Commemoration of All Souls Propers (Second Mass)

The following are the English propers (“the readings”) for this Mass. The English of the fixed, ordinary parts of the Mass are available for a Low Mass, High Mass and Solemn Mass.

Introitus
4 Esd. 2:34-35.
Eternal rest give to them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Ps 64:2-3
To You we owe our hymn of praise, O God, in Sion; to You must vows be fulfilled in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer; to You all flesh must come.
Eternal rest give to them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Collect
Let us pray.
O God, Lord of mercies, grant to the souls of Your servants and handmaids a lasting place of refreshment, the blessedness of rest and the splendor of Your light.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Lesson
Lesson from the second book of Machabees
2 Mach. 12:43-46
In those days: The most valiant man Judas, making a gathering, sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, for if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead; and because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.
R. Thanks be to God.

Gradual
4 Esd. 2:34-35.
Eternal rest give to them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Ps 111:7
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance; an evil report he shall not fear.

Tractus
O Lord, absolve the souls of all the faithful departed from every bond of sin.
V. And by the help of Your grace may they be worthy to escape the sentence of vengeance.
V. And to enjoy all the beatitude of the light eternal.

Sequentia
Dreaded day, that day of ire,
When the world shall melt in fire,
Told by Sibyl and David’s lyre.

Fright men’s hearts shall rudely shift,
As the Judge through gleaming rift
Comes each soul to closely sift.

Then, the trumpet’s shrill refrain,
Piercing tombs by hill and plain,
Souls to judgment shall arraign.

Death and nature stand aghast,
As the bodies rising fast,
Hie to hear the sentence passed.

Then, before Him shall be placed,
That whereon the verdict’s based,
Book wherein each deed is traced.

When the Judge His seat shall gain,
All that’s hidden shall be plain,
Nothing shall unjudged remain.

Wretched man, what can I plead?
Whom to ask to intercede,
When the just much mercy need?

You, O awe-inspiring Lord,
Saving e’en when unimplored,
Save me, mercy’s fount adored.

O sweet Jesus, mindful be,
That You came on earth for me:
Cast me not from You this day.

Seeking me Your strength was spent
Ransoming Your limbs were rent:
Is this toil to no intent?

You, awarding pains condign,
Mercy’s ear to me incline,
Ere the reckoning You assign.

I, felon-like, my lot bewail,
Suffused cheeks my shame unveil:
God! O let my prayer prevail.

Mary’s soul You fashioned white,
And did to heaven the thief invite;
Hope in me these now excite.

Prayers of mine in vain ascend:
You are good and will forefend,
In quenchless fire my life to end.

When the cursed by shame oppressed,
Enter flames at Your behest,
Call me then to join the blessed.

Place amid Your sheep accord,
Keep me from the tainted horde,
Set me in Your sight, O Lord.

Prostrate, suppliant, now no more
Unrepenting, as of yore,
Save me dying, I implore.

Mournful day that day of sighs,
When from dust shall man arise,
Stained with guilt his doom to know,

Mercy, Lord, on him bestow.
Jesus, kind! Your souls release,
Led them thence to realms of peace.
Amen.

Gospel
Continuation ✠ of the Holy Gospel according to John
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
John 6:37-40
At that time, Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews, All that the Father gives to Me shall come to Me, and him who comes to Me I will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me. Now this is the will of Him Who sent Me, the Father, that I should lose nothing of what He has given Me, but that I should raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father Who sent Me, that whoever beholds the Son, and believes in Him, shall have everlasting life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
R. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
S. By the words of the Gospel may our sins be blotted out.

Offertorium
O Lord, Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell and the deep pit; deliver them from the lion’s mouth, that hell engulf them not, nor they fall into darkness, but that Michael, the holy standard-bearer, bring them into the holy light * which You once promised to Abraham and his seed.
V. We offer You, O Lord, sacrifices and prayers of praise; accept them for those souls whom we this day commemorate; grant them, O Lord, to pass from death to the life * which You once promised to Abraham and his seed.

Secreta
O Lord, be pleased to accept our humble prayers for the souls of Your servants and handmaids, in whose behalf we offer You the sacrifice of praise that You may mercifully admit them into the fellowship of Your Saints.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Prefatio
Dead
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, through Christ our Lord. In whom the hope of a blessed resurrection hath shone forth unto us; so that those who are saddened by the certain lot of dying, may be consoled by the promise of a future deathless life. For to Thy faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not taken away: and when the home of this earthly sojourn is dissolved, an eternal dwelling place is being prepared in the heavens. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:

Communio
4 Esdr 2:35; 2:34
May light eternal shine upon them, O Lord, with Your Saints forever, for You are kind.
V. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them: with Your Saints forever, for You are kind.

Postcommunio
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech You, O Lord, that the souls of Your servants and handmaids, cleansed by these sacrifices, may obtain both forgiveness and eternal rest.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.