November 25

SAINT CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA, Virgin and Martyr

Solemnity
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Behold, now she follows the Lamb who was crucified for us,
powerful in virginity, modesty her offering, a sacrifice on the altar of chastity.

The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is said.

COLLECT

A lmighty ever-living God,

who gave Saint Catherine of Alexandria to your people
as a Virgin and an invincible Martyr,
grant that through her intercession
we may be strengthened in faith and constancy
and spend ourselves without reserve
for the unity of the Church.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
 THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING Revelation 21:5-7
To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water.
The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.

A reading from the Book of Revelation.

The One who was seated on the throne said:
“Behold, I make all things new.”
Then he said, “Write these words down,
for they are trustworthy and true.”
He said to me, “They are accomplished.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
To the thirsty I will give a gift
from the spring of life-giving water.
The victor will inherit these gifts,
and I shall be his God,
and he will be my son.”
The Word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8

R. (7) Our soul has been rescued

like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive
When their fury was inflamed against us. (R.)
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept
the raging waters. (R.)
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth. (R.)
SECOND READING Hebrews 10:32-36
You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.

Beloved:
Honor widows who are truly widows.
But if a widow has children or grandchildren,
let these first learn to perform their religious duty
to their own family
and to make recompense to their parents,
for this is pleasing to God.
The real widow, who is all alone,
has set her hope on God
and continues in supplicatios and prayers night and day
but the one who is self-indulgent is dead while she lives.
Command this,
so that they may be irreproachable
and whoever does not provide
for relatives and especially family members
has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Let the widow be enrolled
if she is not less than sixty years old, married only once,
with a reputation for good works, namely;
that she has raised children,
practiced hospitality,
washed the feet of the holy ones,
helped those in distress,
involved herself in every good work.
The Word of the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION See Te Deum

Alleluia. Alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the white-robed army of martyrs praises you.
Alleluia. Alleluia.

GOSPEL Matthew 10:28-30

And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground
without your Father's knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,
I will deny before my heavenly Father.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Creed is said.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
May the offerings we bring
in celebration of blessed Catherine
win your gracious acceptance, O Lord, we pray,
just as the struggle of her suffering and passion
was pleasing to you.
Through Christ our Lord.

PREFACE II OF HOLY MARTYRS

The sign and the example of martyrdom.
V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit.
V. Lift up your hearts. R. We lift them up to the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is right and just.

I t is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
For the blood of your blessed Martyr Catherine,
poured out like Christ’s to glorify your name,
shows forth your marvelous works,
by which in our weakness you perfect your power
and on the feeble bestow strength to bear you witness,
through Christ our Lord.
And so, with the Powers of heaven,
we worship you constantly on earth,
and before your majesty
without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts . . .
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Revelation 7:17

The Lamb who is at the center of the throne

will lead them to the springs of the waters of life.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

O God, who bestowed on blessed Catherine
a crown among the Saints
for her twofold triumph of virginity and martyrdom,
grant, we pray, through the power of this Sacrament,
that, bravely overcoming every evil,
we may attain the glory of heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.