This day was called Twelve-Lesson-Saturday, because, formerly, twelve passages from the Holy Scriptures used to be read, as on Holy Saturday. The Mass during which the Ordinations were given was celebrated during the night, so that by the time it was over, the Sunday had begun. Later on the Ordination Mass was said early on the Saturday as we now have it, but, in memory of the ancient practice, the Gospel for Saturday is repeated on the Sunday. The same is observed on the Saturday in the Advent Ember Week because the Ordination Mass of that Season was also anticipated.Epistle – Deuteronomy xxvi. 12‒19
In those days Moses spoke to the people, saying: “When you have made an end of tithing all your fruits, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled; and you will speak thus in the sight of the Lord your God: ‘I have taken that which was sanctified out of my house, and I have given it to the Levite and to the stranger, and to the fatherless and to the widow, as you have commanded me; I have not transgressed your commandments, nor forgotten your precepts. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and have done all things as you have commanded me. Look from your sanctuary, and your high habitation of heaven, and bless your people Israel, and the land which you have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ This day the Lord your God has commanded you to do these commandments and judgements, and to keep and fulfil them with all your heart, and with all your soul. You have chosen the Lord this day to be your God, and to walk in His ways and keep His ceremonies, and precepts, and judgements, and obey His command. And the Lord has chosen you this day to be His peculiar people, as He has spoken to you, and to keep all His commandments; and to make you higher than all nations which He has created, to His own praise, and name, and glory; that you may be a holy people of the Lord your God, as He has spoken.”Thanks be to God.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
God here assures us that a nation which is faithful in observing the laws regarding the Divine Service will be blessed above other nations. History is one long illustration of the truth of this promise. Of all the nations which have fallen, there is not one that has not brought the chastisement on itself by its neglect of the Law of God. At times, the Almighty delays to strike, but it is only that the chastisement may be the more evident and produce a more salutary effect upon mankind. When we would know the future of a country, we need only observe how it comports itself with regard to the Laws of the Church. If its own Laws are based on the principles and practices of Christianity, that country is sound, in spite of certain weaknesses here and there: Revolutions may disturb its peace, but it will triumph over all. If the bulk of its people is faithful in the observance of external practices prescribed by the Church; for example, if they observe the Lord’s Day, and the holy Fast of Lent — there is a fund of morality in that country which is sure to draw down on it the blessings of heaven. Irreligious men will scoff at all this and call it superstition, prejudice of weak minds, and out of date for an age of Progress like ours; but if their theories were to rule, and a country, which up to this time had been practically Catholic, were to seek progress by infringing the law of Christian Ritual, it would, in less than a hundred years, find that public and private morality had lost ground, and its own security would be menaced. Man may talk and write as he likes — God wishes to be served and honoured by His people, and it is for Him to prescribe what are to be the forms of this service and adoration. Every injury offered to external worship, which is the great social link, is an injury to the interests of mankind. Even were there not the word of God for it, it is but just that such a consequence should follow.Gospel – Matthew xvii. 1‒9
At that time, Jesus took Peter, and James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain apart. And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as snow. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with Him. And Peter answering, said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, let us make here three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” As he was speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice spoke out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.” And the disciples hearing this fell on their faces and were very much afraid. Jesus came and touched them, and said to them, “Arise, and fear not.” And they lifting up their eyes saw no-one but Jesus. As they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, “Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man has risen from the dead.”Praise be to you, O Christ.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
This Gospel, which, as we have already explained, is to be repeated tomorrow, is the one that is read in the Mass of today’s Ordinations, The following is the interpretation given by the ancient liturgists, among whom we may especially mention the learned Abbot Rupert.
The Church would have us think upon the sublime dignity which has been conferred on the newly ordained Priests. They are represented by the three Apostles who were taken by Jesus to the high mountain, and favoured with the sight of His glory. The rest of the disciples were left below; Peter, James and John were the only ones permitted to ascend to Thabor, and they, when the time should come, were to tell their fellow Apostles, and the whole world, how they had seen the glory of their Master, and heard the words of the Father declaring the Divinity of the Son of Man. This voice, says St. Peter, coming down to him from the excellent glory: This in my Beloved Son, in whom I have pleased myself; hear him. And this voice we heard, brought from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mount (2 Peter I. 17, 18).
In like manner, these Priests, who have just been ordained, and for whom you have been offering up your prayers and fast, will enter into the cloud with the Lord. They will offer up the Sacrifice of your salvation in the silence of the sacred Canon. God will descend into their hands, for your sakes, and though they are mortals and sinners, yet will they, each day, be in closest communication with the Divinity.
The forgiveness of your sins, which you are now preparing to receive from your Heavenly Father, is to come to you through their hands; their superhuman power will bring it down from heaven upon your souls. It is thus that God has cured our pride. The Serpent said to us, through our first parents: “Eat of this fruit, and you will be as gods.” We unfortunately believed the tempter, and the fruit of our transgression was death. God took pity on us and resolved to save us, but it was to be by the hands of men that He would save us, and this in order to humble our haughtiness. His own Eternal Son became man, and He left other men after Him, to whom He said: “As the Father has sent me, I also send you” (John xx. 21). Let us, then, show honour to these men who have this very day been raised to so high a dignity. One of the duties imposed on us by our holy religion is respect to the priesthood.
This is Saturday: let us have recourse to Mary, the Refuge of Sinners. Let us put under her maternal protection the humble penances we are now going through, and for this end, we may make use of the following Sequence taken from the Cluny Missal.
Hail Mary, full of grace! Dear Mother of Jesus, and hope of the world!
O Gate of heaven! Temple of God! Haven of the sea, where sinners confidently seek shelter and repose.
You are the worthy Spouse of the Great King, and, by your powerful prayers, you are kind and loving to all.
You are light to the blind, and a sure path to such as are lame.
You are by your loving affection, both Martha and Mary to the needy.
You were the Flower among the thorns; the Flower that, by its rich graces, bloomed to the divine Flower, your Jesus.
You did speak your word, and then conceived the Word; you gave birth to the King of kings, you who were a pure Virgin.
You were ever faithful to this King, your Child; and, using a mother’s privilege, you fed Him at your breast.
Now, you are united with Him, and in reward for your merits, you are made the Queen of heaven and earth.
Then pray for us, O Queen, to Him that is our King, beseeching Him to pardon us poor fallen sinners. Show us your wonted clemency, and, having obtained us the new life of remission of our sins, bring us to the kingdom, there to reign forever. Amen.
