Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration
Prayers
Mass in Honor of the Most Holy Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ Disfigured in His Passion
Introit
For Thy glory, O Lord, I have suffered opprobrium; My Face has been covered with confusion and I have become a mockery to them. Ps. Save me, O God, because the waters of tribulation have entered into my soul. V. Glory be to the Father. .
Collect
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty and merciful God, that whilst venerating the Face of Thy Christ, disfigured in the Passion because of our sins, we may merit to contemplate It, shining forever in celestial glory. Through the same Lord. . .
Epistle (Isa. liii.)
As many have been astonished at Thee, so shall His visage be inglorious among men, and His form among the sons of men. He shall sprinkle many nations; kings - shall shut their mouths at Him: for they to whom it was not told of Him, have seen: and they that had not heard, have beheld. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? And He shall grow up as a tender plant before Him, and as a root out of a thirsty ground. There is no beauty in Him, nor comeliness. And we have seen Him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of Him: despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity. And His look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows.
Gradual
The confusion of My Face hath covered Me at the voice of him that reproacheth and detracteth Me: at the face of the enemy and persecutor. V. And some began to spit on Him, to cover His Face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto Him: Prophesy. And the servants struck Him with the palms of their hands.
Tract
My Heart hath expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve together with Me, but there was none; and for one that would comfort Me, and I found none. And they gave Me gall for My food, and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink. V. They have persecuted Him whom Thou hast smitten; and they have added to the grief of my wounds.
Gospel (Mark, xiv. 61-65.)
At that time the high priest questioned Jesus and said to Him: Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed God? But Jesus said to him: I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming with the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest, rending his garments, said: What need we any further witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What think you? Who all condemned Him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit upon Him, and to cover His Face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto Him: Prophesy. And the servants struck Him with the palms of their hands.
Offertory
A false speaker riseth up against My Face, contradicting Me. They have opened their mouths upon Me, and reproaching Me, they have struck Me on the cheek; they are filled with My pains. These things have I suffered when I offered pure prayers to God.
Secret
O God of mercy, turn away Thy Face from our crimes and cast Thine eyes upon the Face of Thy Christ, who hath offered Himself to Thee as a Victim for us, and hath washed us from our sins in His own Blood. Through the same Jesus Christ. . .
Preface
It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto salvation, that we should always and in all places give thanks unto Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; who didst set the salvation of mankind upon the tree of the cross, so that whence came death, thence also life might rise again, and he that overcame by the tree, on the tree also might be overcome: through Christ our Lord.
Through whom the angels praise Thy majesty, the dominions worship It, and the powers are in awe. The heavenly hosts and the blessed seraphim join together in celebrating their joy. With these we pray Thee join our own voices also, while we say with lowly praise: Holy, holy, holy. . .
Communion
Let us go forth from the camp, and let us go to Jesus, bearing the ignominy of His Cross.
Postcommunion
Deign, O Lord, to grant to those who adore Thy Face, once hidden under the ignominy of the Passion and now veiled in the Sacrament of Thy love, grace to compensate Thee by their homage for Thy opprobrium upon earth, and to merit a share in Thy glory in heaven. Who livest and reignest. . .
