SAINT JOACHIM; TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 Dear Friends, yesterday we began hospice at home because of my cancer, as my body seems to be shutting down. I am quite weak and will try to post to you when I can. I have plenty of care, with nurses and caregivers attending to my medical and living needs. Our new pastor, Fr. Wright, visited me, and I received the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion. I also have my wonderful family who will nourish me. I look forward to being in heaven soon, in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, with all the Angels and Saints, singing praises to the Most Blessed Trinity for all eternity! I just ask for your prayers as I struggle with this time of my life. God bless us all    

Deacon John Giglio

SAINT JOACHIM

Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Confessor

TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / WHITE
"Most blessed couple, the whole of creation is in your debt," says St. John Damascene about Joachim and Anne, the parents of Our Lady. "For it is through you that it has been possible to offer the Creator a present above all other presents, the chaste Mother, who alone was worthy of the Creator. Rejoice, Joachim, for unto us a Son is born of thy daughter."
According to tradition, Joachim was untiring in his charity. He divided what he had into three parts, of which the first was given to the upkeep of the temple, the second to the poor, and the third was all that he reserved for his own household.

INTROIT Ps. 111:9
He has distributed his wealth and given it to the poor; his justice shall endure forever; his power shall be exalted in glory.
Ps. 111:1. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.
V. Glory be . . .

GLORIA

COLLECT
O God, You chose blessed Joachim from among all Your saints to be the father of Mary, who bore Your Son. May we sensibly feel the power of the protection of this saint whom we honor on this feast. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .


Commemoration of the 12th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Almighty and merciful God, it is through Your grace that the faithful are able to serve You fittingly and laudably. Grant that we may hurry, without faltering, toward the rewards You have promised to us. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Eccli. 31:8-11 [Sirach]
Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures. Who is he, and we will praise him? For he hath done wonderful things in his life. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting. He that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them: Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.

GRADUAL Ps. 111:9, 2
He has distributed his wealth and given it to the poor; his justice shall endure forever.
V. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the righteous generation shall be blessed.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.
Joachim, spouse of holy Anne, father of the glorious Virgin, help your servants now to attain salvation. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 1:1-16
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren. And Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esron. And Esron begot Aram. And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon. And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And Obed begot Jesse. And Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias. And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot Asa. And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias. And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz begot Ezechias. And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses begot Amon. And Amon begot Josias. And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon. And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel. And Zorobabel begot Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor. And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim begot Eliud. And Eliud begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot Mathan. And Mathan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

CREED

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 8:6-7
You have crowned him with glory and honor, and You have given him rule over the works of Your hands, O Lord.

SECRET 
O most merciful God, accept the sacrifice we offer to Your majesty in honor of the holy patriarch Joachim, father of the Virgin Mary. May his intercession, and that of his wife and most blessed child, enable us to win complete forgiveness of our sins and everlasting glory. Through our Lord . . .


Commemoration of the 12th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

O Lord, look with mercy upon the offerings we have placed upon Your altar. May they win pardon for our sins and give glory to Your name. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Luke 12:42
This is the faithful and prudent steward, whom the master has set over his household to give them their ration of grain in due time.

POSTCOMMUNION 
O Almighty God, may we be worthy of Your grace in this life and everlasting glory in the world to come through this Sacrament that we have received and through the merits and prayers of blessed Joachim, father of Mary who bore Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .


Commemoration of the 12th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
May the reception of this Sacrament bring us life, O Lord, and win for us Your pardon and Your protection. Through our Lord . . .

 

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Saint Tarcisius (255 A.D.) Martyr

  

By Carlo Naya - Self-scanned, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6611836

THE ASSUMPTION OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / WHITE
The dogma of the Assumption is the answer of the Church to a materialistic world. It implicitly states that the perfection of our faculties and bodily skills will be fully exercised only in heaven, where they attain fulfillment in contemplating God. The Assumption was the moment of creation's fulfillment, the first-fruit of God's plan for mankind -- a plan which includes our own appearance, body and soul, before the throne of God. May the Immaculate Mother of God and our co-redeemer, in the new glory of this revelation, focus the mind of the world on the true aim of progress toward the goal of union with the Creator of the universe.

