Masses for Irish Saints

Saint Brigid, abbess
Secondary Patron of Ireland
1 February        Feast

Entrance Antiphon (Cf. Job 30:25)

Did I not feel for those whose day was hard?
Was not my soul grieved for the poor?

Collect

Merciful God,
origin and reward of all charity,
you called Saint Brigid to teach the new commandment of love
through her life of hospitality and her care of the needy;
give to your people, by her intercession,
a generous spirit,
so that, with hearts made pure,
we may show your love to all.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

First Reading: Job 31:16-20, 24-25, 31-32

Have I been insensible to the needs of the poor?

Have I been insensible to poor men’s needs,
or let a widow’s eyes grow dim?
Or taken my share of bread alone,
not giving a share to the orphan?
I, whom God has fostered father-like, from childhood,
and guided since I left my mother’s womb.
Have I ever seen a wretch in need of clothing,
or a beggar going naked,
without his having cause to bless me from his heart,
as he felt the warmth of the fleece from my lambs?
Have I put all my trust in gold,
from finest gold sought my security?
Have I ever gloated over my great wealth,
or the riches that my hands have won?
The people of my tent, did they not say,
‘Is there a man he has not filled with meat?’
No stranger ever had to sleep outside,
my door was always open to the traveller.

Alternative First Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

Planted in love and built on love.

This is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its
name: Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so
that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the
saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of
Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God. Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to
him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106 (107):35-38, 41-42. R/. v. 1

Response: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
for his love has no end.

1. He changes desert into streams,
thirsty ground into springs of water.
There he settles the hungry
and they build a city to dwell in. R/.

2. They sow fields and plants their vines;
these yield crops for the harvest.
He blesses them; they grow in numbers.
He does not let their herds decrease. R/.

3. He raises the needy from distress;
makes families numerous as a flock.
The upright see it and rejoice
but all who do wrong are silenced. R/.

Gospel Acclamation: 1 John 4:12

Alleluia, alleluia!
As long as we love one another,
God will live in us
and his love will be complete in us.
Alleluia!

Gospel Reading: Luke 6:32-38

Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners
do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope
of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.’

‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there
will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

Prayer over the Gifts

As we present these gifts, O Lord,
on the feast of Saint Brigid,
may we come to know you as the source of all true love.
Through Christ our Lord.

Preface

V/. The Lord be with you.

R/. And also with you.

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 to give him thanks and praise.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salavation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For your wonderful love is seen in Saint Brigid:
you taught her to open her heart and hands to the poor
and to seek the image of your Son in every welcomed guest.
Through her you showed a people
the way of Mary, the Mother of your Son,
in dedicated service and holiness of life.
On this feast you fill our hearts with joy
for you continue to bless the Church
that you planted by her labours.
And so, with archangels and angels
and the whole company of Saints,
we sing the unending hymn of your praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy …

Communion Antiphon (Cf. Matthew 25:34, 36, 40)

Come, you whom my Father has blessed, says the Lord.
I was sick and you visited me.
In truth I tell you,
in so far as you did this to one of the least of these,
you did it to me.

Prayer after Communion

You give us food from heaven, Lord,
to strengthen us in love;
grant, we pray, through the intercession of Saint Brigid,
that works of charity continue to flourish
and the light of true faith not fail.
Through Christ our Lord.

Solemn Blessing

May God, who in Saint Brigid has provided
an outstanding example of generosity:
make your ears be ever open to the cry of the poor.

R/. Amen.

May you who greet Saint Brigid as Mary of the Gael
receive from Jesus, Son of Mary,
the reward promised to the pure of heart.

R/. Amen.

May God fill you with his love,
as you honour Saint Brigid,
whose heart and mind became
a throne of rest for the Holy Spirit.

R/. Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain for ever.

R/. Amen.