SAINTS ABDON AND SENNEN

Martyrs

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .