In those places where this Memorial is observed as a Solemnity or Feast, please use the texts found in the Common of Virgins or the Common of Doctors of the Church with the proper texts below.
INTRODUCTION
God, + come to my assistance.
— Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
O Catherine, light for all the Church,
adorned with crowns of many flow’rs,
we venerate you on this day
and honor you with highest praise.
With noble virtues you were blest
throughout a life of great renown;
with zealous mind and humble heart,
you trod the pathways of the Cross.
The peoples saw in you a star
that heralds fair and timely peace;
you led them back to better ways
and softened hard and savage hearts.
The Holy Spirit moved your soul
to speak his words as flames of fire
that pour forth wisdom’s holy light
and kindle love within the heart.
O Virgin chosen by the Lord,
lead us, enflamed with ardent love
and trusting in your holy prayers,
to seek the Bridegroom’s glorious reign.
To you, Lord Jesus, glory be,
who are the Virgin Mary’s Son,
with God the Father, ever blest,
and loving Spirit, ever one. Amen.
Tune: DANBY, 8 8 8 8
Music: English traditional melody
or Mode VIII, melody 115; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Te, Catharina, maximis, 14th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 The night will be as clear as day, alleluia.
Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24
God sees all that is
Who has known the mind of God, who has been his counselor? (Romans 11:34).
I
O Lord, you search me and you know me, †
you know my resting and my rising, *
you discern my purpose from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down, *
all my ways lie open to you.
Before ever a word is on my tongue *
you know it, O Lord, through and through.
Behind and before you besiege me, *
your hand ever laid upon me.
Too wonderful for me, this knowledge, *
too high, beyond my reach.
O where can I go from your spirit, *
or where can I flee from your face?
If I climb the heavens, you are there. *
If I lie in the grave, you are there.
If I take the wings of the dawn *
and dwell at the sea’s furthest end,
even there your hand would lead me, *
your right hand would hold me fast.
If I say: “Let the darkness hide me *
and the light around me be night,”
even darkness is not dark for you *
and the night is as clear as the day.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, *
is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. The night will be as clear as day, alleluia.
Ant. 2 I know my sheep and mine know me, alleluia.
II
For it was you who created my being, *
knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I thank you for the wonder of my being, *
for the wonders of all your creation.
Already you knew my soul, *
my body held no secret from you
when I was being fashioned in secret *
and molded in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw all my actions, *
they were all of them written in your book;
every one of my days was decreed *
before one of them came into being.
To me, how mysterious your thoughts, *
the sum of them not to be numbered!
If I count them, they are more than the sand; *
to finish, I must be eternal, like you.
O search me, God, and know my heart. *
O test me and know my thoughts.
See that I follow not the wrong path *
and lead me in the path of life eternal.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
You watch over heaven and earth, Lord Jesus. Your death brought light to the dead; your resurrection gave joy to the saints; your ascension made the angels rejoice. Your power exceeds all power. Lead us to life eternal, and watch over us with your love. May your friends be filled with honor and join you in heaven.
Ant. I know my sheep and mine know me, alleluia.
Ant. 3 His glory covers the heavens and his praise fills the earth, alleluia.
Canticle: Colossians 1:12-20
Christ the first-born of all creation and the first-born from the dead
Let us give thanks to the Father *
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints *
in light.
He rescued us *
from the power of darkness
and brought us *
into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption, *
the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, *
the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created, *
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him; *
all were created for him.
He is before all else that is. *
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the church! *
he who is the beginning,
the first-born of the dead, *
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him *
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens, *
making peace through the blood of his cross.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. His glory covers the heavens and his praise fills the earth, alleluia.
READING
[Doctors] James 3:17-18
Wisdom from above is first of all innocent. It is also peaceable, lenient, docile, rich in sympathy and the kindly deeds that are its fruits, impartial and sincere. The harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.
RESPONSORY
In the midst of the Church she spoke with eloquence, alleluia, alleluia.
— In the midst of the Church she spoke with eloquence, alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord filled her with the spirit of wisdom and understanding.
— Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— In the midst of the Church she spoke with eloquence, alleluia, alleluia.
Or:
READING
[Virgins] 1 Corinthians 7:32b, 34
The unmarried man is busy with the Lord’s affairs, concerned with pleasing the Lord. The virgin—indeed, any unmarried woman—is concerned with things of the Lord, in pursuit of holiness in body and spirit.
RESPONSORY
The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy, alleluia, alleluia.
— The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy, alleluia, alleluia.
They are brought into the King’s dwelling place,
— Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy, alleluia, alleluia.
The antiphon for the Gospel Canticle and the Intercessions may be taken from the Daily Office.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Always and everywhere Catherine sought and found God. Through the strength of her love she entered into union with him, alleluia.
Canticle of Mary
Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord
My + soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, †
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: †
the Almighty has done great things for me, *
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Always and everywhere Catherine sought and found God. Through the strength of her love she entered into union with him, alleluia.
INTERCESSIONS
Christ extolled those who practiced virginity for the sake of the kingdom. Let us praise him joyfully and pray to him:
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
Christ, you presented the Church to yourself as a chaste virgin to her spouse,
— keep her holy and inviolate.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
Christ, the holy virgins went out to meet you with their lamps alight,
— keep the fidelity of your consecrated handmaids burning brightly.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
Lord, your virgin Church has always kept its faith whole and untarnished,
— grant all Christians a whole and untarnished faith.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
You have given your people joy in celebrating the feast of your holy virgin Catherine,
— give us constant joy through her intercession.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
You have admitted the holy virgins to your marriage banquet,
— in your mercy lead the dead to your heavenly feast.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Father,
in meditating on the sufferings of your Son
and in serving your Church,
Saint Catherine was filled with the fervor of your love.
By her prayers,
may we share in the mystery of Christ’s death
and rejoice in the revelation of his glory,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, who set Saint Catherine of Siena on fire with divine love
in her contemplation of the Lord’s Passion
and her service of your Church,
grant, through her intercession, that your people,
participating in the mystery of Christ,
may ever exult in the revelation of his glory.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
DISMISSAL
If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people:
The Lord be with you.
— And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
— Amen.
Another form of the blessing may be used, as at Mass.
Then he adds:
Go in peace.
— Thanks be to God.
In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Evening Prayer concludes:
May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
— Amen.
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