FERIAL DAY
(Mass of preceding Sunday)

[Requiem or Votive Mass allowed]

OUR LADY'S SATURDAY

SAINT NARCISSUS 

BISHOP OF JERUSALEM 

(Historical)

2nd-3rd century bishop of Jerusalem. Late in life, he was accused of a crime. None of the Christians in his diocese believed it, but Narcissus did not believe he should serve after being under such a cloud, and he became a desert hermit. After a complete acquittal, Narcissus returned to his see, older, weathered, but stronger and more zealous than ever, and served several more years. When his age began to wear on him, he begged God to send a bishop to help him. Saint Alexander of Cappadocia responded, and the two ruled the diocese together, Narcissus lived to age 116.

Born: 99
Died: 215 of natural causes
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Patronage: insect bites 

SAINT EVARISTUS
Pope and Martyr

SIMPLE / RED
The fourth successor of St. Peter, Pope Evaristus was said to have been the son of a Hellenic Jew of Bethlehem. He ruled for some eight years, during a very stormy period in the history of the Church. He died about A.D. 107, and was buried near St. Peter's tomb on the Vatican.

Mass of a POPE

COLLECT
O Eternal Shepherd, who appointed blessed Evaristus shepherd of the whole Church, let the prayers of this martyr and supreme pontiff move You to look with favor upon Your flock and to keep it under Your continual protection. Through our Lord . . .

SECRET
We have offered our gifts to You, O Lord. Let Your light graciously shine upon Your Church, so that this flock may everywhere prosper, and its pastors, under Your guidance, may be truly pleasing to You. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, govern the Church, which You have been pleased to nourish with Your Heavenly Food. Guide her by Your powerful direction so that she may enjoy greater freedom and remain unshaken in the fullness of faith. Through our Lord . . .  

Demetrius of Thessaloniki

[Historical]

15th-century icon of St. Demetrius (Russian State Museum, Saint Petersburg).

 Relics of St. Demetrius at the Aghios Demetrios Basilica in Thessaloniki

Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki (Greek: Άγιος Δημήτριος της Θεσσαλονίκης) was a Christian martyr, who lived in the early 4th century.
During the Middle Ages, he came to be revered as one of the most important Orthodox military saints, often paired with Saint George. His feast day is 26 October for Christians following the Gregorian calendar and 8 November for Christians following the Julian calendar.

This story may not have anything to do with the Traditional Form of the Mass but the vestments are certainly beautiful, I think!

Sir Roy Strong donates black vestments to Hereford Cathedral

Posted: Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 12:59 (BST)

Sir Roy Strong and the Very Revd. Michael Tavinor in the new vestments. Sir Roy is former director of the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria & Albert Museum

Writer, gardener and historian Sir Roy Strong has donated a new set of vestments to Hereford Cathedral.

The beautiful black vestments were made by Croft Design and will be worn for the first time in a service to remember departed loved ones on All Souls Day on November 2.

During the service, the cathedral choir will sing Gabriel Fauré's masterpiece, Requiem and members of the congregation will be invited to light a candle in remembrance.

Sir Roy said: “My wife, Julia Trevelyan Oman, died eight years on 10 October and this is always a difficult period of the year for me. I have noticed the growing popularity of the annual All Souls service when those who wish to give thanks and mourn for loved ones corporately gather together in remembrance and celebration.”

The Dean of Hereford, the Very Rev Michael Tavinor welcomed the new gift.

He said: "Often these days, black is used less in services of remembrance as it is felt to be too solemn.

"Sometimes it’s more appropriate to use the colour white for such services, when there is an emphasis on the joy of resurrection.

"I think there is still very much a place for the reflection on our own mortality, which the colour black encourages."

The vestments will also be used on Remembrance Sunday on November 13 for the 10.00am Requiem, when the music of Duruflé will be sung.

http://www.christiantoday.com/

From 

Pope Benedict XVI in prayer

FERIAL DAY

(Mass of preceding Sunday)

[Requiem or Votive Mass allowed]

OUR LADY"S SATURDAY

The suffering of Traditional priests and laity:

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY,

"MATER ADMIRABILIS"

FOR THE RELIGIOUS OF THE SACRED HEART

SAINT JOHN CANTIUS
Confessor

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE

Humble manual labor was forever sanctified by Mary, "the handmaid of the Lord," the Mother of Christ and of all mankind. By her prayers, she renders the toil of her adopted human children fruitful and pleasing to God. A fresco (above) in the convent of the Trinita dei Monti in Rome depicts our "Mother most admirable" spinning in a court of the temple. This painting, blessed by Pope Pius IX, is venerated by pilgrims from all parts of the world, and among them extraordinary conversions and cures continually occur.

