1. Penitential Act: The whole Assembly shall face the altar and do a gesture of reverence

Empty altar

1. Readings: Rom. 8:18-25

Psalm 125 (126)
Gospel Lk 13:18-21

1. Prayers of the Faithful: Refer to Tuesday of the 30 th week in Ordinary Time
2. Prayers: Mass for the laypersons
3. Offertory:

•  Preparation of the Altar: altar cloth, flowers...
•  Symbols : yeast, seeds, host, wine...

Homily:

Dear brothers and sisters:

The Lord has done wonders for his people... He has done great things for us and we are filled with joy!

•  Personal Attitude: 

On July 27, 1980, year of the 150 th Anniversary of the Apparitions at Rue du Bac, a day in which the Church officially recognize the sanctity of St. Catherine Laboure, I was ordained a priest. I entered the La Milagrosa Seminary in the city of Braga and later joined the “Seminario Interno” (Seminarian Intern.) I was baptized on July 23, a day after the Church approved the official texts of the Miraculous Medal memorial.

It was on September 16, 2002 in the La Milagrosa House in Porto that the Provincial Council appointed me as the Spiritual Advisor of AMM.

Coincidence or otherwise, the fact is my life, priesthood and mission have been protected by the mantle of our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and the figure of St. Catherine Laboure.

God speaks to us in many ways and touches our life with signs that challenge us to be more attentive and give an active, generous and total response.

•  “Come to the altar...” – Live the Eucharist !

Mary guided Catherine towards God and towards her brothers and sisters . She is not the goal. She is an indicator who leads to the communion with Jesus present in the Eucharist and among his brothers and sisters. In bringing us to the altar, Mary leads us towards the communion of her Son who is the true way. She motivates us to an encounter with him there, offering us a concrete act.

“ Come ” – “Go out of your houses…" Let us get out of ourselves and be on our way towards God and before our brothers and sisters. Let us reach out to an abandoned person and set aside something that is essential.

“at the foot of this altar” – Kneeling down before his altar means that we have the need for Mary. She invites us and suggests an attitude of humility, trust and self-surrender in order to be touched by Jesus in the Eucharist.

“Here graces shall be showered abundantly” – Jesus unites himself with us to renew our lives. Each time we go to God, we fill ourselves with his love (He fills us with his love and his grace as well.) He loves us! He wants to celebrate a feast with us. He wants to transform us with the power and abundance of His grace. He wants to make us craftsmen of a new world. 

The creation is waiting for the revelation of the sons of God – Rom. 8:18-25. 

This beautiful text of St. Paul describes a sad situation of the world and it offers us a reason to maintain peace and hope. Many of us are tempted to interpret the groans of pain (suffering, tears, hatred, violence) as signs that death is at hand; that the worsening world would one day end, would be destroyed and will disappear.

This interpretation of the groans of creation is not Christian because it is deprived of hope. Thus, St. Paul gives an example of a woman who is having labor pains. With this analogy, this apostle gives us hope. We Christians must pay attention to these groans of creation. Do not lose hope and be certain that despite the appearance of what is contrary, a new creation shall arise. This creation waits to be transformed with the collaboration of all those who are part of God's plan, in the same manner that Mary did.

•  The grace grew and became a tree – Lk 13:18-21 

The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, yeast and salt. Today we have seen that the yeast and the mustard seed, in spite of their modest beginnings, are made great and transformed that or those whom they touch, by means of their inherent strength.

To be the yeast or become a seed have identical characteristics, that is to be small, be dynamic and serve once they are placed into the soil or the dough. The Church, which is the symbol of the Kingdom of God, must be like this: small, compared to humanity and the society. Its power comes from the Spirit, from within moving outward, in order to contaminate and be dynamic. Only within the society, with its hopes and darkness, pains and joys, can it generate life; one could not be placed at the margin and act from outside going inside. One should not have fear of being small. He has to allow the dynamism of the Spirit to act within humanity and the society, to become a symbol of the present, to become alive and be transformers of mentalities and processes. This is how the Church should be, and the AMM as well.

•  Conclusión

Come to the foot of this altar. Be the seeds that germinate, grow and bear fruit. Be the yeast of life which transforms and gives flavor. Let us be creatures who wait for the revelation of God, active creatures pledging to generate a new human being in each one of us the image of Christ. To become like this is witnessing to believe. This is how we live and help others to live-out this ideal. Then, we can say with all certainty and joy that, " Today the Lord has done wonders for his people, thus we praise Him with joy. Amen."

Fr. Agostinho Teixeira de Sousa

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