January 12 - Blessed Giovanni Merlini
Memorial
Giovanni Merlini (28 August 1795 - 12 January 1873) was an Italian Roman Catholic priest and a incorporated member in the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Merlini was a close friend of Saint Gaspar del Bufalo who founded the order and was also a close friend to Pope Pius IX who provided assistance in helping the order spread for its activities. He also served as the third Moderator General for the order from 1847 until his death. He was also a noted spiritual director and provided spiritual counsel to Saint Maria de Mattias as she went establishing the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.
He was beatified on January 12, 2025 in Rome, and his memorial is celebrated each year on January 12.
January 12
Memorial
Blessed Giovanni Merlini, Priest
(From the Common of Pastors: Missionaries)
Collect
O God, by whose untold mercy
blessed Giovanni Merlini preached the good news
of the unfathomable riches of Christ,
grant that through his intercession
we may grow in knowledge of you
and, bearing fruit in every good work,
faithfully walk in your presence,
in accord with the truth of the Gospel.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Prayer Over the Gifts
As we celebrate the memory of blessed Giovanni Merlini,
we pray, O Lord, that you may pour out
your blessings from heaven
on these offerings we have made to you,
so that in partaking of them
we may be without fault
and be replenished with heavenly food.
Through Christ our Lord.
Preface
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
For, as on the festival of Blessed Giovanni Merlini
you bid your Church rejoice,
so, too, you strengthen her by the example of his holy life,
teach her by his words of preaching,
and keep her safe in answer to his prayers.
And so, with the company of Angels and Saints,
we sing the hymn of your praise,
as without end we acclaim:
Holy, holy, holy…
Prayer after Communion
May your holy gifts which we have received
fill us with life, O Lord,
so that we, who rejoice in commemorating blessed Giovanni Merlini,
may also profit from his example of apostolic virtue.
Through Christ our Lord.
January 12
Memorial
Blessed Giovanni Merlini, Priest
First Reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians:
The message of the cross is foolishness
to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the learning of the learned I will set aside.”
Where is the wise one?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?
For since in the wisdom of God
the world did not come to know God through wisdom,
it was the will of God
through the foolishness of the proclamation
to save those who have faith.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we proclaim Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord to all peoples.
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord to all peoples.
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name.
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord to all peoples.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord to all peoples.
Give the Lord, you families of nations,
give to the Lord glory and praise;
give to the Lord the glory due his name.
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord to all peoples.
Say among the nations: the Lord is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord to all peoples.
Gospel
Luke 22:24-30
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke:
An argument broke out among the disciples
about which of them should be regarded as the greatest.
Jesus said to them,
“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them
and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors’;
but among you it shall not be so.
Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest,
and the leader as the servant.
For who is greater:
the one seated at table or the one who serves?
Is it not the one seated at table?
I am among you as the one who serves.
It is you who have stood by me in my trials;
and I confer a kingdom on you,
just as my Father has conferred one on me,
that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom;
and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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