SAINTS ABDON AND SENNEN, Martyrs; BLESSED EDWARD POWELL, RICHARD FEATHERSTONE and COMPANIONS, (1540 A.D.); BLESSED EVERARD HANSE (1531 A.D.) Martyr

SAINTS ABDON AND SENNEN

Martyrs

BLESSED EDWARD POWELL, RICHARD FEATHERSTONE and
COMPANIONS,

Martyrs

Stained glass from St Edmund's College Ware

[wikipedia.org]
 
BLESSED EVERARD HANSE
Martyr

SIMPLE / RED
These Persian nobles were taken to Rome as captives by Emperor Decius, after his campaign in their country. During those years of persecution, they bore courageous witness to Christ and reverently buried the bodies of the martyrs. Abdon and Sennen were themselves arrested and exposed to wild beasts in the Colosseum, about A.D. 250.

INTROIT Ps. 78:11, 12, 10

Let the sighs of the imprisoned come before You, O Lord. Pay back to our neighbors seven times over into their bosoms, and avenge the shedding of the blood of Your saints.
Ps. 78:1. O God, strangers have come into Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple, they have made Jerusalem desolate as an orchard watchtower.
V. Glory be . . .

GLORIA

COLLECT
O God, Your saints Abdon and Sennen came to their present glory through Your abundant gifts of grace. Grant the forgiveness of sins to all Your servants that they may be delivered from all harm through the merits of Your saints. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BL. EDWARD POWELL & COMPANIONS; BL. EVERARD HANSE
Bl. Richard was chaplain to Queen Katherine and vehemently opposed Henry VIII's attempt to divorce her. He was kept in the Tower six years and was martyred at Smithfield on July 30, 1540, together with Bl. Edward, like himself one of the Queen's counselors in the divorce proceedings.
Blessed Everard Hanse was arrested in London shortly after his return to the English mission and on refusing to take the unlawful oath of royal supremacy was martyred under Queen Elizabeth at Tyburn, on July 30, A.D. 1531.

May the Feast of the blessed Martyrs Edward Powell & Companions, defend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and may their venerable prayer commend us to Thee. 

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that through the intercession of blessed Everard Hanse, Thy Martyr, we may be delivered from all harm to the body and all uncleaness of mind. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE II Cor. 6:4-10
Brethren: But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, In chastity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned, In the word of truth, in the power of God: by the armour of justice on the right hand and on the left: By honour and dishonour: by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true: as unknown and yet known: As dying and behold we live: as chastised and not killed: As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many: as having nothing and possessing all things.

GRADUAL Ex. 15:11, 6
Glorious is God in His saints, marvelous in majesty, worker of wonders.
V. Your right hand, O Lord, is magnificent in power, Your right hand has slain the enemy.

Alleluia, alleluia!V. Sap. 3:1
The souls of the just are in the hands of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 5:1-12
At that time, Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. And opening his mouth he taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart: they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 67:36
God is wonderful in His saints. The God of Israel Himself gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God!

SECRET 
May this Sacrifice, O Lord, which we offer in remembrance of the birthdays of Your saints, free us from the slavery of sin and win for us the gift of Your mercy. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BL. EDWARD POWELL & COMPANIONS; BL. EVERARD HANSE
Stand by us, O Lord, while we commemorate Thy saints and humbly pray, that by their merits these Thy friends may assist us who dare not rely on our own. 

May our offering be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, and may it benefit us by the prayer of him on whose feast it is offered. Through our Lord . . . 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 78:2, 11
They have given the dead bodies of Your servants, O Lord, as food to the birds of the air, and the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. With Your great power, save the sons of those who have been put to death.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may this sacred rite wash away our sins and fulfill our reasonable desires, through the intercession of Your holy martyrs Abdon and Sennen. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of BL. EDWARD POWELL & COMPANIONS; BL. EVERARD HANSE 
Well satisfied with these saving mysteries, O Lord, we beseech Thee that those whose feast we celebrate may aid us by their prayers. 

Refreshed by partaking of Thy sacred Gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, that through the intercession of blessed Everard Hanse, Thy Martyr, we may perceivethe fruits of the rite which we celebrate. Through our Lord . . .

SAINT MARTHA, Virgin; SAINTS FELIX, SIMPLICIUS, FAUSTINUS, AND BEATRICE, Martyrs (4th C.)

