October 18
21st Sunday after Pentecost
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Commemoration of Saint Luke the Evangelist
Today, according to the traditional 1962 Roman calendar (Vetus Ordo Missae), is observed as the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost, marked as a Sunday of the II class and celebrated with green vestments to signify hope and spiritual growth. This Sunday falls within the latter portion of the long season after Pentecost, a liturgical period that invites the faithful to contemplate the fruits of the Holy Spirit and to persevere in living out the teachings of Christ in daily life. The Sundays after Pentecost are not centered on any one saint or historical event but rather provide ongoing catechesis on Christian virtue, pastoral exhortation, and prayer as the Church journeys toward the end of the liturgical year. The readings and prayers of this Sunday, while not specified here, traditionally guide the faithful to reflect on forgiveness, patience amidst trials, and a deeper trust in God’s providence. The traditional Roman calendar maintains these numbered Sundays as vital moments of spiritual formation, especially in the absence of major feasts, to deepen the spiritual life of Catholics and unify the Church in common prayer. Thus, the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost serves as a weekly anchor, fostering perseverance and fidelity until the arrival of the final Sundays marking the conclusion of the Church’s cycle of grace.
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Questions about 21st Sunday after Pentecost (Vetus Ordo Missae)
The liturgical day
IntroitPs 118:1
Latin
Esth 13:9; 13:10-11
In voluntáte tua, Dómine, univérsa sunt pósita, et non est, qui possit resístere voluntáti tuæ: tu enim fecísti ómnia, cœlum et terram et univérsa, quæ cœli ámbitu continéntur: Dominus universórum tu es
Ps 118:1
Beáti immaculáti in via: qui ámbulant in lege Dómini.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
In voluntáte tua, Dómine, univérsa sunt pósita, et non est, qui possit resístere voluntáti tuæ: tu enim fecísti ómnia, cœlum et terram et univérsa, quæ cœli ámbitu continéntur: Dominus universórum tu es.
English
Esth 13:9-11
In Your will are all things, O Lord, and there is none that can resist Your will; for You have made all things, heaven and earth, and all things that are under the cope of heaven. You are Lord of all.
Ps 118:1
Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
In Your will are all things, O Lord, and there is none that can resist Your will; for You have made all things, heaven and earth, and all things that are under the cope of heaven. You are Lord of all.
Collect
Latin
Famíliam tuam, quǽsumus, Dómine, contínua pietáte custódi: ut a cunctis adversitátibus, te protegénte, sit líbera, et in bonis áctibus tuo nómini sit devóta.
Orémus.
Commemoratio S. Lucæ Evangelistæ
Intervéniat pro nobis, quǽsumus, Dómine, sanctus tuus Lucas Evangélista: qui crucis mortificatiónem iúgiter in suo córpore, pro tui nóminis honóre, portávit.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Guard Your household, we beseech You, O Lord, with unceasing care, that under Your protection it may be free from all harm and serve You by good deeds.
Let us pray.
Commemoration St. Luke the Evangelist
O Lord, we beseech You, that Luke, Your holy Evangelist, who for the honor of Your name bore continually in his body the suffering of the cross, may intercede in our behalf.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
LessonEph 6:10-17
Latin
Lectio Epistolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Ephésios
Ephes 6:10-17
Fratres: Confortámini in Dómino et in poténtia virtútis eius. Indúite vos armatúram Dei, ut póssitis stare advérsus insídias diáboli. Quóniam non est nobis colluctátio advérsus carnem et sánguinem: sed advérsus príncipes et potestátes, advérsus mundi rectóres tenebrárum harum, contra spirituália nequítiæ, in cœléstibus. Proptérea accípite armatúram Dei, ut póssitis resístere in die malo et in ómnibus perfécti stare. State ergo succíncti lumbos vestros in veritáte, et indúti lorícam iustítiæ, et calceáti pedes in præparatióne Evangélii pacis: in ómnibus suméntes scutum fídei, in quo póssitis ómnia tela nequíssimi ígnea exstínguere: et gáleam salútis assúmite: et gládium spíritus, quod est verbum Dei.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians
Eph 6:10-17
Brethren: Be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of His power. Put on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the Principalities and the Powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness on high. Therefore, take up the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and stand in all things perfect. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breast-plate of justice, and having your feet shod with the readiness of the Gospel of peace, in all things taking up the shield of faith, with which you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, that is, the word of God.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualPs 89:1-2
Latin
Ps 89:1-2
Dómine, refúgium factus es nobis, a generatióne et progénie.
℣. Priúsquam montes fíerent aut formarétur terra et orbis: a sǽculo et usque in sǽculum tu es, Deus.
Allelúia, allelúia.
Ps 113:1
In éxitu Israël de Ægýpto, domus Iacob de pópulo bárbaro. Allelúia.
English
Ps 89:1-2
O Lord, You have been our refuge through all generations.
