Mass of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Blessed is the man
who meditates on the law of the Lord day and night;
he shall bring forth fruit in due season (Ps 1:2-3).
ACT OF PENITENCE
Your statutes have become our song
in the land of exile (Ps 118:54).
Kyrie, eleison.
Your promise is sweeter to our taste
than honey in the mouth (Ps 118:103).
Christe, eleison.
Your word is a lamp for our steps
and a light for our path (Ps 118:105).
Kyrie, eleison.
COLLECT
O God,
who gave your priest Saint Jerome
a sweet and living passion for Sacred Scripture,
grant that your people
may be more abundantly nourished by your word,
and find in it the wellspring of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
That, by the reading and study of the sacred books,
the Word of God may speed on and triumph,
and the treasure of Revelation entrusted to the Church,
more and more fill the hearts of the faithful,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That the leaders of nations
may seek the things that make for peace,
especially in the Holy Land of Jesus’ birth
and in the whole Middle East,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That those ignorant of Christ
may seek and find him in the Sacred Scriptures;
that the lonely may find in the Sacred Scriptures
the friendship of Christ;
and that those who are tempted and weary of spiritual combat
may find in the Sacred Scriptures refreshment and strength;
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That monasteries may become schools of lectio divina
wherein all the faithful can discover
the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ
by experiencing the Sacred Scriptures ceaselessly proclaimed,
repeated, and prayed,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
That, by the intercession of Saint Jerome,
we may persevere in the sweet labour of lectio divina,
and find therein wisdom, gladness, and light,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
COLLECT AT THE GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
Almighty and ever-living God,
whose Word is a lantern to our feet and a light upon our path:
we give you thanks for your servant Saint Jerome,
and for those, who, following in his steps,
have laboured to draw from the Sacred Scriptures
treasures both ancient and new;
grant, we beseech you,
that as we read, repeat, and pray the written Word,
your Holy Spirit will overshadow us
until Christ, the living Word, born at Bethlehem,
being perfectly formed in us,
shall fill our poverty with the abundance of his richness.
Through the same Christ our Lord.
PRAYER OVER THE OBLATIONS
Grant, Lord,
that by following the example of Saint Jerome
in meditating your word,
we may more eagerly draw near
to offer the saving Victim to your majesty.
Through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE
(Ambrosian Missal, trans. MDK)
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always, here and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
We proclaim you wise and wonderful
who by making your Word resound,
have revealed to us the design of your love.
By your grace,
Saint Jerome so deeply penetrated the divine Scriptures
that out of this treasure
he was able to dispense wisdom ancient and new,
inspiring us by his example,
ceaselessly to seek Christ, the living Word, in the sacred page.
And so, we joyfully unite ourselves to him, now blessed in heaven, and to all creatures,
to sing, O Father, your praises,
in the everlasting hymn:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
MR
Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your word was to me a joy
and the gladness of my heart (Jer 15:16).
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
May the holy gifts we received, O Lord,
as we rejoice in this celebration of Saint Jerome,
stir up the hearts of your faithful,
so that, intent on sacred doctrine,
they may understand that which they follow
and, by following it, obtain everlasting life.
Through Christ our Lord.