     

 

 
Saint Martha

 
Martyrdom of Sts. Simplicius & Faustinus

SAINT MARTHA
Virgin 

SAINTS FELIX, SIMPLICIUS, FAUSTINUS,AND BEATRICE 
Martyrs

  III Class / WHITE
Martha was the active and anxious sister of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, and Mary, the contemplative, whom the Lord said "has chosen the best part." [Luke 10:42]

Introit
Ps 44:8
You love justice and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
Ps 44:2
My heart overflows with a goodly theme; as I sing my ode to the King.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
You love justice and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

GLORIA 

COLLECT
Hear our prayer, O God our Saviour, and let us learn the spirit of true devotion from Your blessed virgin Martha, as we joyfully celebrate her feast.

Commemoration of SAINTS FELIX, SIMPLICIUS, FAUSTINUS, AND BEATRICE
Pope Felix II was martyred in Tuscany, Italy, in the fourth century. The brothers Simplicius and Faustinus and their sister, Beatrice, gave their lives for Christ at Rome, A.D. 303.

O Lord, all Christian nations joyfully unite today to celebrate the feast of your martyrs Felix, Simplicius, Faustinus, and Beatrice. Grant that the faithful may rejoice in it through all eternity and share the triumph of Your saints which they commemorate. Through our Lord . . .

Lesson
Lesson from the second letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
2 Cor. 10:17-18; 11:1-2
Brethren: He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord. For he is not approved who commends himself, but he whom the Lord commends. Would to God that you could bear with a little of my foolishness! Nay, do bear with me! For I am jealous for you with a divine jealousy. For I betrothed you to one spouse, that I might present you a chaste virgin to Christ.

Gradual
Ps 44:5
In your splendor and your beauty ride on triumphant, and reign.
V. In the cause of truth and mercy and for the sake of justice: may your right hand show you wondrous deeds. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 44:15-16
V. Behind her the virgins of her train are brought to the King. They are borne in to You with gladness. Alleluia. 

GOSPEL Luke 10:38-42
At that time, Jesus entered into a certain town: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary. who, sitting also at the Lord's feet, heard his word. But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: "Lord, hast thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? Speak to her therefore, that she help me." And the Lord answering, said to her: "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and art troubled about many things: But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her." 

Offertory
Ps 44:10
The daughters of kings come to meet You; the queen takes her place at Your right hand in gilded clothing, surrounded with variety.

SECRET
Accept this gift, O Lord, from a people dedicated to You. We offer it in honor of Your saints for the help we have received from them when we were in trouble.

Commemoration of SAINTS FELIX, SIMPICIUS, FAUSTINUS, AND BEATRICE
We offer our gifts, O Lord, in memory of Your holy martyrs Felix, Simplicius, Faustinus, and Beatrice, and pray that they may obtain forgiveness and salvation for us. Through our Lord . . .

Communion
Matt 25:4, 6
The five wise virgins took oil in their vessels with the lamps: and at midnight a cry arose, Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go forth to meet Christ our Lord.

 
POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, You have feasted Your family with the Food of Heaven. may we always be refreshed through the intercession of Your saint whose feast we celebrate this day.

Commemoration of SAINTS FELIX, SIMPLICIUS, FAUSTINUS, AND BEATRICE
We ask, Almighty God, that the celebration of this heavenly Sacrifice on the feast of Your martyrs Felix, Simplicius, Faustinus, and Beatrice, may bring us Your merciful pardon. Through our Lord . . .

Saints Nazarius & Celsus Martyrs (68 A.D.); Saints Victor & Innocent, Popes; Saint Samson (565 A.D.) Bishop, Confessor

    

SAINTS NAZARIUS AND CELSUS 
Martyrs

SAINTS VICTOR I AND INNOCENT I 
Popes

[wikipedia.org image]

SAINT SAMSON

Bishop, Confessor

 

SIMPLE / RED 
Nazarius, an ardent Christian of the first century, left his native city of Rome to preach the Faith to pagans in many Italian towns and villages. He took with him on his missionary journeys a young co-apostle by the name of Celsus. Both of these missionary pioneers died for Christ at Milan, about A.D. 68.
Pope Victor I, born in Africa, was martyred under Septimus Severus, A.D. 198. Pope Innocent I was a contemporary of St. Jerome, who urged Christians to keep the faith of Pope Innocent and to "receive no other doctrine, however wise and attractive it may appear." Pope Innocent died A.D. 417.