INTROIT

Hail, holy Mother, who brought forth the King who rules heaven and earth forever and ever.
Ps. 44:2  My heart overflows with good tidings; I sing my song to the king.
V . Glory Be . . .

COLLECT

O God, you wondrously exalted the humble Virgin Mary in the Incarnation of Your only-begotten Son. May we be adopted as sons into Your divine family through the intercession of Your most Admirable Mother. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Commemoration of  SAINT JOHN CANTIUS
Except for a number of pilgrimages and eight years as a parish priest, John Cantius (1390-1473) spent his life as professor of theology in the University of Cracow. His pockets were always empty on account of his love for the poor. He often told his pupils to "fight all false opinions, but let your weapons be patience, sweetness, and love. Roughness is bad for your own soul and spoils the best cause."

O Almighty God, grant that the example of the holy confessor John may help us to advance in the science of the saints and in mercy towards others, so that we may obtain forgiveness for ourselves through his merits. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON (Cant. 2:10-14)

Behold my beloved speaketh to me: "Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come. For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come: the voice of the turtle is heard in our land: The fig tree hath put forth her green figs: the vines in flower yield their sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come: My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the wall, shew me thy face, let thy voice sound in my ears: for thy voice is sweet, and thy face comely."

GRADUAL (Cant. 2:2, 16)

As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. V. My beloved to me, and I to him who feeds among the lilies.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.(Cant. 6:9)
Who is she who comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array? Alleluia!

GOSPEL (Luke 1:26-35)

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON

You bore a child, O Virgin, and remained a virgin still. Mother of God, intercede for us.

SECRET

May this offering bring us prosperity and peace now and always, O Lord, through Your mercy and the intercession of the Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary. Through Christ our Lord.

Commemoration of  SAINT JOHN CANTIUS

May the merits of the holy confessor John make these offerings acceptable to You, O Lord. Grant that we may love You above all and love all men for Your sake, so that we may please You by every thought and deed. Through Christ our Lord.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON

You are blessed and venerable, O Virgin Mary, for without loss of your virginity you became the Mother of our Saviour.

POSTCOMMUNION

May we who have partaken of these helps toward our salvation, O Lord, be protected everywhere by the prayers of the most pure Virgin Mary, in whose honor we have offered this sacrifice to Your majesty. Through Christ our Lord.

Commemoration of  SAINT JOHN CANTIUS

O Lord, You have fed us with the food of Your own precious Body and Blood. We humbly ask that we may be led by the merits and example of Your holy confessor John to imitate his charity and to share in his glory; who lives and rules with God in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

 SAINT IRENE

(653 A.D.)

Virgin & Martyr

[Historical]

Irene was born in present-day Tomar, Portugal. She was born into an influential family, and her parents, wishing to protect her, sent her to a convent school and a private tutor. The only times she ever left her house was to attend Mass or pray at the sanctuary of Saint Peter. It so happened that a young nobleman named Britald happened to see her on one of her rare outings and fell desperately in love with her. Every time she left to go to church, he would follow her. Eventually he came forward with his proposal to court her; however, Irene made it clear that she would never marry him. When Britald fell ill with depression, Irene hastened to make it clear to him that the reason for her celibacy was that she had given herself to God as a nun.^[1]
Meanwhile, her tutor, a monk named Remigius (or Remígio) made improper advances to her, and when she declined, quit and spread vicious rumors about her. When asked why he was no longer tutoring the girl, he replied that he had left upon having learned that she was pregnant. This rumor circulated around the town, and eventually Britald learned of his beloved's supposed infidelity. Enraged, he hired a mercenary soldier to kill her. So, as Irene was returning home from visiting an elderly cripple, the assassin approached from behind and killed her with a single stroke of his sword.

Her body was thrown into River Tagus. Later, it was recovered uncorrupted by Benedictines near the town of Scalabris. They gave her a proper burial, and spread her cultus. Eventually, so great was the reverence paid to the virgin saint, that the name of the town of Scalabis was changed to Santarém ("Saint Irene").
Thus, Irene is the patron saint of Tomar and namesake Santarém.

Ecstasy of St. Peter of Alcantara
Painting by Melchior Perez Holguin, 18th century,
National Museum of Art, Bolivia

SAINT PETER OF ALCANTARA
Confessor

DOUBLE / WHITE
One of the great Spanish mystics of the 16th century, Peter of Alcantara (1499-1562) entered the Franciscan Order at 16. As a friar his time was divided between preaching to the poor and contemplative prayer. He instituted a very severe Franciscan reform known as the "Strick Observance." He defended St. Teresa of Avila when everyone else was against her, and assured her, from his own experience, that her contemplative prayer was genuine. After his death he appeared to Teresa and said to her: "O blessed penitence which has earned for me such great glory!"

