Catholic Prayer: Ceremonies for the Observance of the Rogation Days
Description:
These are the official prayers for the procession and Mass for Rogation Days before Vatican II, taken from the 1956 Rural Life Prayerbook published by National Catholic Rural Life Conference (and recently reprinted by TAN Books).
Prayer:
From Rural Life Prayer Book, NCRLC
Through Soil Stewardship Week, we try
. . . to move ourselves to penance for sins against our good God;
. . . to arouse our confidence and trust in God's providence;
. . . to acknowledge publicly our dependence on God;
. . . to ask God for a plentiful harvest;
. . . to thank God publicly for His bounty to us;
. . . to show publicly our faith, hope, and love of God;
. . . to realize that only through living according to God's will and commandments may the individual, the family, the community, the state, the nation, the world, have a happy, contented, and peaceful existence.
On four days of the year a procession should be made while the Litanies of the Saints are sung, to beg the blessing of God on the fruits of the earth.
The twenty-fifth day of April was a day sacred, in ancient times, to the gods of pagan Rome. But the Church set this day apart as a day of special prayer to avert God's anger, and to beg His blessing on the labors of the year. The Litany of the Saints was sung in procession. St. Gregory the Great, in the year 600, obtained on this day the miraculous end of a terrible pestilence which was devastating Rome. From that time, the custom of chanting the Litany of the Saints in procession on the feast of St. Mark soon spread through the whole of Europe.
The word "rogation" comes from the Latin word rogare meaning "to ask." The three Rogation Days are over 1,500 years old. They began in the fifth century at Vienne, France, when, in the year 470, there had been crop failures--due to earthquakes and bad weather--with resulting great food scarcity and destitution. St. Mamertus, bishop of Vienne, ordered a triduum of prayer and penance on the three days preceding the Ascension. The clergy and the people made penitential processions calling upon God to help and asking the intercession of His saints.
Other communities took up the custom and from France it soon spread throughout the world. At the end of the eighth century, Pope St. Leo III introduced the practice into the universal Church. Thus, it has become a tradition in the Church that each year on the feast of St. Mark, April 25, and on the three days before Ascension a special Rogation Days' service is held.
The purpose of the Rogation Days' service is to implore the mercy of God that He may keep us from all evils of soul and body, and give to the plants of the field an increase. In the spring, when the fields are becoming green and there is promise of a good harvest--but also the possibility of destruction through frost, hail, or rainstorms--the prayers and processions are a reminder to feeble man to turn with humility and confidence to the Giver of all good. For, it is not the earth alone which brings forth fruit, and not alone the busy hand of man on which the increase depends; but it is God who gives the increase.
[Due to display limitations, the English form is first with the Latin following instead of side-by-side.]
All stand while the following Antiphon is sung:
Arise, O Lord, assist us, and make us free because of Your name. We have heard with our ears O God, and our fathers have announced it to us. Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Arise, O Lord, assist us and make us free because of Your name.
(After this is sung, all kneel, and two clerics (or the celebrant himself) kneeling before the main altar begin to sing the Litany of the Saints. Each invocation is repeated by the choir, children, or laity, as designated by the pastor.)
LITANY OF THE SAINTS
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
(as soon as the invocation Holy Mary, pray for us has been sung all rise. As the chanting of the litany of the Saints continues the procession begins. The cross and the lighted candles are borne at the head of the procession. N.B. The procession is made according to the custom of the parish. No religious procession may go beyond the limits of the church property without the express permission of the Ordinary.)
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.
St. Michael, pray for us.
St. Gabriel, pray for us.
St. Raphael, pray for us.
All holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us.
All holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
All holy Patriarchs and Prophets, pray for us.
St. Peter, pray for us.
St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Andrew, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. John, pray for us.
St. Thomas, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. Philip, pray for us.
St. Bartholomew, pray for us.
St. Matthew, pray for us.
St. Simon, pray for us.
St. Thaddeus, pray for us.