Mass of SEVERAL MARTYRS, except

Introit
Ps 78:11; 78:12; 78:10
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before You, O Lord; repay our neighbors sevenfold into their bosoms; avenge the shedding of Your servants’ blood.
Ps 78:1
O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple, they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before You, O Lord; repay our neighbors sevenfold into their bosoms; avenge the shedding of Your servants’ blood.  

GLORIA

COLLECT 
Defend us, O Lord, through the blessed martyrdom of Your saints Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent, and may their merits support us in our weakness. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT SAMSON

c 490-c 565. Born in Wales, he became a disciple of St Illtyd at Llantwit Major and then for a time was monk and abbot of the monastery on Caldey Island. He left Caldey and visited Ireland. Then he went to Cornwall and was consecrated bishop by St Dubricius. Finally he crossed to Brittany and spent the rest of his life enlightening that country, basing himself at Dol. He was one of the greatest missionaries of his century.

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the solemn feast of blessed Samson, Thy Confessor and Bishop, may both increase our devotion and advance our salvation. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Wisdom 10:17-20
God rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and conducted them in a wonderful way: and he was to them for a covert by day, and for the light of stars by night: And he brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over through a great water. But their enemies he drowned in the sea, and from the depth of hell he brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the wicked. And they sung to thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with one accord thy victorious hand, O Lord our God.

Gradual
Ex 15:11, 6.
God is glorious in His Saints, wonderful in majesty, a worker of wonders.
V. Your right hand, O Lord, is magnificent in power; Your right hand has shattered the enemy. Alleluia, alleluia.
Sir 44:14
V. The bodies of the Saints are buried in peace, but their name lives on and on. Alleluia.

Gospel
Luke 21:9-19
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; these things must first come to pass, but the end will not be at once. Then He said to them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be great earthquakes in various places, and pestilences and famines, and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all these things they will arrest you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It shall lead to your bearing witness. Resolve therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how you are to make your defense. For I Myself will give you utterance and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to resist or gainsay. But you will be delivered up by your parents and brothers and relatives and friends; and some of you they will put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake; yet not a hair of your head shall perish. By your patience you will win your souls.


Offertory
Ps 67:36
God is wonderful in His Saints; the God of Israel is He Who gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God! Alleluia. 

SECRET
Let Your wrath be appeased, Almighty God, by the gifts we offer You in honor of Your saints Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent, and grant us new life through these offerings as we receive them back from You. Through our Lord . . . 

Commemoration of SAINT SAMSON
May Thy Saints, we beseech Thee, O Lord, in all places bring us joy, that while we recall their merits, we may experience their patronage. Through our Lord . . .

Communion
Wis 3:4-6
For if before men they be punished, God tried them; as gold in the furnace, He proved them, and as sacrificial offerings He took them to Himself. 

POSTCOMMUNION
May the prayers of Your saints Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent, win forgiveness for us, O Lord. Grant that the Sacrifice we offer in this life may be our everlasting possession in the life to come. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT SAMSON 
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that, we who give thanks for the gifts which we have received, may through the intercession of blessed Samson, Thy Confessor and Bishop, obtain still greater blessings. Through our Lord . . .

Saint Pantaleon, Martyr (305 A.D.)

 

[Commemoration]

SAINT PANTALEON
Martyr

SIMPLE / RED
The name of this Eastern Saint means "the all-compassionate." He is said to have been a physician at Nicomedia. Mindful of the opportunities of charity which his profession afforded him, he treated the needy sick without payment. When Diocletian's persecution reached Nicomedia, the Christlike doctor prepared himself for martyrdom by distributing all his goods to the poor. He was urged to apostatize, but steadfastly confessed Jesus. He was beheaded about A.D. 305.

Mass of the preceding Sunday
INTROIT Ps. 53:6-7
Behold, God is my helper, and the Lord is the support of my soul. Turn back the evils upon my enemies, and in Your faithfulness to us disperse them, O Lord my protector.
Ps. 53:3. O God, by Your name save me, and by Your might deliver me.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, let mercy attune Your ear to the prayers of Your people calling upon You. May they ask only what is pleasing to You, so that their requests may always be heard. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PANTALEON

O Almighty God, through the intercession of Your blessed martyr Pantaleon, shield us from bodily harm and purify our minds from evil thoughts. Through our Lord . . . 

