WITHIN THE OCTAVE

 

SAINT AGAPITUS
Martyr

SAINT HELEN

Empress, Widow

[In some places]

SIMPLE / RED
When only 15 years old, Agapitus was beheaded at Praeneste (Palestrina), Italy, about the year 275, as his punishment for professing Christ. Legend has it that he was beheaded only because the animals in the arena refused to attack him, and that a tribune, Anastasius, watching the "entertainment," was converted by the animal's reaction to the boy martyr.

Mass of a MARTYR, except

COLLECT
Let the Church rejoice in the trust she places in the intercessions of Your holy martyr Agapitus, O God, and grant that through the prayers of this saint she may always serve You devotedly in peace and security. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT HELEN
St. Helen was born in Britain and espoused to the Roman Emperor, Constantius Chlorus. Her son Constantine became the first Christian Emperor of Rome. The saintly Empress made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where she had the joy of discovering the true Cross, to enshrine which, she built a magnificent Basilica on Mount Calvary. Saint Helen died in August, A.D. 326.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who to blessed Helen didst reveal the place where Thy cross was hidden, in order, through her, to enrich Thy Church with this precious treasure: grant us through her prayers, that by means of the ransom of this Tree of Life, we may attain to the reward of eternal life: Who livest . . .

GOSPEL John 12:24-26
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, Itself remaineth alone. But if it die it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to me, let him follow me: and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour."

SECRET
O Lord, accept the gifts we bring You on the feast of him through whose intercession we hope to be set free. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT HELEN
Grant us through these holy Mysteries, O Lord, who in Thy mercy didst vouchsafe to blessed Helen ever to bear in her heart Thy crucified Son: that we, too, may carry Him in our hearts for evermore. Through the same . . .

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 . . .

Commemoration of SAINT HELEN
Grant, O merciful God, that we who on earth have been recreated by the fruit of Thy salutary Cross, may, by the intercession of blessed Helen, deserve to enjoy that fruit for ever more in heaven: Who liveth and  . . .