eph 3:8-11
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, that through the Church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Responsory
Easter season
R/.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ fill us with the knowledge of the love of Christ.
---Alleluia, alleluia.
V/.
So that we may be filled with the fullness of God.
---Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory . . .
R/.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ fill us with the knowledge of the love of Christ.
---Alleluia, alleluia.
Ordinary time
R/.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
---fill us with the knowledge of the love of Christ.
V/.
So that we may be filled with the fullness of God,
---fill us with the knowledge of the love of Christ.
Glory..
R/.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
---fill us with the knowledge of the love of Christ.
Canticle of Mary
Ant.
The Word of God became man and lived among us, that he might draw all of us to himself (alleluia).
Intercessions
With the intercession of St Mary Magdalen, let this be our prayer to the Lord: that he will deepen the spirit of love in us and help us to serve him with all our hearts:
R/.
Lord, fill us with your spirit of holiness and unite us in your love.
Christ our Savior, be with your Spouse, the Church, to the end of time, as your Holy Spirit leads us to unity, love and truth;
— may all men come to know the Father, the source of all life. R/.
Christ our Savior, may priests, the ministers of your Blood, be true witnesses of the gospel; may all our brethren be joined with us in one sheepfold, may your blood purify sinners;
— may your love and light shine on all mankind. R/.
Christ our Savior, lead our Carmelite family, enriched by God’s gifts, to a truly fraternal way of life;
— may we live the values of the gospel in the Church for the life of the world. R/.
Christ our Savior, may we who share at the table of your love, grow in love for all people, for whom you shed your precious blood;
—join us to yourself forever by the bond of the Spirit. R/.
Christ our Savior, you descended into hell and opened its gates;
—bring our deceased brothers and sisters to your kingdom in heaven and give them joy with you forever. R/.
Our Father . . .
Prayer
Father,
you love those who give themselves completely to your service,
and you filled Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi
with heavenly gifts and the fire of your love.
As we honor her today,
may we follow her example of purity and charity.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