EPISTLE I Cor. 10:6-13
Brethren: These things were done in a figure of us, that we should not covet evil things, as they also coveted. Neither become ye idolaters, as some of them, as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them that committed fornication: and there fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted and perished by the serpent. Neither do you murmur, as some of them murmured and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them in figure: and they are written for our correction, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore, he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall. Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.

GRADUAL Ps. 8:2
O Lord our Lord, how glorious is Your name over all the earth!
V. For Your splendor is exalted above the heavens.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 58:2
Rescue me from my enemies, O my God, and defend me from my adversaries. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 19:41-47
At that time, when Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying: "If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace: but now they are hidden from thy eyes. For the days shall come upon thee: and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compass thee round and straiten thee on every side, And beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee. And they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation." And entering into the temple, he began to cast out them that sold therein and them that bought. Saying to them: "It is written: 'My house is the house of prayer.' But you have made it a den of thieves." And he was teaching daily in the temple.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 18:9, 10, 11, 12
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart, and His judgments are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb; for Your servant observes them.

SECRET
May we celebrate these sacred rites worthily, O Lord, for each offering of this memorial Sacrifice carries on the work of our redemption. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PANTALEON

May our offering be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, and may it benefit us by the prayer of him on whose feast it is offered. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON John 6:57

"He who eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, abides in Me and I in him," said the Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION 
O Lord, may the reception of Your Blessed Sacrament cleanse us from sin and unite us all in You. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PANTALEON

Refreshed by partaking of Thy sacred Gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, that through the intercession of blessed Pantaleon, Thy Martyr, we may perceive the fruit of the rite which we celebrate. Through our Lord . . .

9th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST; SAINT ANNE, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary;

   

NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

[Commemoration]
SAINT ANNE
Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Man did not make the world. He cannot totally reshape it to serve his desires. He cannot resolve its seeming contradictions. It is God's world. If man is to play a human part in it, he must first adore and obey the God who made the world and who settled its ways and rewards. Therein lies peace, the fullness of personality development, holiness of life, and heaven. That is Christian wisdom. Every zealous Christian can help other people to see that God is present and speaks and moves in all the events of life, even while everything humanly possible is done to relieve suffering and its causes.

 

INTROIT Ps. 53:6-7
Behold, God is my helper, and the Lord is the support of my soul. Turn back the evils upon my enemies, and in Your faithfulness to us disperse them, O Lord my protector.
Ps. 53:3. O God, by Your name save me, and by Your might deliver me.
V. Glory be . . .

 

GLORIA

COLLECT
O Lord, let mercy attune Your ear to the prayers of Your people calling upon You. May they ask only what is pleasing to You, so that their requests may always be heard. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT ANNE
O God, You conferred upon holy Anne the grace to bear the Mother of Your only-begotten Son; help us through the prayers of this holy woman as we celebrate her feast. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

EPISTLE I Cor. 10:6-13
Brethren: These things were done in a figure of us, that we should not covet evil things, as they also coveted. Neither become ye idolaters, as some of them, as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them that committed fornication: and there fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted and perished by the serpent. Neither do you murmur, as some of them murmured and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them in figure: and they are written for our correction, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore, he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall. Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.

GRADUAL Ps. 8:2
O Lord our Lord, how glorious is Your name over all the earth!
V. For Your splendor is exalted above the heavens.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 58:2
Rescue me from my enemies, O my God, and defend me from my adversaries. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 19:41-47
At that time, when Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying: "If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace: but now they are hidden from thy eyes. For the days shall come upon thee: and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compass thee round and straiten thee on every side, And beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee. And they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation." And entering into the temple, he began to cast out them that sold therein and them that bought. Saying to them: "It is written: 'My house is the house of prayer.' But you have made it a den of thieves." And he was teaching daily in the temple.

CREED

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 18:9, 10, 11, 12
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart, and His judgments are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb; for Your servant observes them.

