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August 7 |
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Albert degli Abbati was born at Trapani, Sicily, in the thirteenth century, and entered the Carmelite Order as a youth. He became renowned as a fervent preacher of the Gospel and a worker of miracles. He was Provincial of Sicily in 1296, and died at Messina, probably in 1307, with a reputation for purity and prayer.
Invitatory
Christ the Lord is the treasure of priests, come let us adore him.
Office of Readings
Hymn
Heartfelt thanksgiving to the Lord we render,
Keeping the feastday of our father, Albert;
Holy his teaching, shining through the ages,
Holy his virtues.
God has prepared him through sublimest graces,
Leading him onward to his work predestined,
Great guide and leader, true salvation's herald
By word and action.
Soul overflowing with the dew of heaven,
Sharing abundant blessings with the needy,
Teaching all Christians how to follow Jesus,
True God and Savior.
So let the joy-bells peal throughout our Order,
Carmel so sacred, shining with such glory;
This holy Father has increased its luster
By his great merits.
Glory and empire to the Godhead solely,
Who through the pleading of this blessed Father
Leads us each moment—such our trust and longing—
Safely to heaven.
11.11.11.5. lam Deo grates referamus omnes
Psalmody
Ant. 1 He proclaimed the word of God, who established him on Sion, his holy
mountain.
Psalm 20 (21)
O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king; *
how your saving help makes him glad!
You have granted him his heart's desire; *
you have not refused the prayer of his lips.
You came to meet him with the blessings of success, *
you have set on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked you for life and this you have given, *
days that will last from age to age.
Your saving help has given him glory. *
You have laid upon him majesty and splendor,
you have granted your blessings to him for ever. *
You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.
The king has put his trust in the Lord: *
through the mercy of the Most High he shall stand firm.
O Lord, arise in your strength; *
we shall sing and praise your power.
Ant. He proclaimed the word of God, who established him on Sion, his holy
mountain.
Ant. 2 He loved to preach the saving deeds of God, so great and wonderful and mighty.
Psalm 91 (92)
I
It is good to give thanks to the Lord *
to make music to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your love in the morning *
and your truth in the watches of the night,
on the ten-stringed lyre and the lute, *
with the murmuring sound of the harp.
Your deeds, O Lord, have made me glad; *
for the work of your hands I shout with joy.
O Lord, how great are your works! *
How deep are your designs!
The foolish man cannot know this *
and the fool cannot understand.
Though the wicked spring up like grass *
and all who do evil thrive;
they are doomed to be eternally destroyed. *
But you, Lord, are eternally on high.
Ant. He loved to preach the saving deeds of God, so great and wonderful and mighty.
Ant. 3 Wisdom cries out in the streets, and in the market place she raises her voice.
II
See how your enemies perish; *
all doers of evil are scattered.
To me you give the wild-ox's strength; *
you anoint me with the purest oil.
My eyes looked in triumph on my foes; *
my ears heard gladly of their fall.
The just will flourish like the palm-tree *
and grow like a Lebanon cedar.
Planted in the house of the Lord *
they will flourish in the courts of our God,
still bearing fruit when they are old, *
still full of sap, still green,
to proclaim that the Lord is just. *
In him, my rock, there is no wrong.
Ant. Wisdom cries out in the streets, and in the market place she raises her voice.
V. The lips of the priest speak of wisdom.
R. And the law of God is in his mouth.
The First Reading
2 Cor 4:1-14
A reading from the Second Letter of St Paul to the Corinthians
We preach Jesus Christ, and ourselves as your servants God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we are not discouraged. We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth we live in God's sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone's good conscience. For if the gospel we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost. They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. For it is notourselves that we preach; we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. The God who said, 'Out of darkness the light shall shine!' is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of Christ. Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies. Throughout our lives we are always in danger of death for Jesus' sake, in order that his life may be seen in this mortal body of ours. This means that death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
The scripture says, 'I spoke because I believed.' In the same spirit of faith, we also speak because we believe. We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with Jesus and take us, together with you, into his presence.
Responsory
R. The law of truth was in his mouth, and evil was not found on his lips;
* he walked-in peace and tranquility, and turned many from sin.
V. He stood at the gate of God's house and proclaimed the word of the Lord.
* he walked in peace and tranquility, and turned many from sin.OC:
The Second Reading
Ch. 7 From The Fiery Arrow of Nicholas of France, prior general
The wonderful variety of religious families There are three general practices to which our profession obliges' us: obedience, chastity, and the renunciation of ownership. These are common to the profession of all Orders. As far as these practices are concerned there is no difference between the Orders except in their dress; they are all essentially one, as it were, as long as they are equally strict, and all who observe the same practices with equal strictness are worthy of equal merit. But in our Order, as in every other, these general practices are reinforced by others that are more particular, and by these the Orders are distinguished one from another, some being stricter than others. With regard to these practices any religious who has asked permission, even if it has not been granted, is allowed by common law to transfer from one Order to another to gain the benefit of a more perfect way of life.
