FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST; OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA [Historical]

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA
 
[Historical]
(See below) 

DOUBLE / GREEN
God made the human body sacred and beautiful, the procreator with God of new life, the instrument by which Christ redeemed all mankind, the essential implement of zealous apostles, the very temple of the Trinity, destined to be resurrected and glorified. On earth, however, the body is not to be idolized or pampered, not to be served as a domineering tyrant. Left to itself, each bodily instinct seeks its own satisfaction, often to the harm of the whole person. Restraint controls the body and frees the soul for joy in living Christian ideals.

INTROIT Ps. 83:10-11
O God, our Protector, look, and gaze upon the face of Your Christ. Better indeed is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere.
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
Keep Your Church, O Lord, in Your everlasting mercy. Without Your assistance our human nature is bound to fall, so help us to shun whatever is harmful and guide us towards those things that will aid our salvation. Through our Lord . . .



EPISTLE Gal. 5:16-24
Brethren: Walk in the Spirit: and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh: For these are contrary one to another: so that you do not the things that you would. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest: which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury,
Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, Mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences.


GRADUAL Ps. 117:8-9
It is better to trust in the Lord than to confide in man.
V. It is better to have confidence in the Lord than to rely on princes.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 94:1
Come, let us praise the Lord with joy, let us sing joyfully to God our Saviour. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 6:24-33
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. "Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment? Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they? And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit? "And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. And if the grass of the field, which is to day, and to morrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith? "Be not solicitous therefore, saying: What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 33:8-9
The Angel of the Lord shall encamp around those who fear him, and shall deliver them. Taste and see how good is the Lord.

SECRET 
O Lord, grant that this offering of the Sacrifice of salvation may take away our sins and appease Your majesty. Through our Lord . . .


COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 6:33
"Seek first the kingdom of God, and all other things shall be given you besides," said the Lord.


POSTCOMMUNION 
May Your Sacrament ever cleanse and strengthen us, O God, and lead us to eternal salvation. Through our Lord . . .

English: The Black Madonna of Czestochowa Polski: Ikona Matki Boskiej z Jasnej Góry w Częstochowie zwana Czarną Madonną (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Feast Day: August 26 - Our Lady of Czestochowa

History:

The origin of this miraculous image in Czestochowa, according to tradition, the painting was a portrait of Our Lady done by St. John sometime after the Crucifixion of Our Lord and remained in the Holy Land until discovered by St. Helena of the Cross in the fourth century. The painting was taken to Constantinople, where St. Helena's son, the Emperor Constantine, erected a church for its enthronement.  During the siege by the Saracens, the invaders became frightened when the people carried the picture in a procession around the city; the infidels fled. Later, the image was threatened with burning by an evil emperor, who had a wife, Irene, who saved it and hid it from harm. The image was in that city for 500 years, until it became part of some dowries, eventually being taken to Russia to a region that later became Poland.

After the portrait became the possession of the Polish prince, St. Ladislaus in the 15th century, it was installed in his castle. Tartar invaders besieged the castle and an enemy arrow pierced Our Lady's image, inflicting a scar. Interestingly, repeated attempts to fix the image, artistically have all failed.

Tradition says that St. Ladislaus determined to save the image from repeated invasions, so he went to his birthplace, Opala, stopping for rest in Częstochowa; the image was brought nearby to Jasna Góra (bright hill")and placed in a small wooden church named for the Assumption. The following morning, after the picture was carefully placed in the wagon, the horses refused to move. St. Ladislaus understood this to be a sign from Heaven that the image should stay in Częstochowa; thus he replaced the painting in the Church of the Assumption, August 26, 1382, a day still observed as the Feast Day. The Saint wished to have the holiest of men guard the painting, so he assigned the church and the monastery to the Pauline Fathers, who have devoutly protected the image for the last six hundred years.

Having survived two attacks upon it, Our Lady's image was next in peril by the Hussites. The Hussites successfully stormed the Pauline monastery in 1430, plundering the sanctuary. Among the items stolen was the image. After putting it in their wagon, the Hussites went a little ways but then the horses refused to go any further. Recalling the former incident that was so similar, the heretics threw the portrait down to the ground, which shattered the image into three pieces. One of the plunderers drew his sword and slashed the image twice, causing two deep gashes; while attempting a third gash, he was overcome with a writhing agony and died.

The two slashes on the cheek of the Blessed Virgin, together with the one on the throat, have always reappeared after artistic attempts to fix them. The portrait again faced danger in 1655 by a Swedish horde of 12,000, which confronted the 300 men guarding the image. The band of 300 routed the 12,000 and the following year, the Holy Virgin was acclaimed Queen of Poland.