SECRET
May we celebrate these sacred rites worthily, O Lord, for each offering of this memorial Sacrifice carries on the work of our redemption. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT ANNE

Look with favor upon these offerings, O Lord, so that they may be an aid to our devotion and to our salvation through the intercession of blessed Anne, mother of Mary who bore Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

 Communion
John 6:57
"He who eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, abides in Me and I in him," said the Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION 
O Lord, may the reception of Your Blessed Sacrament cleanse us from sin and unite us all in You. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT ANNE

We are given new life through Your Divine Sacraments, O Lord our God. Grant us eternal salvation through the intercession of blessed Anne, whom You chose to bear the Mother of Your Son. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

Saint James the Greater; Saint Christopher (250 A.D.) Martyr [Patron of Travelers]

  

 
Saint James the Greater

Saint Christopher

SAINT JAMES
Apostle

[Commemoration]
SAINT CHRISTOPHER
Martyr

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / RED
St. James the Greater was the brother of St. John the Beloved Disciple. After having evangelized Spain, James returned to Jerusalem during the reign of the persecuting Herod Agrippa. He was delivered into the hands of Agrippa by an informer. The informer was so affected by the holy courage of his victim that he repented of his apostasy. James then embraced his betrayer, saying, "Peace be with you!" The Apostle and the repentant apostate were beheaded at the same time, in A.D. 42.

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

 
GLORIA

COLLECT
Sanctify and protect Your people, O Lord. Let the assistance of Your apostle James strengthen them that they may serve You with confidence and please You by their conduct. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CHRISTOPHER
The name Christopher means "he who bears Christ." A native of Palestine, Christopher made great strides in the way of virtue, because he carried Jesus in his soul. This patron saint of travelers was martyred in the third century. 

O Almighty God, grant that we who celebrate the birthday of Your blessed martyr Christopher, may be made stronger in our love of You through his intercession. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE I Cor. 4:9-15
Brethren: I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death. We are made a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. We are fools for Christs sake, but you are wise in Christ: we are weak, but you are strong: you are honourable, but we without honour. Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no fixed abode. And we labour, working with our own hands. We are reviled: and we bless. We are persecuted: and we suffer it. We are blasphemed: and we entreat. We are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all, even until now. I write not these things to confound you: but I admonish you as my dearest children. For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.

GRADUAL Ps. 44:17-18
You shall make them princes throughout 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. John 15:16
I have chosen you out of the world that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 20:20-23
At that time, then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: "What wilt thou?" She saith to him: "Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom." And Jesus answering, said: "You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?" They say to him: "We can." He saith to them: "My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father."

CREED

 

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 18:5
Their voice has gone forth through all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

SECRET 
May the holy martyrdom of the blessed apostle James make the offerings of Your people acceptable to You, O Lord. In spite of our unworthiness, may these gifts be pleasing to You through the prayers of Your saint. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CHRISTOPHER
Accept our offerings and prayers, O Lord. Cleanse us by this heavenly rite, and in Your mercy hear our petitions. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 19:28
You who have followed Me shall sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

POSTCOMMUNION 
Help us, O Lord, through the intercession of Your blessed apostle James, in whose honor we have joyfully received Your Blessed Sacrament today. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CHRISTOPHER
O Lord our God, may we who now joyfully commemorate Your saints on earth rejoice one day with them in heaven. Through our Lord . . .

Saint Christina of Bolsena (307 A.D.); Saint Francis Solano (1610 A.D.); Vigil of St. James "the Greater"

   

SAINT CHRISTINA 

of Bolsena

Virgin and Martyr

SAINT FRANCIS SOLANO
Priest

VIGIL OF SAINT JAMES
Apostle

SIMPLE / RED
Christina, born in Tuscany, Italy, destroyed the pagan idols in her father's home and distributed their gold among the poor. Her father then delivered the young girl to the persecutors. Christina was martyred about A.D. 307 at the age of ten or eleven.