Mass of a CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, except

COLLECT 

O God, You blessed the holy confessor Peter with a remarkable spirit of penance and the highest gift of contemplation. May his merits help us to mortify our flesh and deepen our understanding of the things of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

READING Philipp. 3:7-12
Brethren: The things that were gain to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ. Furthermore, I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ. And may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God: justice in faith. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings: being made conformable to his death, If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead. Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect: but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus.

SECRET

Grant we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the offering we humbly bring may be pleasing to Thee in honor of Thy Saints, and cleanse us alike in body and in soul. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION

We beseech Thee, almighty God, that we, who have received heavenly nourishment, may thereby, at the intercession of blessed Peter, Thy Confessor, be defended against all adversity. Through our Lord . . .

Incorrupt Body of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque 

SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE
Virgin

DOUBLE / WHITE
After a girlhood marked by painful illness and even more painful family discord, Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-90) entered the Visitation convent of Paray-le-Monial, France, at the age of 22. She was ignorant, sickly, and clumsy, but she had great charity and humility. Our Lord chose her to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart, at a time when rebellion without (Protestantism) and heresy within (Jansenism) were doing their best to separate Catholics from their faith and their God. "I will make you so poor and vile and abject in your own eyes, and I shall destroy you so utterly in the thought of your own heart, that I shall be able to build Myself up in the void," Jesus Christ said to the lowly nun. After violent opposition, the devotion to the Sacred Heart triumphed and is now one of the most beloved in the Church.

Image via Wikipedia

INTROIT Cant. 2:3
I sat down beneath the shadow of Him whom I desired; and His fruit was sweet to my palate.
Ps. 83:2-3. How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and faints for the courts of the Lord.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
Lord Jesus Christ, You wondrously revealed all the deep treasures of Your Heart to the blessed virgin Margaret Mary. May her merits and example win us the grace to love You above all things and in all things, so that we may make our abode in Your own Sacred Heart; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

EPISTLE Eph. 3:8-9, 14-19
Brethren: To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ: And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God who created all things: For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened by his Spirit with might unto the inward man: That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts: that, being rooted and founded in charity, You may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge: that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God.

GRADUAL Cant. 8:7; Ps. 72:26
Many waters cannot extinguish charity, nor can the floods drown it. Though my body and my spirit waste away, You are the God of my heart, my portion, O God, forever.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Cant. 7:10
I am my beloved's, and He turns toward me. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 11:25-30
At that time, Jesus answered and said: "I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. Yea, Father: for so hath it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no one knoweth the Son but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him. Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Zach. 9:17
What is the good we receive from Him, and what fair gift? Is it not the bread of the elect and the wine from which the purity of virgins springs forth?

SECRET
Accept the gifts of Your people, O Lord. Inflame our hearts with the same divine fire that radiated from the Heart of Your Son and burned so brightly in blessed Margaret Mary. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Cant. 6:2
I am my beloved's, and all mine is my beloved, who feeds among the lilies.

POSTCOMMUNION
May the prayers of the blessed virgin Margaret Mary expel the desire for worldly pleasures from our hearts, which have received the sacrament of Your Body and Blood, so that they may be filled with the meekness and humility of Your own Heart; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

SAINT TERESA OF AVILA
Virgin, Doctor

DOUBLE / WHITE
When she was seven, Teresa of Avila (1515-82) tried unsuccessfully to run away to seek martyrdom at the hands of the Moors. Following this initial frustration, Teresa spent a normal girlhood, until called to the Carmelite Order in 1533. Twenty years later, when she undertook the reform of her order, she founded many convents of Discalced Carmelites throughout Spain, her principal collaborator being St. John of the Cross. She managed to combine a schedule of heavy administrative responsibility with an intense interior program graced with many mystical blessings and issuing in a group of magnificent writings on the spiritual life. She always had great devotion to Christ the King and to St. Joseph (called the patron of interior souls). And she insisted on prayer for priests as one of the primary duties of her nuns. On account of her invaluable works on mystical Theology, she may be considered one of the greatest Doctors of the Church.

Mass of a VIRGIN, except

COLLECT
Hear our prayer, O God our savior. The feast of the blessed virgin Teresa fills us with joy; may her holy teaching also inspire us, and the example of her virtuous life guide us. Through our Lord . . .


SECRET
Accept this gift, O Lord, from a people dedicated to You. We offer it in honor of Your Saints for the help we have received from them when we were in trouble. Through our Lord . . .


