Traditional Latin Mass Gospel Readings

27 And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck.
Factum est autem, cum haec diceret : extollens vocem quaedam mulier de turba dixit illi : Beatus venter qui te portavit, et ubera quae suxisti.
 28 But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.
At ille dixit : Quinimmo beati, qui audiunt verbum Dei et custodiunt illud.
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows, called also St Mary Major, was built on the Esquiline at Rome by St Liberius, Pope from 352 to 366. Popular tradition relates that the site was traced out by a miraculous fall of snow on this date, which is that of the Feast of the Church's Dedication.

In the city of Rome there lived a holy nobleman named John. He and his good wife Mary were very devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since they had no children, they asked Our Lady in fervent prayer to let them know what good deeds they should perform with their great fortune. The Blessed Mother answered their prayer in a marvellous way.
On August 5th, when it is very hot in Rome, they both dreamed that she told them to build a church in her honor on the spot they would find covered with snow! John told Pope Liberius went to the spot on the Esquiline Hill where the snow lay, and traced out a plan for the new church, which became the most famous church of Mary in all the world.
This church has been called the Liberian Basilica (after the Pope), and St Mary of the Snow, because of the miracle. After a relic of the crib in which Jesus was born was brought to this church, it was called St Mary of the Crib too. Today, we call it St Mary Major, to show that it is the major church of Our Lady.
Many great Saints, such as St Stanislaus Kostka and St Aloysius, loved to pray in the Church of St. Mary Major. One of the oldest pictures of Our Lady is venerated there. This picture, which people say was painted by St. Luke, was carried from the church in possession by the Pope when a terrible sickness was killing the people of Rome. Everyone begged Mary to stop this plague and their prayers were answered.
Another time, with this picture from the Church of St. Mary Major, the Pope blessed homes that were on fire, and the fire stopped by a miracle. These are just a few of the many wonderful graces the Blessed Mother has granted to those who turn to her with faith and love.
Let us purify our souls well with the Sacrament of Confession. Only in this way can we hope to receive all graces from our Blessed Mother.

35 Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands.
Sint lumbi vestri praecincti, et lucernae ardentes in manibus vestris,
 36 And you yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately.
et vos similes hominibus exspectantibus dominum suum quando revertatur a nuptiis : ut, cum venerit et pulsaverit, confestim aperiant ei.
 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them.
Beati servi illi quos, cum venerit dominus, invenerit vigilantes : amen dico vobis, quod praecinget se, et faciet illos discumbere, et transiens ministrabit illis.
 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
Et si venerit in secunda vigilia, et si in tertia vigilia venerit, et ita invenerit, beati sunt servi illi.
 39 But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open.
Hoc autem scitote, quoniam si sciret paterfamilias, qua hora fur veniret, vigilaret utique, et non sineret perfodi domum suam.
 40 Be you then also ready: for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.
Et vos estote parati : quia qua hora non putatis, Filius hominis veniet.
Dominic Guzman, born in Spain, opposed the errors of the Albigenses. He founded the Order of the Friars Preachers, contributing to devotion to the Rosary, saving the Western Church from heresy and anarchy. He died A.D. 1221.

9 And to some who trusted in themselves as just, and despised others, he spoke also this parable:
Dixit autem et ad quosdam qui in se confidebant tamquam justi, et aspernabantur ceteros, parabolam istam :
 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Duo homines ascenderunt in templum ut orarent : unus pharisaeus et alter publicanus.
 11 The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican.
Pharisaeus stans, haec apud se orabat : Deus, gratias ago tibi, quia non sum sicut ceteri hominum : raptores, injusti, adulteri, velut etiam hic publicanus :
 12 I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess.
jejuno bis in sabbato, decimas do omnium quae possideo.
 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
Et publicanus a longe stans, nolebat nec oculos ad caelum levare : sed percutiebat pectus suum, dicens : Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori.
 14 I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.
Dico vobis, descendit hic justificatus in domum suam ab illo : quia omnis qui se exaltat, humiliabitur, et qui se humiliat, exaltabitur.
Our Lord Jesus stigmatises the pride of the pharisee which makes him put his trust in himself and which always shows itself in his contempt for others. Humility of the publican.

9 And to some who trusted in themselves as just, and despised others, he spoke also this parable:
Dixit autem et ad quosdam qui in se confidebant tamquam justi, et aspernabantur ceteros, parabolam istam :
 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Duo homines ascenderunt in templum ut orarent : unus pharisaeus et alter publicanus.
 11 The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican.
Pharisaeus stans, haec apud se orabat : Deus, gratias ago tibi, quia non sum sicut ceteri hominum : raptores, injusti, adulteri, velut etiam hic publicanus :
 12 I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess.
jejuno bis in sabbato, decimas do omnium quae possideo.
 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
Et publicanus a longe stans, nolebat nec oculos ad caelum levare : sed percutiebat pectus suum, dicens : Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori.
 14 I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.
Dico vobis, descendit hic justificatus in domum suam ab illo : quia omnis qui se exaltat, humiliabitur, et qui se humiliat, exaltabitur.

13 And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?
Venit autem Jesus in partes Caesareae Philippi : et interrogabat discipulos suos, dicens : Quem dicunt homines esse Filium hominis?
 14 But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
At illi dixerunt : Alii Joannem Baptistam, alii autem Eliam, alii vero Jeremiam, aut unum ex prophetis.
 15 Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
Dicit illis Jesus : Vos autem, quem me esse dicitis?
 16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
Respondens Simon Petrus dixit : Tu es Christus, Filius Dei vivi.
 17 And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
Respondens autem Jesus, dixit ei : Beatus es Simon Bar Jona : quia caro et sanguis non revelavit tibi, sed Pater meus, qui in caelis est.
 18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Et ego dico tibi, quia tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam.
 19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.
Et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum. Et quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum et in caelis : et quodcumque solveris super terram, erit solutum et in caelis.

[18] "Thou art Peter": As St. Peter, by divine revelation, here made a solemn profession of his faith of the divinity of Christ; so in recompense of this faith and profession, our Lord here declares to him the dignity to which he is pleased to raise him: viz., that he to whom he had already given the name of Peter, signifying a rock, St. John 1. 42, should be a rock indeed, of invincible strength, for the support of the building of the church; in which building he should be, next to Christ himself, the chief foundation stone, in quality of chief pastor, ruler, and governor; and should have accordingly all fulness of ecclesiastical power, signified by the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
[18] "Upon this rock": The words of Christ to Peter, spoken in the vulgar language of the Jews which our Lord made use of, were the same as if he had said in English, Thou art a Rock, and upon this rock I will build my church. So that, by the plain course of the words, Peter is here declared to be the rock, upon which the church was to be built: Christ himself being both the principal foundation and founder of the same. Where also note, that Christ, by building his house, that is, his church, upon a rock, has thereby secured it against all storms and floods, like the wise builder, [Matt 7:24-25].
[18] "The gates of hell": That is, the powers of darkness, and whatever Satan can do, either by himself, or his agents. For as the church is here likened to a house, or fortress, built on a rock; so the adverse powers are likened to a contrary house or fortress, the gates of which, that is, the whole strength, and all the efforts it can make, will never be able to prevail over the city or church of Christ. By this promise we are fully assured, that neither idolatry, heresy, nor any pernicious error whatsoever shall at any time prevail over the church of Christ.
[19] "Loose upon earth": The loosing the bands of temporal punishments due to sins, is called an indulgence; the power of which is here granted.
The Church venerates on this day in the basilica of St Peter "ad vincula" on Mount Esquiline at Rome, the chains with which the prince of the apostles was fettered.