Mass of a VIRGIN MARTYR, except 

COLLECT
O Lord, pardon our sins through the intercession of the blessed virgin martyr Christina, who pleased You by her purity and faith. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT FRANCIS SOLANO
South American missionary of the Order of Friars Minor; b. at Montilla, in the Diocese of Cordova, Spain, 10 March, 1549; d. at Lima, Peru, 14 July, 1610. His parents, Matthew Sanchez Solanus and Anna Ximenes, were distinguished no less for their noble birth than for their virtue and piety. When Francis was twenty years old, he was received into the Franciscan Order at Montilla, and after his ordination, several years later, he was sent by his superiors to the convent of Arifazza as master of novices. In 1589 he sailed from Spain to the New World, and having landed at Panama, crossed the isthmus and embarked on a vessel that was to convey him to Peru. His missionary labours in South America extended over a period of twenty years, during which time he spared no fatigue, shrank from no sacrifice however great, and feared no danger that stood in the way of evangelizing the vast and savage regions of Tucuman and Paraguay. So successful, indeed, was his apostolate that he has been aptly styled the Thaumaturgus of the New World. Notwithstanding the number and difficulty of the dialects spoken by the Indians, he learned them all in a very short time, and it is said that he often addressed tribes of different tongues in one language and was understood by them all. Besides being engaged in active missionary work, he filled the office of custos of the convents of his order in Tucuman and Paraguay, and later was elected guardian of the Franciscan convent in Lima, Peru. In 1610, while preaching at Truxillo he foretold the calamities that were to befall that city, which was destroyed by an earthquake eight years later, most of the inhabitants perishing in the ruins. The death of St. Francis, which he himself had foretold, was the cause of general grief throughout Peru. In his funeral sermon at the burial of the saint, Father Sebastiani, S.J., said that "Divine Providence had chosen Father Francis Solanus to be the hope and edification of all Peru, the example and glory of Lima and the splendour of the Seraphic Order". St. Francis was beatified by Clement X, in 1675, and canonized by Benedict XIII, in 1726. His feast is kept throughout the Franciscan Order on the twenty-fourth of July. 

O God, who by means of blessed Francis didst bring a number of the tribes of America into the bosom of the Church, do Thou, through his merits and prayers, turn away Thine indignation from our sins, and graciously send down the fear of Thy name to the nations that have not known Thee. Through our Lord . . . 

Lesson
Lesson from the letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Rom. 6:3-11.
Brethren: All we who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death. For we were buried with Him by means of Baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ has arisen from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death, we shall be so in the likeness of His resurrection also. For we know that our old self has been crucified with Him, in order that the body of sin may be destroyed, that we may no longer be slaves to sin; for he who is dead is acquitted of sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live together with Christ; for we know that Christ, having risen from the dead, dies now no more, death shall no longer have dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all, but the life that He lives, He lives unto God. Thus do you consider yourselves also as dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.

Gradual
Ps. 89:13, 1.
Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on Your servants!
V. O Lord, You have been our refuge through all generations. Alleluia, alleluia.
V. Ps. 30:2-3. In You, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In Your justice rescue me and release me, incline Your ear to me, make haste to deliver me! Alleluia.

Gospel
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Mark
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

Mark 8:1-9
At that time, when there was a great crowd with Jesus, and they had nothing to eat, He called His disciples together and said to them, I have compassion on the crowd, for behold, they have now been with Me three days, and have nothing to eat; and if I send them away to their homes fasting, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come from a distance. And His disciples answered Him, How will anyone be able to satisfy these with bread, here in a desert? And He asked them, How many loaves have you? And they said, Seven. And He bade the crowd recline on the ground. Then taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to distribute; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few little fishes; and He blessed them, and ordered them to be distributed. And they ate and were satisfied; and they took up what was left of the fragments, seven baskets. Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He dismissed them.
R. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
S. By the words of the Gospel may our sins be blotted out.  

SECRET
O Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer you in honor of Your blessed virgin martyr Christina, and grant us Your unending assistance through these offerings. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT FRANCIS SOLANO
May the gift which we offer unto Thee give unto us, we beseech Thee, almighty God, an increase of faith, hope, and charity and that we may attain unto that which Thou dost promise, do Thou, through the intercession of blessed Francis Thy confessor, make us to love that which Thou commandest. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION 
We have been nourished by Your Divine Gift, O Lord our God. May the reception of this Bread of Heaven bring us eternal life through the intercession of Your blessed virgin martyr Christina. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT FRANCIS SOLANO
Do Thou, O Lord, through the intercession of blessed Francis Thy confessor, make us ever to obey Thy commandments, that we may become worthy of the gifts of which we have partaken. Through our Lord . . .