INTROIT Apoc. 12:1 

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.
Ps. 97:1. Sing to the Lord a new canticle, for He has done wondrous deeds.
V. Glory be . . .

GLORIA

COLLECT
O Almighty and Eternal God, You have taken up into heavenly glory the body and soul of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of Your Son. May we always look upward toward heaven and come to be worthy of sharing her glory. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

LESSON Judith 13:22-25; 15:10
The Lord hath blessed thee by his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies to nought. Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth. Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and earth, who hath directed thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies. Because he hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our God. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honour of our people.

GRADUAL Ps. 44:11-12, 14
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, for the king greatly desires your beauty.
V. All glorious, the daughter of the king enters, clothed in robes of spun gold.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.
Mary was taken up to heaven; the choirs of angels are filled with joy. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 1:41-50
At that time, 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.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him."

CREED

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Gen. 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed.

SECRET 
Let our devoted offerings arise before You, O Lord. Inflame our hearts with the fire of love so that through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, who was assumed into heaven, they may yearn always for You. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Luke 1:48-49
All generations shall call me blessed, because He who is mighty has done great things for me.

POSTCOMMUNION 
We have received the Sacrament of Salvation, O Lord, and now ask that we may be brought to the glory of the resurrection through the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was taken up into heaven. Through our Lord . . .

 

ST. TARCISIUS, MARTYR

Third Century [Historical]

A tradition dating from the sixth century says that St. Tarcisius was an acolyte whose fidelity and courage so impressed the leaders of the Church during the persecution of Valerian that he was entrusted with taking the Blessed Sacrament secretly to the Christians who awaited martyrdom in prison. This custom arose when the priests who ministered to the prisoners would be easily discovered, while the acolytes were less known to the heathens. The Roman Martyrology, based on the fourth-century poem of Pope St. Damasus, gives the story of the "boy martyr of the Eucharist" in these words: "At Rome, on the Appian way, the passion of St. Tarcisius the acolyte, whom pagans met carrying the sacrament of the Body of Christ and asked him what it was he was carrying. He deemed it a shameful thing to cast pearls before the swine, and so was assaulted by them for a long time with clubs and stones until he gave up the ghost. When they turned over his body, the sacrilegious assailants could find no trace of Christ's Sacrament either in his hands or in his clothing. The Christians took up the body of the martyr and buried it with honor in the cemetery of Callistus." In his poem Pope Damasus compares St. Tarcisius with St. Stephen who was stoned by the Jews, and praises the martyr for suffering a cruel death rather than surrender "the divine Body to raging dogs." The body of St. Tarcisius was most probably laid to rest with those of Pope St. Zephyrinus and others in the Basilica of St. Sixtus and Cecilia, but at present it is said to be in the Church of San Silvestro in Capite. St. Tarcisius is venerated as a model for altar boys and as an example of loving and heroic devotion to our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.

---

Taken from"A Saint A Day" by Berchmans Bittle, O.F.M.Cap., published by The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee (c) 1958

Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Saint Eusebius (357 A.D.) Martyr

  

 

Coreggio's famed Assumption fresco

VIGIL OF THE ASSUMPTION OF
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

SAINT EUSEBIUS

Confessor

SIMPLE / PURPLE
Our Lady was acclaimed as Mother of God at the Council of Ephesus in 431. Shortly before Bernadette's vision at Lourdes, the Immaculate Conception was defined. And now her glorious assumption into heaven has been revealed to us as a dogma. In her Immaculate Conception, Mary was the sole human being who perfectly fulfilled God's will. As Mother of God, Mary became the co-redeemer of the human race. At the Assumption she was the first to enter, body and soul united, into the final glory awaiting redeemed mankind after the general resurrection. Thus, all through her temporal life, Mary was the expressed ideal of God's plan of creation.

INTROIT Ps. 44:13, 15-16
All the rich among the people shall seek your favor. Behind her the virgins shall be led to the king; her friends shall be brought to you with gladness and joy.
Ps. 44:2. My heart overflows with good tidings; I sing my song to the king.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, You willed to choose the womb of Blessed Mary as Your dwelling place. Grant that we may joyfully celebrate her feast under the shield of her protection; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of SAINT EUSEBIUS, CONFESSOR
Eusebius, a Roman priest, was imprisoned for having opposed heretics favored by Emperor Constantius. He persisted in his defense of the true Faith until his death in about the middle of the fourth century.