℣. Before the mountains were begotten and the earth and the world were brought forth, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 113:1
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a barbarous people. Alleluia.
GospelMatt 18:23-35
Latin
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Matt 18:23-35
In illo témpore: Dixit Iesus discípulis suis parábolam hanc: Assimilátum est regnum cœlórum hómini regi, qui vóluit ratiónem pónere cum servis suis. Et cum cœpísset ratiónem pónere, oblátus est ei unus, qui debébat ei decem mília talénta. Cum autem non habéret, unde rédderet, iussit eum dóminus eius venúmdari et uxórem eius et fílios et ómnia, quæ habébat, et reddi. Prócidens autem servus ille, orábat eum, dicens: Patiéntiam habe in me, et ómnia reddam tibi. Misértus autem dóminus servi illíus, dimísit eum et débitum dimísit ei. Egréssus autem servus ille, invénit unum de consérvis suis, qui debébat ei centum denários: et tenens suffocábat eum, dicens: Redde, quod debes. Et prócidens consérvus eius, rogábat eum, dicens: Patiéntiam habe in me, et ómnia reddam tibi. Ille autem nóluit: sed ábiit, et misit eum in cárcerem, donec rédderet débitum. Vidéntes autem consérvi eius, quæ fiébant, contristáti sunt valde: et venérunt et narravérunt dómino suo ómnia, quæ facta fúerant. Tunc vocávit illum dóminus suus: et ait illi: Serve nequam, omne débitum dimísi tibi, quóniam rogásti me: nonne ergo opórtuit et te miseréri consérvi tui, sicut et ego tui misértus sum? Et irátus dóminus eius, trádidit eum tortóribus, quoadúsque rédderet univérsum débitum. Sic et Pater meus cœléstis fáciet vobis, si non remiséritis unusquísque fratri suo de córdibus vestris.
English
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 18:23-35
At that time, Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who desired to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun the settlement, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And as he had no means of paying, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. But the servant fell down and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all!’ And moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt. But as that servant went out, he met one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denarii and he laid hold of him, and throttled him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ His fellow-servant therefore fell down and began to entreat him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all.’ But he would not; but went away and cast him into prison until he should pay what was due. His fellow-servants therefore, seeing what had happened, were very much saddened, and they went and informed their master of what had taken place. Then his master called him, and said to him, ‘Wicked servant! I forgave you all the debt, because you entreated me. Should not you also have had pity on your fellow-servant, even as I had pity on you?’ And his master, being angry, handed him over to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So also My heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not each forgive your brothers from your hearts.
OffertoryJob 1
Latin
Iob 1.1
Vir erat in terra Hus, nómine Iob: simplex et rectus ac timens Deum: quem Satan pétiit ut tentáret: et data est ei potéstas a Dómino in facultátes et in carnem eius: perdidítque omnem substántiam ipsíus et fílios: carnem quoque eius gravi úlcere vulnerávit.
English
Job 1.1
There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, simple, and upright, and fearing God, whom Satan besought that he might tempt: and power was given him from the Lord over his possessions and his flesh; and he destroyed all his substance and his children, and wounded his flesh also with a grievous ulcer.
Secret
Latin
Commemoratio S. Lucæ Evangelistæ
Donis cœléstibus da nobis, quǽsumus, Dómine, líbera tibi mente servíre: ut múnera quæ deférimus, interveniénte beáto Evangelísta tuo Luca, et medélam nobis operéntur et glóriam.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Commemoration St. Luke the Evangelist
By Your heavenly gifts, grant us, O Lord, we pray, to serve You with a free mind, so that the offerings we present, may, by the intercession of blessed Luke, Your Evangelist, lead us to heavenly glory.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
CommunionPs 118:81
Latin
Ps 118:81; 118:84; 118:86
In salutári tuo ánima mea, et in verbum tuum sperávi: quando fácies de persequéntibus me iudícium? iníqui persecúti sunt me, ádiuva me, Dómine, Deus meus.
English
Ps 118:81; 118:84; 118:86
My soul pines for Your salvation; I hope in Your word. When will You do judgment on my persecutors? The wicked persecuted me wrongfully; help me, O Lord my God!
Post Communion
Latin
Immortalitátis alimóniam consecúti, quǽsumus, Dómine: ut, quod ore percépimus, pura mente sectémur.
Orémus.
Commemoratio S. Lucæ Evangelistæ
Præsta, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, quod de sancto altári tuo accépimus, précibus beáti Evangelístæ tui Lucæ, sanctíficet ánimas nostras, per quod tuti esse possímus.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
We who have eaten the food of eternal life beseech You, O Lord, that what we take by mouth, we may strive after with pure minds.
Let us pray.
Commemoration St. Luke the Evangelist
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that what we have received from Your holy altar may, by the prayers of Your blessed Evangelist, Luke, make our souls holy and thus keep us safe.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium