Our Lady of Refuge

All Holy Popes

Pope Benedict XVI wears beautiful Cope for Vespers

Mass of the preceding Sunday
(Green Vestments)

OUR LADY OF REFUGE
Co-Patronage of the
Diocese of San Diego

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / WHITE

Mass of THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, except

COLLECT
O Almighty and merciful God, who hast made the blessed Mary ever Virgin the refuge and the help of sinners, grant unto us that by her protection, all our sins having been forgiven, we may obtain the happy fulfillment of the purposes of Thy mercy. Through our Lord . . .

COMMEMORATION OF ALL HOLY POPES
Dioceses of Brooklyn & Los Angeles 

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / WHITE

INTROIT Ps. 49: 5-7
Gather ye together His saints to Him, who have set His Covenant before sacrifices. And the heavens shall declare His justice, because I am thy God.
Ps. 49:1. The God of gods, the Lord, hath spoken and hath called the earth.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, Who bountifully providest for Thy people, and lovingly rulest over them, do Thou, through the interceding merits of the Chief Bishops of Thy Church, give the Spirit of Wisdom to those unto whom Thou hast given the control of its discipline, that the good advance of their holy flocks may be to the Shepherds a source of everlasting joy. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Heb. 13:7-17
Remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today: and the same for ever. Be not led away with various and strange doctrines. For it is best that the heart be established with grace, not with meats: which have not profited those that walk in them. We have an altar whereof they have no power to eat who serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holies by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For, we have not here a lasting city: but we seek one that is to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise always to God, that is to say, the fruit of lips confessing to his name. And do not forget to do good and to impart: for by such sacrifices God's favour is obtained. Obey your prelates and be subject to them. For they watch as being to render an account of your souls: that they may do this with joy and not with grief. For this is not expedient for you. 

GRADUAL Ps. 8:6, 7
Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor. And hast set him over the works of Thy hands, O Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia! This is the priest whom the Lord hath crowned. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 16:13-19
At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Cesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: "Whom do men say that the Son of man is?" But they said: "Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Jesus saith to them:"But whom do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said: "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." 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. 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.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 on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 88:21-22
I have found David My servant, with My holy oil I have anointed him, for My hand shall help him, and Mine arm shall strengthen him.

SECRET
May the spotless sacrifice of Thine only-begotten Son which we offer unto Thee, O God, the Father Almighty, in honor of the holy Pontiffs, help us to obtain the spiritual remedy. Through our Lord . . .

Preface of the Apostles

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 88:25
My truth and My mercy shall be with him; and in My name shall his horn be exalted.

POSTCOMMUNION
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that Thy faithful people may ever find joy in the veneration of Thy holy Pontiffs, and be protected by their unceasing prayer. Through our Lord . . .

SAINT LEO II
Pope and Confessor

SIMPLE / WHITE
Leo II, a native of Sicily, was pope only for 18 months, dying on July 3, 683. In a period when heresy was widespread, Pope Leo used his apostolic authority fearlessly to defend and preserve the integrity of Catholic doctrine. He was zealous as a teacher and preacher, eloquent in spreading the word of God, musically gifted, a lover of poverty, and continually concerned for the needy and those suffering in body or soul.

Mass of a POPE

COLLECT
O Eternal Shepherd, who appointed blessed Leo II, shepherd of the whole Church, let the prayers of this supreme pontiff move You to look with favor upon Your flock and to keep it under Your continual protection. Through our Lord . . .

THE VISITATION OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

SAINTS PROCESSUS AND MARTINIAN
Martyrs

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / WHITE
The Church keeps this day for a memorial of the wonderful humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Having learned from the angel Gabriel that her aging cousin Elizabeth was with child, the Virgin Mother of God hastened to visit the mother of the Baptist. Elizabeth saw Mary coming to her and, filled with the Holy Spirit, she cried out, saying, "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!" Mary, hearing herself acclaimed, answered in the exultant song we call the Magnificat, praising God with all the powers of her pure soul and giving to Him alone the glory.