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 . . .

SAINT EDWARD
King and Confessor

SIMPLE / WHITE
King Edward the Confessor reigned in England from the end of the Danish rule (1042) to the Norman conquest (1066). His subjects praised his simplicity, gentleness, humility, and purity. He made a practice of standing at his palace gate, speaking kindly to the beggars and lepers who crowded about him, and often he wrought cures among them. England grew prosperous during his rule of almost unbroken peace, and for ages afterward the people spoke with affection of the "laws of good St. Edward."

Image via Wikipedia

Mass of a CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, except
 
COLLECT
O God, You gave the blessed confessor king Edward a crown of everlasting glory. may we who honor him on earth be worthy to rule with him in heaven. Through our Lord . . .

SECRET 
We offer You, O Lord, this Sacrifice of praise in memory of Your saints. Free us from evil now and in the future through their intercession. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION 
Refreshed with Heavenly Food and Drink, we humbly pray You, our God, that we may be strengthened by the prayers of Your saint in whose memory we have received this Sacrament. Through our Lord . . .

FERIAL DAY

(Mass of preceding Sunday)

[Requiem or Votive Mass allowed]

OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR (36 A.D.)

[Historical]

Our Lady of the Pillar

In the early days of the Church, the ApostleJames the Greater was evangelizing the Gospel in Caesaraugusta, but his mission was making little progress until miraculously, he saw The Blessed Virgin Mary committing him to Jerusalem. In his vision, she was atop a column or pillar, which was being carried by angels. That pillar is believed to be the same one venerated in Zaragoza today. Miraculous healings have been reported at the scene.Our Lady of the Pillar (Spanish: Nuestra Señora del Pilar) is the name given to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her appearance in Spain. Her shrine is in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, by the river Ebro.

Image via Wikipedia

MOTHERHOOD OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

DOUBLE / SECOND CLASS

The dogma of the Divine Motherhood was defined by the Council of Ephesus in 431. In his encyclical proclaiming the present feast, which commemorated the 15th centenary of the council, Pope Pius XI especially requested that we pray to Mary for the return of the separated Churches of the East. For these Churches had united with the Pope and the whole Church at Ephesus in proclaiming her to be Mother of God, and to this day they retain a deep devotion to her. Mary is their Mother, also, for in becoming Mother of our Redeemer she became the spiritual mother of all men.

INTROIT Isa. 7:14

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and shall bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.

Ps. 97:1. Sing to the Lord a new canticle, for He has done wondrous deeds.

V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O God, You willed that Your Word should become incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the time of the angel's announcement. We firmly believe that Mary is truly the Mother of God. We pray that her powerful intercession with You may help us. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

LESSON Eccli. 24:23-31 [Sirach]

As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits. For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations. They that eat me, shall yet hunger: and they that drink me, shall yet thirst. He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting.

GRADUAL Isa. 11:1-2

There shall come forth a young branch from the root of Jesse and a flower shall rise up out of his root.

V. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.

Alleluia, alleluia! V.

O Virgin Mother of God, He whom the whole world cannot contain enclosed Himself in your womb and was made man. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 2:43-51

At that time, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: "Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." And he said to them: "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business?" And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Matt. 1:18

When Mary His Mother had been betrothed to Joseph, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

SECRET

O Lord, through Your mercy and the intercession of the Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of Your only-begotten Son, let this offering bring us prosperity and peace now and forever. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON

Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal God.

POSTCOMMUNION

May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us from sin, and bestow on us spiritual health from heaven through the intercession of the Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord .

Image via Wikipedia

In honor of Christopher Columbus:

Each night as the ship which bore the same name as the Queen of Heaven moved closer to the New World , the crew brought the day to a close with the chanting of the Salve Regina. The haunting and powerful melody must have been a balm to spirits shaken by fear and hard labor. Could this practice be an example of Columbus ’s ardent Marian devotion? A devotion which gave support to his intrepid spirit?

St. Ignatius Loyola receives St. Francis Borgia as Duke of Gandia

SAINT FRANCIS BORGIA
Confessor

SIMPLE / WHITE
Francis Borgia (1510-72), who has been called the "second founder of the Jesuits," began his public career as Duke of Gandia and Viceroy of Catalonia at the court of his friend and relative Emperor Charles V. He was the widowed father of eight before he entered the Society of Jesus at the age of 40. Always courteous, humble, and generous, he was given charge of all Jesuit missions abroad, and in 1565 he was elected General of the order. Working always in closest co-operation and friendship with Pope St. Pius V and St. Charles Borromeo, he shares their stature as a great figure of the Catholic Reform. Though he longed to go as an apostle to India, he wrote to another would-be missioner: "You will find your India wherever the Society needs you."