'How great are your works! Your thoughts are very deep.' 'The dull man cannot know these things indeed, nor the fool understand them.' 'Who has known the mind of the Lord whose wisdom is beyond measure, or who has been hiscounsellor?' For the Lord, whose providence is unerring in its dispositions, designedly set some in the desert with Mary, when it was his purpose to array the garden of the Church Militant with a diversity of Orders, and others with Martha in the city. Those endowed with learning, industrious in the study of the Scriptures, and of adequate moral probity, he established in the city, so that they could exercise their zeal in nourishing the people with his word. Those of a simpler cast, however, those with whom he holds secret colloquy, he marked out to be sent into the desert with the Prophet who said: 'Lo, I have journeyed afar in flight; I fixed my abode in the wilderness. I awaited him who saved me from faintheartedness, and from the tempest.'
He uses the word 'Lo' demonstratively, to draw attention to his words, as if to say: 'See what I have done, and do likewise yourself. In my flight from the turmoil of the world •I did not stay to dwell within the walls of the city, nor in its suburbs, nor amid its outlying gardens nor anywhere in the neighborhood, but I journeyed afar in flight, and "fixed my abode in the wilderness." And I "fixed my abode;" there is truth: I did not return to the city after a few days, as they do now, but I fixed my abode in the wilderness, awaiting "him who saved me from faintheartedness and from the tempest."'
With such special care has the Lord provided for the guidance of all religious, whether in the desert or in the city, that in his infinite wisdom he has given them all, through those best qualified to draw up their Rules, their own distinct ways of life—the ways he knew to be best suited to each of the Orders in the circumstances its members would find themselves in.
Responsory
V. Our calling is to climb the mountain, the mountain which is Christ
* growing from strength to strength.
V. Let us ponder the law of the Lord and keep watch in prayer, not as people compelled, but in gladness of heart,
* growing from strength to strength.
OC: Te Deum
Prayer as at Morning Prayer.
Morning Prayer
Hymn
The feast-day of Saint Albert dawns
A day of pure resplendent light;
Our brethren high in heav'n rejoice
As we our praise with theirs unite.
He realized that earthly joys
Were all too small to fill his heart;
All, all he had he gave to God,
In Carmel chose the better part.
Determined conqueror of self
He mortified each wrong desire
Until God saw reflected there
His image purified by fire.
For one so set on heavenly things
The lying foe laid many a snare,
But he resisted manfully,
And persevered in constant prayer.
Remember Carmel's Order now,
Made glorious by your sojourn here;
O strengthen us in love of Christ
That we may likewise persevere.
All praise be to the Trinity,
The Father with his only Son
And ever-blessed Paraclete,
While never-ending ages run.
L.M. Adest natalis gloriae Tr. unknown
Psalmody
Ant. I The man of clean hands and pure heart will climb the mountain of the Lord.
Psalms and canticle of Sunday I.
Ant. 2 In purity of heart he found joy and Christ raised him up as an example of righteousness.
Ant. 3 Christ called him to forsake the world and live a life pleasing to God.
Scripture Reading Rom 8:28-30
We know that by turning everything to their good God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those that he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.
Short Responsory
V. Rejoice in the Lord, all you who are holy and just.
- Rejoice in the Lord, all you who are holy and just.
V. For God has chosen you as his inheritance,
- all you who are holy and just.
V. Glory to. . .
- Rejoice in the Lord all you who are holy and just
Benedictus
OC: Albert, servant of Christ, direct our steps aright, and teach us to walk in the way of peace.
Intercessions
The Lord Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest, is marvelous in his saints, and has blessed our Order with holiness and goodness. With joyful hearts let us pray to him:
R. Holy Lord, give us a share in your holiness.
You promised the pure of heart that they would see God;
— we are your servants; set our hearts on fire, purify and heal them.
You wished the Good News proclaimed to the ends of the earth;
— inspire all preachers with fidelity and enthusiasm for your kingdom.
Lord, the Church has never been without your powerful help;
— heal the sick, raise the fallen, strengthen the weak.
You lead your flock through inspiring leaders and teachers;
— you have given us saints to lead us; may we be worthy of them.
You gave your Mother to our Order as its Mother and Patroness;
— supported by her prayers, may we reveal your face to the world.
Our Father . . .
Prayer
Lord God,
you made St Albert of Trapani
a model of purity and prayer,
and a devoted servant of Our Lady.
May we practice these same virtues
and so be worthy always
to share the banquet of your grace.
We ask this through our Lord.
Prayer During the Day
Antiphons and psalms of the weekday.
Before NoonScripture Reading
2 Tim 1:9
God saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. He gave this grace to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
V. The Lord has led us in hope.
-- He has brought us into the land of holiness.