INTROIT
Hail, holy Mother, who brought forth the king who rules heaven and earth forever and ever!
Ps. 44:2. My heart overflows with good tidings; I sing my song to the king.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
Grant us the gift of Your heavenly peace, O Lord. Let the solemn feast of the blessed Virgin's Visitation establish us more securely in that peace, just as the birth of Her Child heralded the beginning of our salvation. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS PROCESSUS AND MARTINIAN
According to tradition, these martyrs converted by St. Peter, were jailers of the Mamertine prison in Rome.

The glorious profession of faith of Your holy martyrs Processus and Martinian overshadows and protects us. May we profit by their example and rejoice in the assistance of their prayers. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Cant. 2:8-14 [Song.]
Behold he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills. My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart. Behold he standeth behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the lattices. Behold my beloved speaketh to me: "Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come. For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come: the voice of the turtle is heard in our land: The fig tree hath put forth her green figs: the vines in flower yield their sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come: My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the wall, shew me thy face, let thy voice sound in my ears: for thy voice is sweet, and thy face comely."

GRADUAL
You are Blessed and venerable, O Virgin Mary, for without lost of your virginity you became the Mother of our Saviour.
V. O Virgin Mother of God, He whom the whole world cannot contain enclosed Himself in your womb and was made man.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.
Happy are you indeed, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, for out of you arose the sun of justice, Christ our Lord. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 1:39-47
At that time, Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she cried out with a loud voice and said: "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord." And Mary said: "My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who bore the Creator of all things. You brought forth your own Creator, and yet you remain a virgin forever.

SECRET 
Rescue us, O Lord, through the Incarnation of Your Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who by His birth did not impair the virgin purity of His Mother, but rather sanctified it. May He free us from our sins and make us acceptable to You on this feast of Mary's Visitation; who lives and rules with You . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS PROCESSUS AND MARTINIAN
Accept our prayers and gifts, O Lord. May the intercession of Your saints make these offerings worthy of You. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.

POSTCOMMUNION 
We have partaken of Your Sacrament, O Lord, with which we yearly celebrate this feast. May it help us in this life and in the life to come. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS PROCESSUS AND MARTINIAN
We are refreshed by the Sacrifice of Your Sacred Body and Precious Blood, O Lord our God. May our devout celebration of these divine mysteries insure our salvation. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / RED
This feast was instituted only in 1849, but the devotion is as old as Christianity. The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the Sacraments were brought forth through His Blood. The special beauty of this feast is its centering of our attention directly on the Blood of Christ, a short cut to the heart of revelation. In these days we need to think of the Passion of Christ; we do not know how God is going to test us. Devotion to the Precious Blood is a fundamental, sane approach to God. It is hard and painful; it will help us to steel our own hearts against weakness.

INTROIT Apoc. 5:9-10
You have redeemed us, O Lord, with Thy Blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us for our God a kingdom.
Ps. 88:2. The mercies of the Lord I will sing forever; my mouth shall proclaim Your truth through all generations.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Almighty and Eternal God, You willed that the world should be redeemed and the sins of man atoned for by the shedding of the Blood of Your Only-Begotten Son. May we on this solemn feast pay fitting honor to the Precious Blood that was the price of our salvation; may that Blood defend us against the evils of our present life so that we may enjoy its everlasting fruit in heaven. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Heb. 9:11-15
Brethren: But Christ, being come an high Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hand, that is, not of this creation: Neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by his own blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer, being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost offered himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God? And therefore he is the mediator of the new testament: that by means of his death for the redemption of those transgressions which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GRADUAL I John 5:5, 7-8
This is He who came in water and in blood, Jesus Christ: not in the water only, but in the water and in the blood.
V. There are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these Three are One. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the Blood; and these three are one.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. John 5:9
If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 19:30-35
At that time, Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: "It is consummated." And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost. Then the Jews (because it was the parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that was a great sabbath day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken: and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came: and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him.
But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side: and immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw it hath given testimony: and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true: that you also may believe.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON I Cor. 10:16
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not the sharing of the Blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not the partaking of the Body of the Lord?

SECRET 
May these divine mysteries draw us closer to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant. We renew upon Your altar, O Lord of Hosts, the sprinkling of the Blood of Christ which is far more efficacious than the sacrifice offered by Abel. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Heb. 9:28
Christ was offered once to take away the sins of many; the second time with no part in sinHe will appear unto the salvation of those who await Him.