St. Matthias, pray for us.
St. Barnabas, pray for us.
St. Luke, pray for us.
St. Mark, pray for us.
All holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for us.
All holy Disciples of the Lord, pray for us.
All Holy Innocents, pray for us.
St. Stephen, pray for us.
St. Lawrence, pray for us.
St. Vincent, pray for us.
SS. Fabian and Sebastian, pray for us.
SS. John and Paul, pray for us.
SS. Cosmas and Damian, pray for us.
SS. Gervase and Protase, pray for us.
All holy Martyrs, pray for us.
St. Sylvester, pray for us.
St. Gregory, pray for us.
St. Ambrose, pray for us.
St. Augustine, pray for us.
St. Jerome, pray for us.
St. Martin, pray for us.
St. Nicholas, pray for us.
All holy Bishops and Confessors, pray for us.
All holy Doctors, pray for us.
St. Anthony, pray for us.
St. Benedict, pray for us.
St. Bernard, pray for us.
St. Dominic, pray for us.
St. Francis, pray for us.
All holy Priests and Levites, pray for us.
All holy Monks and Hermits, pray for us.
St. Mary Magdalen, pray for us.
St. Agatha, pray for us.
St. Lucy, pray for us.
St. Agnes, pray for us.
St. Cecilia, pray for us.
St. Catherine, pray for us.
St. Anastasia, pray for us.
All holy Virgins and Widows, pray for us.
All holy Saints of God, intercede for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, hear us, O Lord.
From all evil, Spare us, O Lord.
From all sin, Spare us, O Lord.
From Your anger, Spare us, O Lord.
From a sudden and provided death, Spare us, O Lord.
From the snares of the devil, Spare us, O Lord.
From anger, and hatred, and every evil will, Spare us, O Lord.
From the spirit of fornication, Spare us, O Lord.
From lightning and storms, Spare us, O Lord.
From the scourge of earthquake, Spare us, O Lord.
From plague, famine, and war, Spare us, O Lord.
From everlasting death, Spare us, O Lord.
Through the mystery of Your holy Incarnation, Spare us, O Lord.
Through Your coming, Spare us, O Lord.
Through Your Birth, Spare us, O Lord.
Through Your Baptism and holy Fasting, Spare us, O Lord.
Through Your Cross and Passion, Spare us, O Lord.
Through Your Death and Burial, Spare us, O Lord.
Through Your holy Resurrection, Spare us, O Lord.
Through Your admirable Ascension, Spare us, O Lord.
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Spare us, O Lord.
In the day of Judgment, Spare us, O Lord.
We sinners, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would spare us, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would pardon us, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly bring us to true penance, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly govern and preserve Your holy Church, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly preserve in holy religion the Pope and all clerics in holy orders, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly humble the enemies of holy Church, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, We beg of You, hear us.
That you would kindly grant peace and unity to the whole Christian world, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would restore to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from the truth and lead all infidels to the light of the Gospel, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly confirm and preserve us in Your holy service, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly lift up our minds to heavenly desires, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly give eternal blessings to all our benefactors, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations, and benefactors from eternal damnation, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly give and preserve the fruits of the earth, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would kindly grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, We beg of You, hear us.
That You would be so kind as to answer our prayers Son of God, We beg of You, hear us.
(As the end of the Litany of the Saints approaches, the celebrant returns to the foot of the altar, and all kneel, including the celebrant.)
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father (in silence until)
V: And lead us not into temptation.
R: But deliver us from evil.
(Here, with the celebrant at the foot of the altar, the Litany of the Saints is terminated with the final prayers prescribed for the conclusion of the Litany. All kneel Then the cantors intone the psalm (69). After this the celebrant sings the versicles, the choir (or people) giving the responses, as below.)
PSALM 69
Deign, O God, to rescue me; O Lord, make haste to help me.
Let them be put to shame and confounded who seek my life.
