Father, you have enriched the witness of your Church through Saint Mark’s proclamation of the gospel. Grant that we may be firmly grounded in its truth, and help us to walk in its ways to the glory of your name. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
If April 25 falls during Easter Week, the celebration is kept on the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter.
Gracious Father, you raised Saint Joseph from the line of David’s descendants and called him be both the husband of Mary, and the guardian of the incarnate Lord. Help us to imitate his righteousness of life and his obedience to your command. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Almighty Father, you filled your apostles Philip and James with grace and strengthened them to bear witness to the truth. Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify – in life and in death - the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Heavenly Father, you have revealed the mystery of salvation to us through the teaching of Saint John, your apostle and evangelist. May the light of the Gospel he proclaimed shine upon your Church that your people may walk in the way of truth and inherit the eternal life promised through Incarnation of Jesus, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Father, in the place of Judas you chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve. Deliver your Church from every false apostle, and grant to her the loving governance of shepherds who are faithful and true. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Almighty Father, your Risen Son sent forth the apostles Andronicus and Junia to proclaim the Gospel and extend your reign. Send us forth in the power of your Holy Spirit that we, like them, may touch the lives of many as faithful witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Father, in your great love you looked with favor on your lowly servant Mary and chose her to be the mother of your Son. Give us a humble heart, that we may join her in praising your goodness and receiving your mercy. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Father, you filled your servant Barnabas with a zealous faith, and led him to give generously of his treasures and talents for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel. May the faith he proclaimed in word and in deed echo through us today, that the whole world may come to know the redeeming love of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
In your providence, Father, your servant John was born to prepare the way for the life-giving Lamb. As we celebrate the feast of his birth, grant us the gift of true repentance, and the courage to stand fast in our faith – even when we must suffer for the sake of the truth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Almighty Father, your blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom. Instructed by their teaching, inspired by their example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may your Church forever stand firm upon the one foundation: Jesus Christ her Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.