POSTCOMMUNION 
We have been admitted to Your sacred banquet, O Lord, and have joyously refreshed ourselves with the waters from the fountain of our Saviour. May His Blood spring up within us as a saving water for eternal life; who lives and rules with You . . .

El Greco's Saint Paul & Saint Peter 

COMMEMORATION OF SAINT PAUL
Apostle

GREATER DOUBLE / RED
After his conversion and baptism, Paul embarked on great missionary journeys. He preached in the cities of the Mediterranean to the simple and the learned, both in the east and in the west. He offered the Jews the first chance of listening to the Gospel story, but most of them returned his love with bitter hatred. Then Paul gave himself to the Gentiles. Because of the sufferings he endured in winning his converts, the Apostle of the Nations could well say that he was their Father in Christ. In the persecution of Nero, he was condemned to death by beheading.

INTROIT II Tim. 1:12
I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that He is able to guard the trust committed to me against that day, for He is a just judge.
Ps. 138:1-2. O Lord, You have proved me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, You have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of his intercession with You help us who venerate his memory this day. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETER
O God, You have entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Your blessed apostle Peter and have given him the power of bishop to bind or to loose. May his intercession free us from the slavery of sin; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

READING Gal. 1:11-20
Brethren: For I give you to understand that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For neither did I receive it of man: nor did I learn it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion: how that, beyond measure, I persecuted the church of God and wasted it. And I made progress in the Jew's religion above many of my equals in my own nation, being more abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased him who separated me from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles: immediately I condescended not to flesh and blood. Neither went I to Jerusalem, to the apostles who were before me: but I went into Arabia, and again I returned to Damascus. Then, after three years, I went to Jerusalem to see Peter: and I tarried with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles I saw none, saving James the brother of the Lord. Now the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I lie not.

GRADUAL Gal. 2:8-9; I Cor. 15:10
He who worked in Peter for the apostleship worked in me among the Gentiles, and they recognized the grace of God that was given to me.
V. The grace of God in me has not been fruitless, but His grace remains in me always.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.
O holy apostle Paul, preacher of truth and teacher of the nations, intercede for us. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 10:16-22
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men. For they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before governors, and before kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles: But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what to speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak: For it is not you that speak, but the spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. The brother also shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the son; and the children shall rise up against their parents, and shall put them to death. And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 138:17
Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.

SECRET 
O Lord, sanctify the offerings of Your people through the intercession of the blessed apostle Paul. The Sacrifice we offer is already acceptable to You because You instituted it; may it become even more pleasing to You through the prayers of Your saint. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETER
O Lord, we offer You the prayers and sacrifice of Your Church through the intercession of Your apostle Peter. May this Mass which we celebrate in his honor win pardon for us. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 19:28, 29
Amen I say to you that you who have left all and followed Me, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.

POSTCOMMUNION 
We who have received Your Sacrament, O Lord, look hopefully for the prayers of Your blessed Paul. May the Sacred Rite that we have celebrated in his honor bring us healing for our own sinfulness. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PETER
May our offering bring us happiness, O Lord. We praise You for the wondrous things You accomplished through Your apostle Peter and ask for forgiveness through his intercession. Through our Lord . . .

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL
Apostles

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / RED
Simon, a fisherman of Bethsaida, became a disciple of St. John the Baptist. Then his elder brother, Andrew, led him to Jesus, who gave him the name of Peter (Rock), making him the head of the Christian Church.
After Pentecost, the precedence of Peter in the Church was never disputed. He ruled with the authority given him by the Holy Spirit, but his rule was one of love. He evangelized various provinces of Asia Minor, and in A.D. 42 he fixed his see in Rome. From then until now each successor of St. Peter has been in turn, the Bishop of Rome. During the persecution of the Church by Nero, the Vicar of Christ was crucified, hanging head downward on his cross. His martyrdom took place on June 29, in the year 67, on the same day as that of St. Paul.