O God, our hearts are overjoyed at the annual feast of Your blessed confessor Eusebuis. Grant that we who celebrate his birthday may draw near You by following his example. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Eccli. 24:23-31 [Sirach]
As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits. For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations. They that eat me, shall yet hunger: and they that drink me, shall yet thirst. He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting.

GRADUAL
You are blessed and venerable, O Virgin Mary, for without the loss 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.

GOSPEL Luke 11:27-28
At that time, as Jesus spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: "Blessed is the womb that bore thee and the paps that gave thee suck." But he said: "Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it. "

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 
O Lord, may the intercession of the Mother of God bring our offerings to Your merciful attention, for You took her out of this world that she might plead with confidence before Your throne for the forgiveness of our sins. Through the same Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Commemoration of SAINT EUSEBIUS
We offer You, O Lord, this sacrifice of praise in memory of Your saints. Free us from evil now and in the future through their intercession. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the eternal God.

POSTCOMMUNION 
Support us in our weakness, O merciful God. May we rise again from our sins through the intercession of the Holy Mother of God, whose feast we are preparing to celebrate. Through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Commemoration of SAINT EUSEBIUS
Refreshed with Heavenly Food and Drink we humbly pray You, our God, that we may be strengthened by the prayers of Your saint, in whose memory we have received this Sacrament. Through our Lord . . .

Saints Hippolytus (235 A.D.) and Cassian (320 A.D.), Martyrs

 

The Torture of St. Hippolyte
Dieric Bouts the Elder
after 1468
Oil on wood, 90 x 89.2 cm
St Salvator Cathedral, Bruges

SAINTS HIPPOLYTUS AND CASSIAN
Martyrs

SIMPLE / RED
Hippolytus was a prominent priest of the church of Rome at the beginning of the third century and guardian of St. Laurence. Together with the Pope St. Pontian he was exiled to Sardinia, and his sufferings ended in martyrdom A.D. 235.
In about the year 320, officials at Imola, Italy, arrested Cassian, a Christian schoolmaster. The governor ordered him to be tortured by his own pagan pupils. After making barbarous sport of Cassian in various ways, the pagan boys stabbed their former teacher to death with their stilettos.

Mass of SEVERAL MARTYRS, except

INTROIT Ps. 36, 39

But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and He is their protection in the time of trouble. Be not emulous of evildoers, nor envy them that work iniquity. Glory be . . .

GLORIA

COLLECT
O Almighty God, grant that our solemn celebration of the feast of your holy martyrs Hippolytus and Cassian may increase our devotion and bring us closer to our salvation. Through our Lord . . .

Lesson

Hebrews 10: 32-38

³² Brethren, call to mind the former days, wherein, being illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions.

³³ And on the one hand indeed, by reproaches and tribulations, were made a gazing-stock; and on the other, became companions of them that were used in such sort.

³⁴ For you both had compassion on them that were in bands, and took with joy the being stripped of your own goods, knowing that you have a better and a lasting substance.

³⁵ Do not therefore lose your confidence, which hath a great reward.

³⁶ For patience is necessary for you; that, doing the will of God, you may receive the promise.

³⁷ For yet a little and a very little while, and he that is to come, will come, and will not delay.

³⁸ But my just man liveth by faith; but if he withdraw himself, he shall not please my soul.

Gradual
Ps 33, 18, 19

The just cried, and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, and He will save the humble of spirit.

Alleluia, alleluia. The white robed army of Martyrs praises Thee, O Lord. Alleluia. 

Gospel
Luke 12: 1-8

And when great multitudes stood about him, so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples: Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

² For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed: nor hidden, that shall not be known.

³ For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness, shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers, shall be preached on the housetops.

⁴ And I say to you, my friends: Be not afraid of them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

⁵ But I will shew you whom you shall fear: fear ye him, who after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear him.

⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

⁷ Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.

⁸ And I say to you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.