Midday
Scripture Reading
Dt 8:5b-6
Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him.
V. The fear of the Lord is holy, abiding forever.
-- The decrees of the Lord are truth, and all of them just.
Afternoon
Scripture Reading Sir 50:4, 5b, 12
He considered how to save his people from ruin,
and fortified the city to withstand a siege.
How glorious he was when the people gathered round him!
When he went up to the holy altar,
he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.
V. The Lord chose him to offer sacrifice.
-- To make a memorial atonement for the people.
Evening Prayer
Hymn
Let us rejoicing keep Saint Albert's feast-day,
Carmel re-echo with our glad thanksgiving;
Worthily praise him who has gone before us
Laden with merits.
Once the white mantle fell upon his shoulders
Graces from heaven came in great abundance,
His only longing was to grow in virtue,
Christ's light reflecting.
When he had conquered heat of youthful passions
He was victorious over hell's allurements,
Taking serenely trouble and affliction,
Or highest honors.
Strong through his merits may we be assisted
Upon the king's highway of the Cross triumphant,
Whose rigor changing to a starry pathwayLeads us to heaven.
Praise to the Father, glory to his First-born,
So to the Spirit everlasting honor;
Love to the Godhead, One and yet three Persons,
Source of all loving.
11.11.11. Iam Deo grates referamus omnes. Tr. unknown
Psalmody
Ant. I Whoever lives without fault and acts with justice will dwell on the mountain of the Lord.
Psalm 14 (15)
Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent *
and dwell on your holy mountain?
He who walks without fault; *
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart; *
He who does not slander with his tongue.
He who does no wrong to his brother, *
Who casts no slur on his neighbor,
who holds the godless in disdain, *
and honors those who fear the Lord;
He who keeps his pledge, come what may;
who takes no interest on a loan *
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will stand firm forever.
Ant. Whoever lives without fault and acts with justice will dwell on the mountain of the Lord.
Ant. 2 As the shining of the sun, so was this man in the house of God.
Psalm 111 (112)
Happy the man who fears the Lord, *
who takes delight in all his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth; *
the children of the upright are blessed.
Riches and wealth are in his house; *
his justice stands firm for ever.
He is light in the darkness for the upright: *
he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends, *
he conducts his affairs with honor.
The just man will never waver:
he will be remembered for ever.
He has no fear of evil news; *
with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
With a steadfast heart he will not fear; *
he will see the downfall of his foes.
Open-handed, he gives to the poor; †
his justice stands firm for ever. *
His head will be raised in glory.
The wicked man sees and is angry, †
grinds his teeth and fades away,
the desire of the wicked leads to doom.
Ant. As the shining of the sun, so was this man in the house of God.
Ant. 3 The saints were singing a new song before the throne of God and of the Lamb, and the earth rang with their voices.
Canticle: Rev 15:34
Great and wonderful are your deeds, *
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways, *
O King of the ages!
Who shall not fear and glorify your name, O Lord?*
For you alone are holy.
All nations shall come and worship you, *
for your judgements have been revealed.
Ant. The saints were singing a new song before the throne of God and of the Lamb, and the earth rang with their voices.
Scripture Reading Rom 12:1-2
My brothers, I implore you by God's mercy to offer your very selves to him: a living sacrifice, dedicated and fit for his acceptance, the worship offered by mind and heart. Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world, but let your minds be remade and your whole nature thus transformed. Then you will be able to discern the will of God, and to know what is good, acceptable and perfect.
Short Responsory
R. My duty is to preach the gospel, to make known the riches of Christ.
-- My duty is to preach the gospel, to make known the riches of Christ.
V. So that through the Church the wisdom of God may be revealed,
-- to make known the riches of Christ.
Glory to the Fater...
-- My duty is to preach the gospel, to make known the riches of Christ.
Magnificat
Albert, father so admirable, rejoicing always in the grace of God, hear us who praise you on earth, and carry our prayers to God.
Intercessions
Christ our Savior, you clothe your priests in holiness and invite them to intimacy with you. Hear us as we pray with sincere hearts:
R. Create a pure heart in us, Lord, and increase our faith.
You gave the eucharist into the care of your priests;
— may all people benefit from the fruits of the paschal mystery.
Be with all who search for the truth;
— may the truth they find lead them to seek even more.
Help those who are striving to be pure in heart;
— make them witnesses in the world of your saving presence.
Gather your sons and daughters around your table;
— may they follow you closely in their poverty, chastity and obedience.
Protect your daughters who have accepted the call to a life of virginity;
— may they follow you, the Lamb of God, wherever you lead.
Bring our departed brothers and sisters into your eternal kingdom;
— we, too, hope to end our journey there and to be with you forever.
Our Father...
Prayer as at Morning Prayer.
