One of the ways to gain a significant insight into a saint or feast day is to meditate on the Mass Readings for that day. So, on this Sacred Heart Friday, I will offer two posts featuring these. First up are the readings for the Mass for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, using the Propers from the Extraordinary Form. Next post will have the Ordinary Rite Readings.

I will let them speak for themselves and you might want to petition the Holy Spirit for the wisdom and understanding to gain from these readings.

Introit (Psalms 32: 11, 19)

O God, who in the Heart of Thy Son,
wounded by our sins, dost mercifully
vouchsafe to bestow upon us the
boundless treasures of Thy love:
grant, we beseech Thee, that we who
now render Him the service of our
devotion and piety, may also fulfill our
duty of worthy satisfaction. Through
the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our
Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God,
forever and ever.

Collect

O God, who in the Heart of Thy Son,
wounded by our sins, dost mercifully
vouchsafe to bestow upon us the
boundless treasures of Thy love:
grant, we beseech Thee, that we who
now render Him the service of our
devotion and piety, may also fulfill our
duty of worthy satisfaction. Through
the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our
Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God,
forever and ever.

Epistle (Ephesians 3: 8-19)

Brethren, To me, the least of all the
Saints, is given this grace, to preach
among the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ: and to enlighten all
men, that they may see what is the
dispensation of the mystery which
hath been hidden from eternity in God,
who created all things: that the
manifold wisdom of God may be made
known to the principalities and powers
in heavenly places through the
Church, according to the eternal
purpose which He made in Christ
Jesus our Lord: in whom we have
boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him. For this cause I
bow my knees to the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all
paternity in heaven and earth is
named, that He would grant you
according to the riches of His glory, to
be strengthened by His Spirit with
might unto the inward man, that Christ
may dwell by faith in your hearts: that,
being rooted and grounded in charity,
you may be able to comprehend with
all the Saints, what is the breadth and
length, and height and depth: to know
also the charity of Christ which
surpasseth all knowledge, that you
may be filled unto all the fullness of
God.

Gradual (Psalms 24: 8-9)

The Lord is sweet and righteous:
therefore He will give a law to sinners
in the way. He will guide the mild in
judgment: He will teach the meek His
ways.

Lesser Alleluia (Matthew 11: 29)

Alleluia, alleluia. Take my yoke upon
you and learn from Me, because I am
meek and humble of Heart: and you
shall find rest to your souls. Alleluia.

Gospel (John 19: 31-37)

At that time: The Jews (because it was
the Parasceve), that the bodies might
not remain upon the cross on the
Sabbath day (for that was a great
Sabbath day) besought Pilate that
their legs might be broken, and that
they might be taken away. The
soldiers therefore came: and they
broke the legs of the first, and of the
other that was crucified with Him. But
after they were come to Jesus, when
they saw that He was already dead
they did not break His legs. But one
of the soldiers with a spear opened
His side, and immediately there came
out blood and water. And he that saw
it hath given testimony: and his testimony is true. And he knoweth
that he saith true, that you may
believe. For these things were done
that the Scripture might be fulfilled:
You shall not break a bone of Him.
And again another Scripture saith:
They shall look on Him whom they
pierced.

Offertory (Psalms 68: 21)

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.

Secret

Have regard, we beseech Thee, O
Lord, to the inexpressible love of the
Heart of Thy beloved Son: so that
what we offer may be a gift acceptable
to Thee, and an expiation for our
offenses. Through the same Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who lives
and reigns with Thee in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Preface of the Sacred Heart

It is truly meet and just, right and for
our salvation, that we should at all
times and in all places give thanks to
Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty,
eternal God: Whose will it was that
Thine only-begotten Son, while
hanging on the Cross, should be
pierced by the soldier’s lance: that the
Heart thus opened should, as from a
well of divine bounty, pour over us
streams of mercy and of grace: and
that the Heart which never ceased to
burn with love for us, should be for the
devout a haven of rest and for the
penitent an open refuge of salvation.
And therefore with Angels and
Archangels, with Thrones and
Dominations, and with all the hosts of
the heavenly army, we sing a hymn
to Thy glory, evermore saying:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Communion Prayer (John 19: 34)

One of the soldiers with a spear
opened His side, and immediately
there came out blood and water.

Postcommunion Prayer

May Thy holy Mysteries, O Lord
Jesus, impart to us divine fervor:
wherein we may taste the sweetness
of Thy most loving Heart, and learn to
despise what is earthly and love what
is heavenly: Who lives and reigns
with God the Father in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Source: The Latin Mass Helper

I hope this was all beneficial to you. Really study these readings and gain some insight into what the Sacred Heart really signifies.

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