OFFERTORY Wisdom 3: 1-3

The souls of the just are in the hand of
God, and the torment of malice shall
not touch them: in the sight of the

unwise they seemed to die, but they
are in peace, alleluia

SECRET
Look kindly upon the gifts Your people offer on this feast day of Your saints. May the testimony that these saints gave to the truth help us toward salvation. Through our Lord . . .

Communion Matt: 10:27

That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light, saith the Lord, and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the house-tops. 
 
POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may the reception of Your Sacraments save us and confirm us in the light of Your truth. Through our Lord . . .

Saint Clare of Assisi (1253 A.D.)

  

 

SAINT CLARE 
Virgin

DOUBLE / WHITE  
The Lady Clare was born in Assisi, Italy, about the year 1193. After having heard St. Francis preach, the wealthy and beautiful young girl left home to embrace a life of poverty, and thus became the first member of the Franciscan Second Order, since called the "Poor Clares." Soon other aristocratic women adopted the cloistered penitential life of the Poor Clares. When the Saracen soldiers of Emperor Fredrick II threatened to force their way into her Assisi convent during his campaigns against the Pope, Clare held the ciborium before the assailants, and they fled at once. After long illness, she died in the year 1253, as the Passion of Christ was being read to her.

Mass of a VIRGIN, except

Introit
Ps 44:8
Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Ps 44:2
My heart hath uttered a good word I speak my works 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.
Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

GLORIA

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

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
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 25:1-13
At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: "Then will the kingdom of heaven be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom and the bride. Five of them were foolish and five wise. But the five foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, while the wise did take oil in their vessels with the lamps. Then as the bridegroom was long in coming, they all became drowsy and slept. And at midnight a cry arose, ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go forth to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ The wise answered, saying, ‘Lest there may not be enough for us and for you, go rather to those who sell it, and buy some for yourselves.’ Now while they were gone to buy it, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Finally there came also the other virgins, who said, ‘Sir, sir, open the door for us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Amen I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
R. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
S. By the words of the Gospel may our sins be blotted out.  

Offertory
Ps 44:10
The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy 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. Through our Lord . . .

Communion
Matt 25:4; 25:6
The five wise virgins took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.

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. Through our Lord . . .

[ Saint Clare and sisters of her order, San Damiano, Assisi - wikimedia.org image] 

Saints Tiburtius and Susanna, (288 A.D.); Saint Philomena (304 A.D.) Martyrs

    

 

 
Tiburtius en Suzanna
Roma Crypte van de Santa Suzanna.

SAINTS TIBURTIUS AND SUSANNA
Martyrs

SAINT PHILOMENA

Virgin and Martyr

[In some places]

SIMPLE / RED
Tiburtius was the son of the prefect of Rome, a convert to the Faith. Shortly after being ordained subdeacon, the young man was betrayed to the persecutors by an apostate. Like St. Lawrence, Tiburtius was tortured by fire. He was then beheaded, about A.D. 288.
On the same day, a noble Christian virgin by the name of Susanna suffered a similar death. Because of her vow of virginity she had refused to marry the son of Emperor Diocletian; so she was beheaded in her own home by that ruler's orders.

INTROIT Ps. 36:39

The salvation of the just is from the
Lord: and He is their protector in the
time of trouble. (Ps. 36: 1) Be not
emulous of evil-doers: nor envy them
that work iniquity. Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen. The salvation of
the just is from the Lord: and He is
their protector in the time of trouble.
Mass of SEVERAL MARTYRS except

GLORIA

 
COLLECT
Comfort us, O Lord, with the unfailing protection of Your holy martyrs Tiburtius and Susanna, for You are always merciful to those who are helped by Your saints. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PHILOMENA
Little is known of her life, and the information was received by private revelation from her. Martyred at about age 14 in the early days of the Church.

In 1802 the remains of a young woman were found in the catacomb of Saint Priscilla on the Via Salaria. It was covered by stones, the symbols on which indicated that the body was a martyr named Saint Philomena. The bones were exhumed, cataloged, and effectively forgotten since there was so little known about the person.

