February 4
Saint Maria de Mattias
Solemnity for ASC
Memorial for CPPS
Maria De Mattias was born on February 4, 1805, at Vallecorsa (Frosinone) in Italy. As a child, she learned from her father that Jesus, the Paschal Lamb, shed his Blood for us sinners. During the years of her adolescence, she discovered in the Crucified Christ the supreme proof of the infinite love of God for every person. She felt the need to consecrate her whole self to God through the adoration of the mystery of the Cross and through service to her brothers and sisters. Inspired by St. Gaspar del Bufalo, founder of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood, and guided by Venerable Giovanni Merlini, the third General Moderator of that Congregation, Maria discovered that God had a great plan for her. On March 4, 1834, at Acuto (Frosinone) she founded the Congregation of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ to collaborate in the work of the world’s redemption. The spirit of the Congregation is expressed well in the words of Maria De Mattias: “Charity toward God and toward our dear neighbor”. Maria De Mattias died at Rome on August 20, 1866.
Mass
Liturgy of the Hours
Any suggestions for the celebrations contained in the website are just that, suggestions, and are the creation of Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S. Feel free to use, adapt or disregard them.
Canticle of the Blood
by St. Maria de Mattias
Homily Suggestions
Come,
let us adore Christ, the Son of God,
who has redeemed us with his blood.
Clap your hands, all you peoples,
sing unto God with a voice of jubilation.
For you, God, glorious and mighty,
have shown us mercy.
You have not spared your only Son,
but delivered him up in our behalf.
That you might redeem us
from our sins in Christ’s own blood;
That justified in the blood of Jesus
you might turn your anger from us;
That we who were separated
might be reconciled through the blood of Christ.
O God, my God, what can I render to you
for all the good you have bestowed upon me?
I will take the chalice of salvation,
and I will call upon the power of Christ’s blood.
Sing to Jesus, all you saints,
and make known the memory of his holiness.
For Christ indeed has loved us and washed us in his
blood and has become our helper and redeemer.
May Christ be blessed forever
who has wrought such wonders in us.
Blessed be Jesus for all ages,
and may the heavens and the earth be filled with the
praises of his love.
Come, let us adore Christ, the Son of God,
who has redeemed us with his blood.
Amen
- Jeremiah was called by God, but like so many who were called before and after him, he has an excuse for not answering the call. Abraham believed he was too old, and so was his wife Sarah, to become the parents a child, let alone of a great nation. Moses had a hard time speaking and was a wanted man by Pharoah. Isaiah had a filthy mouth. Hosea’s wife had just left him. Mary didn’t understand how what the angel said could possibly happen, nor could Zachariah. Yet God assured all of them, just as he assured Jeremiah in today’s reading, that God would be with them work wonders in their lives. Maria de Mattias was also called at a young age, and God worked through her life, in spite of whatever doubts and weaknesses she may have had.
- The psalmist proclaims faith in God and confidence in God’s goodness. Throughout her life, Maria exemplified a similar faith and confidence in God.
- Some scholars believe that the first letter of St. Peter was addressed to the newly baptized. This is also the only passage where the term “precious blood” is found in the scriptures. Peter encourages his readers to “be holy,” and tells them to “conduct [them]selves with reverence” because they have been “ransomed… not with perishable things like silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.” Maria de Mattias sought to conduct herself with reverence, because she knew that she had been saved by the Blood of Christ. That's why she called her sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood.
- Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, saw that the stone had been rolled away and was empty. She went to “Peter and the other disciples,” and they, too, saw what she saw, an empty tomb (see John 20:3-10). While they went away, she stayed there weeping, and through her tears, she encountered the Lord, alive and well, and she was sent with a message to the disciples. She was the first witness and preacher of the resurrection, whom St. John Paul II called the apostle to the apostles. Maria de Mattias would also become a witness and preacher of the Good News. She was, in fact, "accuse of preaching" – something women ordinarily did not do at that time – and after an investigation by the local bishop was told to keep up the good work.
- In the preface we are about to hear, Maria de Mattias is described as “a herald of the light of the divine Word, a messenger of reconciliation and peace, a fearless witness of the Precious Blood of Christ and of the salvific glory of the cross.” All of this is because of God’s “provident love” that chose her and “adorned her with the gifts of the Spirit.”
- In all of the readings today, it is the encounter with God that transforms the lives of God’s people – Jeremiah, the psalmist, new Christians and Mary Magdalene. All of them encountered God and were then sent to Maria de Mattias knew that it was her encounter with God that enabled her and her sisters to do their work in the world, that enabled others to encounter God at work in their lives. Our encounter with God can do the same.
Create Your Own Website With Webador