October 19
St Peter of Alcantara, Confessor
Monday after the 21st Sunday after Pentecost
Today, according to the traditional (1962) Roman calendar, is the feast of St. Peter of Alcantara, Confessor. Born in Spain at the close of the 15th century, Peter entered the Franciscan Order and quickly distinguished himself by his zeal for poverty, rigorous asceticism, and profound humility. Renowned for his life of penance, he championed a return to the strict observance of Franciscan poverty and simplicity at a time when the religious orders were facing many challenges of laxity and worldliness. His reforms contributed significantly to a spiritual renewal among the Franciscans and other religious in Spain.
Peter served as a trusted advisor to great saints like St. Teresa of Ávila, supporting her efforts at the Carmelite reform and encouraging her in her mystical path. His devotion to prayer and constant mortification, coupled with gentle charity, reflected a deep interior life governed by love for Christ and the imitation of His Passion. Peter of Alcantara's writings, particularly on mental prayer, continue to inspire those seeking to deepen their spiritual lives.
Canonized in the 17th century, the Church remembers him as a shining light of penance, humility, and fidelity to the Gospel spirit. The 1962 (Vetus Ordo) calendar assigns his feast to October 19, giving the faithful a model of contemplative holiness and practical reform—a reminder of how personal sanctification can revitalize the whole Church. His commemoration as a Confessor, rather than a Martyr, emphasizes his witness through holiness of life rather than through shedding of blood, and his memorial at the III classis level reflects the traditional estimation of his widespread influence and example among the faithful.
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Questions about St Peter of Alcantara, Confessor (Vetus Ordo Missae)
Local variations
- Canada — St Paul of the Cross, priest
The liturgical day
IntroitPs 91:13-14
Latin
Ps 91:13-14
Iustus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur: plantátus in domo Dómini: in átriis domus Dei nostri.
Ps 91:2
Bonum est confitéri Dómino: et psállere nómini tuo, Altíssime.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Iustus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur: plantátus in domo Dómini: in átriis domus Dei nostri.
English
Ps 91:13-14
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow: planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
Ps 91:2
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to Your name, Most High.
℣. 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.
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow: planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
Collect
Latin
Deus, qui beátum Petrum Confessórem tuum admirábilis pœniténtiæ et altíssimæ contemplatiónis múnere illustráre dignátus es: da nobis, quǽsumus; ut, eius suffragántibus méritis, carne mortificáti, facílius cœléstia capiámus.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
O God, Who graciously made blessed Peter, Your Confessor, glorious by the gift of remarkable penance and sublime contemplation, grant, we beseech You, that, by the merit of his prayers, we may the more easily understand the things of heaven by curbing our passions.
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.
LessonPhilipp 3:7-12
Latin
Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Philippénses
Philipp 3:7-12
Fratres: Quæ mihi fuérunt lucra, hæc arbitrátus sum propter Christum defriménta. Verúmtamen exístimo ómnia detriméntum esse propter eminéntem sciéntiam Iesu Christi, Dómini mei: propter quem ómnia detriméntum feci et árbitror ut stércora, ut Christum lucrifáciam et invéniar in illo, non habens meam iustítiam, quæ ex lege est, sed illam, quæ ex fide est Christi Iesu: quæ ex Deo est iustítia in fide, ad cognoscéndum illum, et virtútem resurrectiónis eius, et societátem passiónum illíus: configurátus morti eius: si quo modo occúrram ad resurrectiónem, quæ est ex mórtuis: non quod iam accéperim aut iam perféctus sim: sequor autem, si quo modo comprehéndam, in quo et comprehénsus sum a Christo Iesu.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Philippians
Phil 3:7-12
Brethren: The things that were gain to me, these, for the sake of Christ, I have counted loss. Nay more, I count everything loss because of the excelling knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I count them as dung that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a justice of my own, which is from the Law, but that which is from faith in Christ, the justice from God based upon faith; so that I may know Him and the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings: become like to Him in death, in the hope that somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this, or already have been made perfect, but I press on hoping that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualPs 36:30-31
Latin
Ps 36:30-31
Os iusti meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua eius loquétur iudícium.
℣. Lex Dei eius in corde ipsíus: et non supplantabúntur gressus eius. Allelúia, allelúia.
Ps 111:1
Beátus vir, qui timet Dóminum: in mandátis eius cupit nimis. Allelúia.
English
Ps 36:30-31
The mouth of the just tells of wisdom, and his tongue utters what is right.
℣. The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps do not falter. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 111:1
Happy the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commands. Alleluia.
GospelLuc 12:32-34
Latin
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Luc 12:32-34
In illo témpore: Dixit Iesus discípulis suis: Nolíte timére, pusíllus grex, quia complácuit Patri vestro dare vobis regnum. Véndite quæ possidétis, et date eleemósynam. Fácite vobis sácculos, qui non veteráscunt, thesáurum non deficiéntem in cœlis: quo fur non apprópiat, neque tínea corrúmpit. Ubi enim thesáurus vester est, ibi et cor vestrum erit.
English
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 12:32-34
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, Do not be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that do not grow old, a treasure unfailing in heaven, where neither thief draws near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
OffertoryPs 20:2-3
Latin
Ps 20:2-3
In virtúte tua, Dómine, lætábitur iustus, et super salutáre tuum exsultábit veheménter: desidérium ánimæ eius tribuísti ei.
English
Ps 20:2-3
O Lord, in Your strength the just man is glad; in Your victory how greatly he rejoices! You have granted him his heart’s desire.
Secret
Latin
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
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.
CommunionMatt 19:28-29
Latin
Matt 19:28-29
Amen, dico vobis: quod vos, qui reliquístis ómnia et secúti estis me, céntuplum accipiétis, et vitam ætérnam possidébitis.
English
Matt 19:28-29
Amen I say to you that you, who have left all things and followed Me, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.
Post Communion
Latin
Quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, qui cœléstia aliménta percépimus, intercedénte beáto Petro Confessóre tuo, per hæc contra ómnia advérsa muniámur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
We pray You, almighty God, that we who have received heavenly nourishment may thereby, through the intercession of blessed Peter, Your Confessor, be sustained against all harm and danger.
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