Let them be turned back in disgrace who desire my ruin.
Let them retire in their shame who say to me, "Aha, aha!"
But may all who seek you exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation say ever, "God be glorified!"
But I am afflicted and poor; O God, hasten to me!
You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, hold not back!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
V: Save Your servants.
R: Who hope in You, O my God.
V: Be to us, O Lord, a tower of strength.
R: Against the power of the enemy.
V: Let not the enemy prevail against us.
R: Nor the son of evil have power to hurt us.
V: Lord, deal not with us according to our sins.
R: Nor requite us according to our evil doings.
V: Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff N.
R: The Lord watch over him and give him life and happiness on earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.
V: Let us pray for our benefactors.
R: Be so kind, O Lord as to give eternal life to all those who do us good for Your name's sake. Amen.
V: Let us pray for the faithful departed.
R: Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
V: May they rest in peace.
R: Amen.
V: For our brethren who are not with us.
R: Save Your servants who put their trust in You, my God.
V: Send them help, O Lord, from Your holy place.
R: And from Sion protect them.
V: O Lord, hear my prayer.
R: And let my cry reach up to you.
(Here the celebrant rises, and remains standing till the end. All the rest remain kneeling.)
V: . The Lord be with you.
R: And with your spirit. Let us pray.
O God, it is according to Your nature always to show mercy and forgiveness. Receive our petition that we and all Your servants, bound by the chains of sin, may, by Your tender mercy, be pardoned.
We beg You, O Lord, hear our prayers as we kneel before You. Pardon our sins, as we confess them to You, so that You may, in Your kindness, give us pardon as well as peace.
In your kindness show us, O Lord, Your unutterable mercy, and at one and the same time free us from all our sins, and snatch us away from the punishment which we deserve for them.
O God, You are offended by sin, and placated by penance. Look with favor upon the prayers of Your people kneeling before You. Turn away the scourges of your anger which we have deserved for our sins.
Almighty, everlasting God, have mercy on Your servant N., our Sovereign Pontiff. Direct him, according to Your mercy into the path of eternal salvation so that, by Your grace, he may both desire those things that are pleasing to You, and may perform them with all his strength.
O God, all holy desires, good counsels, and just works come from You. Give to Your servants that peace which the world cannot give, so that, with our hearts set to obey Your commandments, and freed from the fear of the enemy, we may pass our lives in peace under Your protection.
Inflame our hearts and our desires, O Lord, with the fire of the Holy Spirit, so that we may serve You with a chaste body, and please You with a pure heart.
O God, You are the creator and redeemer of all the faithful. Grant to the souls of Your servants departed the remission of all their sins, so that by our faithful prayers they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.
We beg of You, O Lord, direct our actions by Your holy inspirations, and carry them on by Your gracious assistance, so that every prayer and work of ours may always begin with You, and, begun through You, be happily ended.
Almighty and everlasting God, You have dominion over the living and the dead. You are merciful to all who You foreknow shall be Yours by faith and good works. We humbly beg of You, that they for whom we have intended to pour out our prayers, whether this present world still detains them in the flesh, or whether the world to come has already received them out of their bodies, may, through the prayers of all Your saints, by the mercy of Your goodness obtain the remission of all their sins through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and is King and God with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
R: Amen.
V The Lord be with you.
R: And with your spirit
V: May the almighty and merciful God hear and answer us.
R: Amen.
V: And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
R: Amen.
(This done, the celebrant leaves the sanctuary and vests for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Mass will always be that of the Rogation Days, which follows:
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(After this is sung, all kneel, and two clerics (or the celebrant himself) kneeling before the main altar begin to sing the Litany of the Saints. Each invocation is repeated by the choir, children, or laity, as designated by the pastor.)
Litaniae Sanctorum
Exsurge, Domine, adjuva nos, et libera nos propter nomen tuum. Ps. Deus, auribus nostris audivimus: patres nostri annuntiaverunt nobis. Gloria Patri, et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Exsurge, Domine, adjuva nos, et libera nos propter nomen tuum.
Kyrie, Eleison.
Christe, Eleison.
Kyrie, Eleison.
Christe, audi nos.
Christe, exaudi nos.
Pater de caelis, Deus, Miserere Nobis.
Fili Redemptor mundi, Deus, Miserere Nobis.
Spiritus Sancte, Deus, Miserere Nobis.
Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, Miserere Nobis.
(as soon as the invocation Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis has been sung all rise. As the chanting of the litany of the Saints continues the procession begins. The cross and the lighted candles are borne at the head of the procession. N.B. The procession is made according to the custom of the parish. No religious procession may go beyond the limits of the church property without the express permission of the Ordinary.)
Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. Propitius esto, parce nobis, Domine.
Ab omni malo, libera nos, Domine.
Peccatores, te rogamus, audi nos.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis, Domine. Christe, audi nos.
Pater noster (secreto usque ad)
PSALMUS 69
Deus in adjutorium meum intende: / Domine ad adjuvandum me festina.
V: Salvos fac servos tuos.
Oremus
Exaudi, quaesumus, Domine, supplicum preces, et confitentium tibi parce peccatis: ut pariter nobis indulgentiam tribuas benignus, et pacem.
Ineffabilem nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam clementer ostende: ut simul nos et a peccatis omnibus exuas, et a poenis, quas pro his meremur, eripias.
Deus, qui culpa offenderis poententia placaris, preces populi tui supplicantis propitius respice: et flagella tuae iracundiae, quae pro peccatis nostris meremur averte.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, miserere famulo tuo Pontifici N., et dirige eum secundum tuam clemen tiam in viam salutis ae ternae: ut, te donante, tibi placita cupiat, et tota virtute perficiat.
Deus, a quo sancta desideria, recta consilia, et justa sunt opera, da servis tuis illam, quam mundus dare non potest, pacem: ut et corda nostra mandatis tuis dedita, et hostium sublata formidine, tempora sint tua protectione tranquilla.
Ure igne Sancti Spiritus renes nostros, cor nostrum, Domine: ut tibi casto corpore serviamus, et mundo corde placeamus.
Fidelium, Deus, omnium conditor et redemptor, animabus famulorum, famularumque tuarum remissionem cunctorum tribue peccatorum, ut indulgentium quam semper Optaverunt, piis supplicationibus consequantur.
Actiones, nostras, quaesumus, Domine, aspirando praeveni, et adjuvando prosequere: ut cuncta nostra oratio, et operatio a te semper incipiat, et per te coepta finiatur.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui vivorum dominaris simul et mortuorum, omniumque, misereris, quos tuos fide et opere futuros esse praenoscis: te supplices exoramus, ut pro quibus effundere preces decrevimus, quosque vel praesens saeculum adhuc in carne retinet vel futuram jam exutos corpore suscepit, intercedentibus omnibus Sanctis tuis, pietatis tuae clementia, omnium delictrum suorum veniam consequantur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesus Christum Filium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.
V: Dominus vobiscum.
Sancta Dei Genitrix, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Virgo virginum, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Michael, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Gabriel, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Raphael, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Angeli et Archangeli, orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti beatorum spirituum ordines, orate pro nobis.
Sancte Joannes Baptista, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Joseph, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Patriarchae et Prophetae, orate pro nobis.
Sancte Petre, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Paule, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Andrea, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Jacobe, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Joannes, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Thoma, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Jacobe, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Philippe, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Bartholomaee, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Matthaee, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Simon, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Thaddaee, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Matthia, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Barnaba, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Luca, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Marce, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Apostoli et Evangelistae, orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Discipuli Domini, orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Innocentes, orate pro nobis.
Sancte Stephane, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Laurenti, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Vincenti, ora pro nobis. Sancti Fabiane et Sebastiane, orate pro nobis.
Sancti Joannes et Paule, orate pro nobis.
Sancti Cosma et Damiane, orate pro nobis.
Sancti Gervasi et Protasi, orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Martyres, orate pro nobis.
Sancte Silvester, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Gregori, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ambrosi, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Augustine, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Hieronyme, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Martine, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Nicolae, ora pro nobis. Omnes sancti Pontifices et Confessores, orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Doctores, orate pro nobis.
Sancte Antoni, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Benedicte, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Bernarde, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Dominice, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Francisce, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Sacerdotes et Levitae, orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Monachi et Eremitae, orate pro nobis.
Sancta Maria Magdalena, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Agatha, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Lucia, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Agnes, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Caecilia, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Catherina, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Anastasia, ora pro nobis.
Omnes Sanctae Virgines et Viduae, orate pro nobis.
Omnes Sancti et Sanctae Dei, intercedite pro nobis.
Propitius esto, exaudi nos, Domine.
Ab omni peccato, libera nos, Domine.
Ab ira tua, libera nos, Domine.
A subitanea et improvisa morte, libera nos, Domine.
Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, Domine.
Ab ira, et odio, et omni mala voluntate, libera nos, Domine.
A spiritu fornicationis, libera nos, Domine.
A fulgure et tempestate, libera nos, Domine.
A flagello terraemotus, libera nos, Domine.
A peste, fame, et bello, libera nos, Domine.
A morte perpetua, libera nos, Domine.
Per mysterium sanctae Incarnationis tuae, libera nos, Domine.
Per Adventum tuum, libera nos, Domine.
Per Nativitatem tuam, libera nos, Domine.
Per Baptismum et sanctum Jejunium tuum, libera nos, Domine.
Per Crucem et Passionem tuam, libera nos, Domine.
Per Mortem et Sepulturam tuam, libera nos, Domine.
Per sanctam Resurrectionem tuam, libera nos, Domine.
Per admirabilem Ascensionem tuam, libera nos, Domine.
Per adventum Spiritus Sancti Paracliti, libera nos, Domine.
In die judicii, libera nos, Domine.
Ut nobis parcas, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut nobis indulgeas, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut ad veram poenitentiam nos perducere digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut ecclesiam tuam sanctam regere, et conservare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut domnum apostolicum, et omnes ecclesiasticos ordines in sancta religione conservare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut inimicos sanctae ecclesiae humiliare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut regibus et principibus christianis pacem et veram concordiam donare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut cuncto populo christiano pacem et unitatem largiri digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut omnes errantes ad unitatem ecclesiae revocare, et infideles universos ad evangelii lumen perducere digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut nosmetipsos in tuo sancto servitio confortare, et conservare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut mentes nostras ad caelestia desideria erigas, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut omnibus benefactoribus nostris sempiterna bona retribuas, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut animas nostras, fratrum, propinquorum, et benefactorum nostrorum ab aeterna damnatione eripias, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut fructus terrae dare, et conservare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut omnibus fidelibus defunctis requiem aeternam donare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut nos exaudire digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Fili Dei, te rogamus, audi nos.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos. Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Christe, exaudi nos.
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
V: Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.
R: Sed libera nos a malo.
Confundantur, et revereantur, / qui quaerunt animam meam.
Avertantur retrorsum et erubescant, / qui volunt mihi mala.
Avertantur staim erubescentes, / qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge.
Exsultent et laetentur in te omnes qui quaerunt te, / et dicant semper:
Magnificetur Dominus: qui diligunt salutare tuum.
Ego vero egenus, et pauper sum: / Deus, adjuva me.
Adjutor meus, et liberator meus est tu: Domine, ne moreris.
Gloria Patri, et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
R: Deus meus, sperantes in te.
V: Esto nobis, Domine, turris fortitudinis.
R: A facie inimici.
V: Nihil proficiat inimicus in nobis.
R: Et filius inquitatis non apponat nocere nobis.
V: Domine, non secundum peccata nostra facias nobis.
R: Neque secundum iniquitates nostras retribuas nobis.
V: Oremus pro Pontifice nostro N.
R: Dominus conservet eum et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum ejus.
V: Oremus pro benefactoribus nostris.
R: Retribuere dignare, Domine, omnibus bona facientibus propter nomen tuum vitam aeternam. Amen. V: Oremus pro fidelibus defunctis.
R: Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
V: Requiescant in pace.
R: Amen.
V: Pro fratribus nostris absentibus.
R: Salvos fac servos tuos, Deus meus, sperantes in te.
V: Mitte eis, Domine, auxilium de sancto.
R: Et de Sion tuere eos.
V: Domine, exaudi orationem meam.
R: Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
V: Dominus vobiscum.
R: Et cum spiritu tuo.
Deus, cui proprium est misereri semper et parcere suscipe deprecationem nostram, ut nos, et omnes famulos tuos, quos delictorum catena constringit, miseratio tuae pietatis clementer absolvat.
R: Amen.
R: Et cum spiritu tuo.
V: Exaudiat nos omni potens et misericors Dominus.
R: Amen.
V: Et fidelium animae per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace.
R: Amen.
(This done, the celebrant leaves the sanctuary and vests for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Mass will always be that of the Rogation Days, which follows:)
MASS OF ROGATION DAYS
INTROIT
(Ps. 17:7) From his temple he heard my voice, alleluia; and my cry to him reached his ears, alleluia, alleluia. (Ps. 17:2-3) I love you, O Lord, my strength, O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. From his temple he heard my voice, alleluia; and my cry to him reached his ears, alleluia, alleluia.
COLLECT
Grant, we beg of You, O almighty God, that we, who in our affliction confide in Your mercy, may be ever defended by Your protection against all adversity, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and is King and God with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
EPISTLE
(James 5:16-20) Confess, therefore, your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be saved. For the unceasing prayer of a just man is of great avail. Elias was a man like ourselves, subject to the same infirmities; and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain upon the earth, and it did not rain for three years and six months. He prayed again, and the heavens gave rain and the earth brought forth its fruit. My brethren, if any one of you strays from the truth and someone brings him back, he ought to know that he who causes a sinner to be brought back from his misguided way, will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia (Ps. 117:1) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
GOSPEL
(Luke 11:5-13) At that time Jesus said to his disciples: "Which of you shall have a friend and shall go to him in the middle of the night and say to him. 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has just come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he from within should answer and say, 'Do not disturb me; the door is now shut, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give to you.' "I say to you, although he will not get up and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him all he needs. And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks it shall be opened. But if one of you asks his father for a loaf, will he hand him a stone? or for a fish, will he for a fish hand him a serpent? or if he asks for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Therefore, if you, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Good Spirit to those who ask him!"
OFFERTORY
(Ps. 108:30-31) I will speak my thanks earnestly to the Lord, and in the midst of the throng I will praise him, for he stood at the right hand of the poor man, to save him from those who would condemn him.
SECRET
May these offerings, O Lord, we beg of You, both free us from the bonds of our wickedness, and obtain for us the gifts of Your mercy, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and is King and God with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
PREFACE FOR EASTER
It is truly right and just, proper and availing unto salvation, that at all times, but more especially at this season, we should extol Your glory, O Lord, when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the true Lamb that has taken away the sins of the world. By dying He has overcome our death, and by rising again He has restored our life. And therefore with angels and archangels, with thrones and dominions, and with all the heavenly powers, we sing a hymn to Your glory, saying without ceasing:
COMMUNION
(Luke 11:9-10) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened, alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
Look with kindly favor upon our prayers, O Lord, so that when, in time of trial we receive Your gifts, we may be comforted and grow in love of You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and is King and God with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer Source: Rural Life Prayerbook by Alban J. Dachauer, S.J., National Catholic Rural Life Conference, 4625 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50310 ncrlc.com, 1956