Introit: Galatians vi. 14

    But it behoveth us to glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection: by whom we are saved and delivered, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. May God have mercy on us and bless us: may He cause the light of His countenance to shine upon us, and may He have mercy on us. ℣. Glory be to the Father.

Collect

    O God, who in the glorious Finding of the Cross of salvation didst renew the wonders of Thy passion ; grant us by the price of the wood of life to win the palm of eternal life. Who livest.

Commemoration of Fourth Sunday after Easter

Collect

    O God, who makest the minds of the faithful to be of one will, grant to Thy people to love that which Thou commandest and desire that which Thou dost promise; that so, among the changing things of this world, our hearts may be set where true joys are to be found. Through our Lord.

Epistle: Philippians ii. 5-11

    Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Philippians. Brethren, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all names: (Here all genuflect) that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

First Alleluia: Psalms xcv. 10

    Alleluia, alleluia. ℣. Say ye among the Gentiles, that the Lord hath reigned from the wood.

Second Alleluia

    Alleluia. ℣. Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the burden that hangs thereon: to bear the King and Lord of heaven, no tree was worthy, save thou, O holy Cross. Alleluia.

Gospel: John iii. 1-15

    + Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. John. At that time, there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night; and said to Him: Rabbi, we know that Thou art come, a teacher from God; for no man can do these signs which Thou dost, unless God be with him. Jesus answered, and said to him : Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith to Him: How can a man be born, when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born again? Jesus answered : Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit, is spirit. Wonder not that I said to thee: You must be born again. The spirit breatheth where He will; and thou hearest His voice, but thou knowest not whence He cometh, nor whither He goeth; so is every one that is born of the spirit. Nicodemus answered, and said to Him: How can these things be done? Jesus answered, and said to him: Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things ? Amen, amen, I say to thee, that we speak what we know, and we testify what we have seen, and you receive not our testimony. If I have spoken to you earthly things, and you believe not; how will you believe if I shall speak to you heavenly things ? And no man hath ascended into heaven, but He that descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

Offertory: Psalms cxvii. 16, 17

    The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength, the right hand of the Lord hath exalted me: I shall not die, but live, and shall declare the works of the Lord, alleluia.

Secret

    Look down in mercy, O Lord, upon the sacrifice we offer Thee, and may it free us from all the evils of war; and destroying the snares of our enemies, may we, under the banner of the holy Cross of Thy Son, be established in the peace of Thy protection. Through the same our Lord.

Commemoration of Fourth Sunday after Easter

Secret

    O God, who by the sacred intercourse of this sacrifice hast made us partakers of the one supreme divine nature: grant, we beseech Thee, that as we know Thy truth, so we may follow it by a worthy life. Through our Lord.

Communion

    By the sign of the Cross, deliver us from our enemies, O Thou our God, alleluia.

Postcommunion

    Refreshed with food from heaven, and quickened with the spiritual cup, we beseech Thee, almighty God, to save from the craft of the evil one, those whom Thou hast bidden to triumph by the wood of the holy Cross of Thy Son, that chosen instrument of justice for the salvation of the world. Through the same.

Commemoration of Fourth Sunday after Easter

Postcommunion

    Assist us, O Lord our God, that by these gifts which we have received in faith, we may be purified from vice and delivered from all dangers. Through our Lord.

+ Taken from St. Andrew Daily Missal, by Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, O.S.B., Imprimi Potest 11-18-1945 P. Joannes Delacroix, O.S.B., Imprimatur 11-22-1945 Joseph Van Der Meersch