INTROIT Acts 12:11
Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from all that the Jewish people were expecting.
Ps. 138:1-2. O Lord, You have proved me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, this day is sacred because of the martyrdom of Your apostles Peter and Paul. May Your Church follow the teachings of these two saints in every respect, for from them she received the faith in the beginning. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Acts 12: 1-11
In those days, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John, With the sword. And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes. And when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers, to be kept, intending, after the pasch, to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the room. And he, striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: "Arise quickly." And the chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him: "Gird thyself and put on thy sandals." And he did so. And he said to him: "Cast thy garment about thee and follow me," And going out, he followed him. And he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he saw a vision. And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city which of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street. And immediately the angel departed from him. And Peter coming to himself, said: "Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent his angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews."

GRADUAL Ps. 44:17-18
You shall make them prices through all the land; they shall remember Your name, O Lord.
V. To take the place of your fathers, sons shall be born to you; therefore peoples shall praise you.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Matt. 16:18
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 16:13-19
At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Cesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: "Whom do men say that the Son of man is?" But they said: "Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Jesus saith to them:"But whom do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said: "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." 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. 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.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 on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 44:17-18
You shall make them princes throughout the land; they shall remember Your name, O Lord, in every generation and age.

SECRET 
May Your blessed apostles join their prayers to the sacrifice we offer to Your name, O Lord, so that it may win Your pardon and protection for us. Through our Lord . . .


COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 16:18
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.

POSTCOMMUNION 
You have nourished us with the Bread of Heaven, O Lord. Shield us now against all dangers through the prayers of Your apostles. Through our Lord . . .

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SAINT IRENAEUS 

Bishop and Martyr

DOUBLE / GREEN
INTROIT Ps. 26:1, 2
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Mine enemies that have troubled me have themselves been weakened and have fallen.
Ps. 26:3. If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the world may be regulated in its course by Thy governance for our peace, and that Thy Church may with tranquil devotion rejoice. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT IRENAEUS

Born in Asia Minor, Irenaeus (c. 125-c. 202) later migrated to far-distant Gaul, and became bishop of Lyons. Tradition adds that he was a martyr, a victim of the massacre of the Christians of Lyons which occurred in A.D. 202 under Septimus Severus. Irenaeus was the first great ecclesiastical writer of the West, bearing testimony even at that early date to the Primacy of the Roman See.

O God, through Your help the teachings of the blessed confessor bishop Irenaeus overcame heresy and established peace in the Church. Grant us peace in our day and keep Your people steadfast in their holy religion. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Rom. 8:18-23
Brethren: I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us. For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity: not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope. Because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that every creature groaneth and travaileth in pain, even till now. And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit: even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.

GRADUAL Ps. 78:9, 10
Forgive us our sins, O Lord. lest the Gentiles should at any time say, "Where is their God?"
V. Help us, O God, our Savior; and for the honor of Thy Name, O Lord, deliver us.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 9:5
O God, who sittest upon the throne, and judgest justice, be Thou the refuge of the poor in tribulation. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 5:1-11
At that time, when the multitudes pressed upon Jesus to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesareth, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets. And going into one of the ships that was Simon's, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting, he taught the multitudes out of the ship. Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught." 
And Simon answering said to him: "Master, we have laboured all the night and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes: and their net broke. And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking.
Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And so were also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: "Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men." And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 12:4-5
Enlighten mine eyes, that I never sleep in death, lest at any time mine enemy say, "I have prevailed against him."

SECRET
Accept our oblations, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and be appeased by them, and mercifully compel even our rebel wills to turn to Thee. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT IRENAEUS

O God, You will not permit the faithful who believe in You to be shaken by the threat of danger. Accept the prayers and offerings of the people dedicated to You, and mercifully grant Christian nations peace and security against all their enemies. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 17:3
The Lord is my firmament, and my refuge, and my deliverer, my God is my helper.

POSTCOMMUNION
May the Mysteries which we have received, we beseech Thee, O Lord, purify us, and fulfill their purpose by defending us. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT IRENAEUS

O God, You are the author and lover of peace; to know You is to live and to serve You is to rule. Shield Your suppliant people against all attacks, so that we who trust in Your protection may live without fear of any enemy. Through our Lord . . .