Saints Nabor & Felix

SAINT JOHN GUALBERT
Abbot

SAINTS NABOR AND FELIX
Martyrs

DOUBLE / WHITE

One Good Friday early in the eleventh century, John Gualbert, a soldier in Florence, Italy, encountered the man who had slain his brother. Seeing that John was about to kill him, the murderer implored the young soldier to spare him for the sake of the Passion of our Saviour. Touched by grace, John embraced his enemy as a brother; soon afterward he became a Benedictine monk. He later founded the congregation of the Vallombrosians, who promoted a revival of faith and morals throughout Italy.

Mass of an ABBOT, except

COLLECT
Let the blessed Abbot John intercede for us, O Lord. may his prayers win us Your help, since our own actions cannot merit it. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS NABOR AND FELIX,
These martyrs shed their blood for Christ in Milan, about A.D. 303. They were greatly praised by St. Ambrose.

O Lord, may the prayers of Your holy martyrs Nabor and Felix always accompany us, just as we never fail to celebrate their birthday. Through our Lord . . .

GOSPEL Matt. 5:43-48
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "You have heard that it hath been said, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect."

SECRET
May the offerings we lay upon Your sacred altar, O Lord, bring us closer to our salvation through the intercession of the blessed abbot John. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS NABOR AND FELIX
May the prayers of Your holy martyrs Nabor and Felix make the gifts of Your people acceptable to You, O Lord, and may their merits make the offerings that we present in honor of their victory worthy of You. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
May the Sacrament we have received and the prayers of the blessed abbot John protect us, O Lord. Grant also that we may imitate the virtues of this saint who is our intercessor with You in heaven. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS NABOR AND FELIX
We are comforted, O Lord, by the grace that has given us Your Sacrament on the birthday of Your saints. Grant that we may also have the grace to enjoy these good things forever. Through our Lord . . .