In 1805 Canon Francis de Lucia of Mugnano, Italy was in the Treasury of the Rare Collection of Christian Antiquity (Treasury of Relics) in the Vatican. When he reached the relics of Saint Philomena he was suddenly struck with a spiritual joy, and requested that he be allowed to enshrine them in a chapel in Mugnano. After some disagreements, settled by the cure of Canon Francis following prayers to Philomena, he was allowed to translate the relics to Mugnano. Miracles began to be reported at the shrine including cures of cancer, healing of wounds, and the Miracle of Mugnano in which Venerable Pauline Jaricot was cured a severe heart ailment overnight. Philomena became the only person recognized as a Saint solely on the basis of miraculous intercession as nothing historical was known of her except her name and the evidence of her martyrdom.

Pope Leo XII granted permission for the erection of altars and churches in her honor. Pope Gregory XVI authorized her public veneration, and named her patroness of the Living Rosary. The cure of Pope Pius IX, while archbishop of Imola, was attributed to Philomena; in 1849, he named her patroness of the Children of Mary. Pope Leo XIII approved the Confraternity of Saint Philomena, and raised it to an Archconfraternity. Pope Pius X raised the Archconfraternity to a Universal Archconfraternity, and named Saint John Vianney its patron. Saint John Vianney himself called Philomena the New Light of the Church Militant, and had a strong and well-known devotion to her. Others with known devotion to her include Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Saint Euphrasia Pelletier, Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini, Saint John Nepomucene Neumann, Saint Madeline Sophie Barat, Saint Peter Chanel, Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, and Venerable Pauline Jaricot.

Addition Info:

In 1802, the bones of a female between the ages of 13 and 15 were discovered in the catacomb of St. Priscilia. An inscription near her tomb read "Peace be with thee, Philomena", along with drawings of 2 anchors, 3 arrows and a palm. Near her bones was discovered a small glass vial, containing the remains of blood. Because it was a popular custom of the early martyrs to leave symbols and signs such as these, it was easily determined that St. Philomena was a virgin and a martyr. Her popularity soon became widespread, with her most memorable devotees being St. John Vianney, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, St. Peter Eymard, and St. Peter Chanel. After being miraculously cured, Ven. Pauline Jaricot insisted that Pope Gregory XVI begin an examination for the beatification of St. Philomena, who was to become known as the "wonder worker". After hundreds of other miraculous cures, she was beatified in 1837. St. Philomena, who the pope named as the Patroness of the Living Rosary and the Patroness of the Children of Mary, is the only person recognized as a saint solely on the basis of her powerful intercession, although pertinent revelations regarding her life have been recorded. Her relics are now preserved in Mugnano, Italy.

O God, who among the other marvels of Thy power, hast granted even to the weaker sex the victory of martyrdom, mercifully grant, that we who celebrate the heavenly birthday of blessed Philomena, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may by her example draw nearer to Thee. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Heb. 11:33-39
Brethren: The saints by faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

GRADUAL (Ps. 33, 18, 19)
The just cried, and the Lord heard them and delivered them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart and He will save the humble of spirit.

Alleluia, alleluia. The white robed army of Martyrs praises Thee, O Lord. Alleluia.

 
GOSPEL Luke 12:1-8
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. "And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. "Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows. And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God." 
 

OFFERTORY (Wisdom 3. 1, 2, 3)

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of malice shall not touch them, in the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, but they are in peace, alleluia.
 

SECRET 
Hear the prayers of Your people and look kindly upon their gifts, O Lord. may the offering of these sacred mysteries please You through the intercession of Your saints. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PHILOMENA
Receive, O Lord, the gifts which we bring Thee on the feast of blessed Philomena, Thy Virgin and Martyr, by whose patronage we hope to be delivered. Through our Lord . . . 

 

COMMUNION (Matt. 10, 27)

That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light, saith the Lord, and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops.

POSTCOMMUNION 
We have received in Holy Communion the pledge of eternal salvation, O Lord. May it help us in this life and in the life to come through the prayers of Your holy martyrs. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PHILOMENA
May the Mysteries which we have received, help us, O Lord; and by the intercession of blessed Philomena, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may we ever enjoy Thy protection. Through our Lord . . .

[wikimedia.org image Saint Filomena (c. 1844), by Amaury-Duval. Église Saint-Merri, Paris]