St. Alexis under stairs.

SAINT ALEXIS
Confessor

SIMPLE / WHITE
An early forerunner of St. Joseph Benedict Labre, Alexis is said to have been born in Rome during the fourth century, the son of noble Roman parents. At the bidding of the Holy Spirit, he journeyed to Edessa, Syria, where for 17 years he begged at the church doors, then shared his donations with the poor people, sustaining himself on what was left over. When he returned to Rome, he went unrecognized and was given menial employment in his father's home, and a nook under the stairs for his accommodations. Thus he is thought to have lived for another 17 years, rejoicing in the mockery and ill-treatment of his father's slaves. Only after his death, reads the legend, was his identity discovered.

Mass of a CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, except

COLLECT
O God, it is a joy for us to celebrate yearly the feast of Your blessed confessor Alexis. may we who commemorate his birthday also imitate his example. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE I Tim. 6:6-12
Beloved: But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world: and certainly we can carry nothing out. But having food and wherewith to be covered, with these we are content. For they that will become rich fall into temptation and into the snare of the devil and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition. For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting have erred from the faith and have entangled themselves in many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, fly these things: and pursue justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life.

GOSPEL Matt. 19:27-29
At that time, Peter answering, said to him: "Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have?" And Jesus said to them: "Amen I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting."

SECRET
In memory of Thy Saints, O Lord, we offer Thee the sacrifice of praise, by which we trust to be freed from both present and future evils. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
Refreshed by meat and drink from heaven, O God, we humbly entreat Thee, that we may be protected by the prayers of him in whose memory we have partaken. Through our Lord . . .