First Reading1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—­ Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—­ and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the Church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. 

Responsorial PsalmPsalm 100:1-2, 3, 4, 5

℟We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

℟We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

℟We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name!

℟We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

For the Lord is good; his mercy endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

℟We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Sequence (Optional)

At the cross her station keeping,

Stood the mournful Mother weeping,

Close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,

All his bitter anguish bearing,

Now at length the sword had passed.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed

Was that Mother highly blessed

Of the sole begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs,

She beneath beholds the pangs

Of her dying, glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,

'Whelmed in miseries so deep,

Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain

From partaking in her pain,

In that mother's pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,

She beheld her tender Child,

All with bloody scourges rent.

For the sins of his own nation

Saw him hang in desolation

Till his spirit forth he sent.

O sweet Mother!  font of love,

Touch my spirit from above,

Make my heart with yours accord.

Make me feel as you have felt;

Make my soul to glow and melt

With the love of Christ, my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,

In my heart each wound renew

Of my Savior crucified.

Let me share with you his pain,

Who for all our sins was slain,

Who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with you,

Mourning him who mourned for me,

All the days that I may live.

By the cross with you to stay,

There with you to weep and pray,

Is all I ask of you to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!

Listen to my fond request:

Let me share your grief divine.

Let me to my latest breath,

In my body bear the death

Of that dying Son of yours.

Wounded with his every wound,

Steep my soul till it has swooned

In his very Blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,

Lest in flames I burn and die,

In his awful judgment day.

Christ, when you shall call me hence,

Be your Mother my defense,

Be your cross my victory.

While my body here decays,

May my soul your goodness praise,

Safe in heaven eternally.

Amen.  (Alleluia)

Alleluia

℟Alleluia!

Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary; without dying you won the Martyr’s crown beneath the Cross of the Lord.

℟Alleluia!

GospelJohn 19:25-27

So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife Clopas, and Mary Mag’dalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Alternate GospelLuke 2:33-35

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”