COLLECT
God of our Fathers, who brought the Martyr Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross to know your crucified Son and to imitate him even until death, grant, through her intercession, that the whole human race may acknowledge Christ as its Savior, and through him come to behold you for eternity. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FIRST READING Hos 2: 16b.17b.21-22
I will lead her into the desert
A reading from the Book of the prophet Hosea.
Thus says the LORD: I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart. She shall respond there as in the days of her youth, when she came up from the land of Egypt. I will espouse you to me forever; I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the LORD.
The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 45: 11-12. 14-17
R. Listen to me daughter; see and bend your ear.
Listen, my daughter, and understand; pay me careful heed.
Forget your people and your father’s house,
that the king might desire your beauty.
He is your lord.
R. Listen to me daughter; see and bend your ear.
All glorious is the king’s daughter as she enters,
her raiment threaded with gold;
In embroidered apparel she is led to the king.
The maids of her train are presented to the king.
R. Listen to me daughter; see and bend your ear.
They are led in with glad and joyous acclaim;
they enter the palace of the king.
The throne of your fathers your sons will have;
you shall make them princes through all the land. R.

ALLELUIA
Alleluja. Alleluja. Alleluja.
This is the wise bridesmaid, whom the Lord found waiting;
at his coming, she went in with him to the wedding feast
Alleluja. Alleluja. Alleluja

GOSPEL Mt 25: 1-13
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Jesus told his disciples this parable, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
The Gospel of the Lord

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
As the ones chosen by God, saints and beloved, let us raise our petitions with trust to our good Father who is in heaven.
1. For all believing in Christ, that they may build mutual brotherhood, remembering that they are members of the One Mystical Body, we pray to the Lord.
2. For those who govern in the world, that they may consolidate freedom and justice among the nations, being aware that all power comes from God, we pray to the Lord.
3. For the volunteers, that they may enjoy the abundance of God’s gifts as they render good service to others, we pray to the Lord.
4. For unrepentant sinners, that they may open themselves to the merciful and forgiving love of Christ who calls them to conversion, we pray to the Lord.
5. For deceased victims of wars, that they may rejoice in the eternal life in the true kingdom of peace, we pray to the Lord.
6. For ourselves, that we, being renewed in our thinking, wouldn’t sadden the Holy Spirit, we pray to the Lord.
God, the source of every blessing † look with love on our prayers which flow to You * deign to hear them in your justice and true holiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Lord, receive our gifts as you accepted the suffering and death of Saint Teresa Benedicta, in whose honor we celebrate this Eucharist.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
O God, who in your holy Martyr Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, wonderfully made known the mystery of the Cross, graciously grant that, drawing strength from this sacrifice, we may cling faithfully to Christ and labor in the Church for the salvation of all. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.