Mass of Saint Patrick, Principal Patron of Ireland

I thought it might be interesting, in time for tomorrow, to present the Proper Mass for Saint Patrick, Principal Patron of Ireland, as given in the current National Proper for Ireland.

The petition of the Collect, “that we who celebrate this festival may keep alive the fire of faith he kindled,” is especially poignant, given the sufferings of the Church in Ireland at the present time. The central portion of the Proper Preface is evocative:

For you drew him through daily prayer
in captivity and hardship
to know you as a loving Father.
You chose him out of all the world
to return to the land of his captors,
that they might acknowledge Jesus Christ, their Redeemer.
In the power of your Spirit you directed his paths
to win the sons and daughters of the Irish
to the service of the Triune God.

March 17
Saint Patrick, bishop
Principal Patron of Ireland
Solemnity

Entrance Antiphon: Gen 12:1-2
Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Collect
Lord, through the work of Saint Patrick in Ireland
we have come to acknowledge the mystery of the one true God
and give thanks for our salvation in Christ;
grant by his prayers
that we who celebrate this festival
may keep alive the fire of faith he kindled.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

The Collect of the traditional rite has:
O God, who wast pleased to send thy blessed confessor bishop Patrick
to preach Thy glory to the heathen,
grant through his merits and intercession,
that by Thy mercy we may be enabled to accomplish
the tasks Thou settest us.
Through our Lord.

Prayer over the Oblations
Lord, accept this pure sacrifice
which, through the labours of Saint Patrick,
your grateful people make
to the glory of your name.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Preface
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
and to offer you fitting praise
as we honour Saint Patrick.
For you drew him through daily prayer
in captivity and hardship
to know you as a loving Father.
You chose him out of all the world
to return to the land of his captors,
that they might acknowledge Jesus Christ, their Redeemer.
In the power of your Spirit you directed his paths
to win the sons and daughters of the Irish
to the service of the Triune God.
With joyful hearts we echo on earth
the song of the angels in heaven
as they praise your glory without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy…

Communion Antiphon: Cf Mt 8:11
Many will come from east and west
and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
at the feast in the kingdom of heaven, says the Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Strengthen us, O Lord, by this sacrament
so that we may profess the faith taught by Saint Patrick
and to proclaim it in our way of living.
Through Christ our Lord.