Torture of Saint Vitalis

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER
PENTECOST

SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO
Bishop and Confessor

SAINTS VITALIS AND AGRICOLA
MARTYRS

DOUBLE / GREEN

ENTRANCE HYMN Jer. 29:11, 12, 14
Said the Lord: "I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction. You shall call upon Me and I will hear you, and I will bring you back from captivity from all places." Ps. 84:2. Lord, You have blessed Your land; You have restored Jacob from captivity.
V. Glory be . . .

PRAYER
Forgive the offenses of Your people, O Lord, so that through Your merciful goodness we may be freed from the bondage of sin into which we were led by our own weakness. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO
When Charles Borromeo, great hero of the "Catholic Reformation," was 22, his uncle, Pope Pius IV, appointed him Cardinal-deacon and administrator of the see of Milan. He governed wisely and courageously all during his uncle's pontificate, and was mainly responsible for the successful conclusion of the Council of Trent. The death of his elder brother changed him from a virtuous man to a saint. He entered the priesthood and from 1565 onward he lived in Milan, devoting all his time to reforming that diocese in accordance with the decrees of Trent. He founded the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, with its schools for teaching the Catechism to children, historically the first "Sunday Schools." To help those stricken by the plague of 1576, he gave away everything, even his bed. He died in 1584, at the age of 46.

O Lord, keep Your Church always under the protection of Your holy confessor bishop Charles, who was distinguished by his vigilant care of his flock. Enkindle in us a burning love of You through his intercession.

Commemoration of SAINTS VITALIS AND AGRICOLA
Agricola converted his slave Vitalis and went with him to martyrdom at Bologna about A.D. 304 under Emperor Diocletian.

O Almighty God, may the intercessory power of Your blessed martyrs Vitalis and Agricola aid us who celebrate their feast today. Through our Lord . . .

READING Philipp. 3:17-21; 4:1-3
Brethren: Be ye followers of me, and mark those who walk after the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping) that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction: whose God is their belly: and whose glory is in their shame: who mind earthly things. But our conversation is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself. Therefore my dearly beloved brethren and most desired, my joy and my crown: so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beg of Evodia and I beseech Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, my sincere companion, help those women who have labored with me in the gospel, with Clement and the rest of my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

GRADUAL Ps. 43:8-9
You have freed us from those who afflict us, O Lord, and You have put to shame those who hate us.
V. In God we will glory all the day, and praise Your name forever.

Alleluia, alleluia! Ps. 129:1-2
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my prayer!
Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 9:18-26
At that time, as Jesus was speaking these things unto them, behold a certain ruler came up, and adored him, saying: "Lord, my daughter is even now dead; but come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live." And Jesus rising up followed him, with his disciples.
And behold a woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment. For she said within herself: "If I shall touch only his garment, I shall be healed." But Jesus turning and seeing her, said: "Be of good heart, daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole." And the woman was made whole from that hour. And when Jesus was come into the house of the ruler, and saw the minstrels and the multitude making a rout, He said: "Give place, for the girl is not dead, but sleepeth." And they laughed him to scorn.
And when the multitude was put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand. And the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that country.

OFFERTORY HYMN Ps. 129:1-2
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my prayer, out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord.

SECRET PRAYER
We offer this sacrifice of praise, O Lord, to fulfill our debt of service to You. May Your blessings which we cannot merit, continue to reach us through Your boundless mercy. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO
O Lord, may Your saints everywhere be a source of joy for us, and may we feel the power of their intercession with You as we solemnly recall the deeds of their lives.

Commemoration of SAINTS VITALIS AND AGRICOLA
O Lord, be moved to compassion by our offerings and shield us from all danger through the prayers of Your holy martyrs Vitalis and Agricola. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION HYMN Mark 11:24
Amen I say to you, all things whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you shall receive, and they shall come to you.

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER
You have given us the happiness of participating in this Heavenly Banquet, O Almighty God. Let us not now fall victim to any human danger. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO
O Almighty God, may the expression of our gratitude to You for all Your Gifts bring us even greater benefits through the intercession of Your blessed confessor Charles.

Commemoration of SAINTS VITALIS AND AGRICOLA
O Lord, may this Communion cleanse us from sin, and bestow on us spiritual health from heaven through the intercession of Your holy martyrs Vitalis and Agricola. Through our Lord . . .