Prayer

(to be said each day upon rising)

HOLY MOTHER of Czestochowa, Thou art full of grace,
goodness and mercy. I consecrate to Thee all my thoughts,
words and actions----my soul and body. I beseech Thy
blessings and especially prayers for my salvation.
Today, I consecrate myself to Thee, Good Mother, totally
 ----with body and soul amid joy and sufferings to obtain
for myself and others Thy blessings on this earth and
eternal life in Heaven. Amen.

Imprimatur: Cardinal O' Boyle, Washington, DC

SAINT LOUIS IX (1270 A.D.); SAINT PATRICIA (665 A.D.)

Detail of 'St-Louis IX at the Battle of Taillebourg',
painted by Eugène Delacroix in 1837 (at 'Galerie des Batailles', Versailles). The decisive engagement of this brief, but critical war was fought on 21 or 22 July 1242, near the strategic bridge over the Charente river just south of the château of Taillebourg.

SAINT LOUIS IX
King and Confessor

SAINT PATRICIA

Virgin (665 A.D.)

[Historical]

SIMPLE / WHITE 
King Louis IX of France (1215-70) is acknowledged the ideal Christian monarch. Not only was his private life marked by a spirit of contemplation and asceticism overflowing in Christ-like charity toward all men, from fellow kings to the lowest of his subjects; he also gave his country a rule of unprecedented peace, justice, and material and spiritual prosperity. He fostered the flowering of Gothic architecture, developed the University of Paris. So great was his apostolic zeal that when he joined the Crusades he personally prepared Saracen converts for baptism and sent their children to France for a Catholic education. In a message to the Sultan of Tunis he wrote: "I desire so strongly the salvation of your soul that to secure it I would gladly spend the rest of my life in a Saracen prison. . . ." He died of plague at Tunis during his second campaign to save the Holy Land.



Introit
Ps 36:30-31
The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom, and his tongue utters what is right. The law of his God is in his heart.
Ps 36:1
Be not vexed over evildoers, nor jealous of those who do wrong.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom, and his tongue utters what is right. The law of his God is in his heart. 

Mass of a CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, except

 COLLECT
O God, You raised the blessed confessor Louis from an earthly throne to the glory of Your kingdom in heaven. May the merits and prayers of this saint bring us to share in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, Your Son, the King of kings; who lives and rules with You . . .

LESSON Wisdom 10:10-14
The Lord conducted the just through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours, and accomplished his labours. In the deceit of them that overreached him, he stood by him, and made him honourable. He kept him safe from his enemies, and he defended him from seducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and know that wisdom is mightier than all. He forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him from sinners: he went down with him into the pit. And in bands he left him not, till he brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed them to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory.


Gradual
Ps 91:13-14
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow in the house of the Lord.
Ps 91:3
V. To proclaim Your kindness at dawn and Your faithfulness throughout the night. Alleluia, alleluia.
James 1:12
V. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life. Alleluia.

GOSPEL Luke 19:12-26
At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples, "A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds and said to them: 'Trade till I come.' But his citizens hated him and they sent an embassage after him, saying: 'We will not have this man to reign over us.' "And it came to pass that he returned, having received the kingdom: and he commanded his servants to be called, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading, And the first came saying: 'Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.' And he said to him: 'Well done, thou good servant, because thou hast been faithful in a little, thou shalt have power over ten cities.' And the second came, saying: 'Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.' And he said to him: 'Be thou also over five cities.' And another came, saying: 'Lord, behold here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin. For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou didst not lay down: and thou reapest that which thou didst not sow.' "He saith to him: 'Out of thy own mouth I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up what I laid not down and reaping that which I did not sow. And why then didst thou not give my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have exacted it with usury?' And he said to them that stood by: 'Take the pound away from him and give it to him that hath ten pounds.' And they said to him: 'Lord, he hath ten pounds.' But I say to you that to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: and from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him."

SECRET
O Almighty God, may we be made acceptable to You through the prayers of Your blessed confessor Louis, who spurned the pleasures of this world and sought only to please Christ the King. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION
O God, may the Church have as her defender the blessed confessor Louis, on whom You bestowed renown on earth and glory in heaven. Through our Lord . . .