Mass of an ABBOT, except

COLLECT
O Lord Jesus Christ, You are the model of true humility and the reward of the humble. Let us share Your contempt for worldly honor, as Your blessed confessor Francis did, so that we may also share with this saint the glory of being Your follower; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

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

POSTCOMMUNION 
May the Sacrament we have received and the prayers of the blessed Francis 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 . . .

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST

SAINT JOHN LEONARDI
Confessor

SAINTS DENIS, RUSTICUS, AND ELEUTHERIUS
Martyrs

DOUBLE / GREEN
ENTRANCE HYMN Ps. 118:137, 124
You are just, O Lord, and Your judgment is right. Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy.
Ps. 118:1. Blessed are they who are undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, keep Your people from falling under the influence of the devil, and let our hearts follow You, our only God, that they may remain pure. Through our Lord . . .


Commemoration of SAINT JOHN LEONARDI
ohn Leonardi (1543-1609), a zealous Italian apostle, founded the congregation of the Mother of God, whose priest-members traveled throughout Tuscany urging the people to a stronger interest in their religion. Father John Leonardi longed to convert pagans, but his spiritual director, St. Philip Neri, told him to remain in Italy. So instead he founded in Rome a seminary to train for the priesthood young men from all the mission lands. This seminary developed into the Urban College of Propaganda, which has during succeeding centuries sent forth thousands of priests of all nationalities, to carry the Gospel to their own peoples.

O God, You filled the blessed confessor John with a wondrous zeal to spread the faith among pagans, and through him You established in Your Church a new congregation to instruct the faithful. Grand that his teachings may lead us, Your servants, to the reward of eternal life.

Commemoration of SAINTS DENIS, RUSTICUS, AND ELEUTHERIUS
Denis, a third-century apostle of God, and now one of the "auxiliary saints," became first bishop of Paris. He suffered martyrdom there, together with his priest Rusticus and his deacon Eleutherius.

O God, You sent Rusticus and Eleutherius to join blessed Denis in preaching Your glorious name to the pagans, and on this day You so strengthened this martyr bishop in virtue that he was able to endure martyrdom courageously. May we follow the example of Your saints for love of You and spurn the pleasures of the world, without fearing to face any of its trials. Through our Lord . . .
 
EPISTLE Eph. 4:1-6
Brethren: I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called: With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity. Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One body and one Spirit: as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all, who is blessed forever and ever. Amen.

GRADUAL Ps. 32:12, 6
Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen for His inheritance!
V. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all the celestial bodies thereof were created.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 101:2
O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come unto You. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 22:34-46
At that time, the Pharisees, hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, came together. And one of them, a doctor of the law, asked him, tempting him: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?"
Jesus said to him: " 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind.' This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets."
And the Pharisees being gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying: "What think you of Christ? Whose son is he?" They say to him: "David's." He saith to them: "How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying: 'The Lord said to my Lord: Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool?' If David then call him 'Lord,' how is he his son?" And no man was able to answer him a word: neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Dan. 9:17, 18, 19
I, Danial, prayed to my God, saying, "Hear, O Lord, the prayers of Your servant; show Your face upon Your sanctuary, and look down favorably upon this people upon whom Your name is invoked, O God."

SECRET
We humbly implore Your majesty, O Lord, to grant us, through the sacred rite that we here celebrate, pardon for our sins of the past and preservation from sin in the future. Through our Lord . . .


Commemoration of SAINT JOHN LEONARDI
Accept the offering of this pure host of salvation, O Lord. May this Sacrifice be presented to You unceasingly throughout the world through the intercession of Your blessed confessor John.

Commemoration of SAINT DENIS AND HIS COMPANIONS
O Lord, graciously accept these gifts which Your people offer in honor of Your saints, that we may be sanctified through their intercession. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 75:12-13
Make vows and fulfill them to the Lord your God, all you round about Him who bring gifts; to the awesome God who destroys the pride of princes, to Him who is awesome among all the kings of the earth.

POSTCOMMUNION
Almighty God, may the grace of this Sacrament cure our sinfulness and be an everlasting remedy for our weakness. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN LEONARDI
We are refreshed, O Lord, by the Sacrament of Your precious Body and Blood. May we imitate Your blessed confessor John, and profess what he believed and practice what he taught.

Commemoration of SAINT DENIS AND HIS COMPANIONS
O Lord, may the reception of Your Sacrament bring us ever nearer to our eternal redemption through the prayers of Your blessed martyrs Denis, Rusticus, and Eleutherius. Through our Lord . . .