 

Virgin 

{Historical}

 Patron of Naples, Italy

Saint Patricia of Naples, or Patricia of Constantinople (Italian: Santa Patrizia) (d. ca. 665 AD), is an Italian virgin martyr and saint. Tradition states that she was noble; she may have been related to the Roman Emperor. Some sources say that she was a descendant of Constantine the Great.^[1]
Wishing to escape an marriage arranged by Constans II and become a nun, she went to Rome. There she received the veil from Pope Liberius. Upon the death of her father, she returned to Constantinople and, renouncing any claim to the imperial crown, distributed her wealth to the poor. She then planned to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
However, a terrible storm shipwrecked her on the shores of Naples. Finding refuge on the tiny island of Megarides (the site of the present-day Castel dell'Ovo), the site of a small hermitage, Patricia died shortly after from disease.
Like St. Januarius there, a vial believed to be filled with her blood reportedly liquefies thirteen hundred years after her death. 

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST; SAINT JOHN EUDES Confessor (1680 A.D.)

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SAINT JOHN EUDES
Confessor

DOUBLE / GREEN
God promised and gave to His people the country of Palestine. That land stood for all the blessings that God promises and gives to those who sincerely believe in Christ.
The obvious endurance and influence of Christ's Church is proof that God is keeping His promise. Every good Christian, every saint and martyr, every doctrine and directive, every least Christian kindness, and above all, every Mass, in which Christ mystically seals God's promise with His blood -- all these are the work of God keeping His promise. Daily thanks are due Him.

INTROIT Ps. 73:20, 19, 23
Advert to Your covenant, O Lord, and forget not forever the lives of the poor. Arise, O Lord, defend Your own cause; and be not unmindful of the cries of those who seek You.
Ps. 73:1. O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why is Your anger blazing up against the sheep of Your pasture?
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
 Almighty and Eternal God, deepen our faith, our hope and our charity, so that we may attain what You have promised and love what You have commanded. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN EUDES 
John Eudes (1601-80) was a zealous preacher of missions in French towns and villages, and was equally zealous in the confessional. In 1643, he founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, called the Eudists, an institute combining the work of parochial missions with that of training and reform of the clergy; and, a year later, the Congregation of Sisters of the Good Shepherd. In his widely-read writings he was the first to urge public devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

O God, You inflamed the blessed confessor John with a wondrous zeal to promote the public worship of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and You also founded a new congregation in the Church through this saint. May the example of his merits teach all of us who venerate his deep virtue. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .
 

EPISTLE Gal. 3:16-22
Brethren: To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not: And to his seeds as of many. But as of one: And to thy seed, which is Christ. Now this I say: that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one. Was the law then against the promises of God: God forbid! For if there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.

GRADUAL Ps. 73:20, 19, 22
Advert to Your covenant, O Lord, and forget not forever the lives of the poor.
V. Arise, O Lord, and defend Your own cause; remember the abuse hurled against Your servants.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 89:1
O Lord, You have been our refuge through all generations. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 17:11-19
At that time, as Jesus was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off. And lifted up their voice, saying: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." Whom when he saw, he said: "Go, shew yourselves to the priests."
And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean. And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God. And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks. And this was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering, said: "Were not ten made clean? And where are the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger?" And he said to him: "Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 30:15-16
I have hoped in You, O Lord. I have said, "You are my God; my life is in Your hands."

SECRET
O Lord, look with favor upon Your people and their gifts. Let this offering move You to compassion and grant forgiveness for our sins and a speedy answer to our prayers. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN EUDES 

In honor of Your blessed priest John, O Lord, we offer to You in sacrifice these gifts that are our consolation on earth and encourage us to hope for an eternal reward. Through our Lord . . .
 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Sap. 16:20
You have given us Bread from Heaven, o Lord, all delicate and sweet to taste.

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, may the reception of Your Sacrament bring us ever nearer to our eternal redemption. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN EUDES 
We are refreshed by Your Sacred Gift, O Lord, and beg You, through the intercession of blessed John, who fervently worshiped the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, to keep us on earth so close to these same Hearts that we may delight in them in Heaven. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

Saint Agipitus (275 A.D.), Saint Helen (326 A.D.) Within the Octave

Beheading of Saint Agapitus

SAINT HELENA

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 . . .

Lesson
Lesson from the first letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
1 Cor. 12:2-11
Brethren: You know that when you were Gentiles, you went to dumb idols according as you were led. Wherefore I give you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God, says Anathema to Jesus. And no one can say Jesus is Lord, except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of ministries, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of workings, but the same God, Who works all things in all. Now the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for profit. To one through the Spirit is given the utterance of wisdom; and to another the utterance of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit; to another the gift of healing, in the one Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another the distinguishing of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But all these things are the work of one and the same Spirit, Who allots to everyone according as He will.
R. Thanks be to God.

Gradual
Ps 16:8, 2.
Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.
V. From You let judgment come; Your eyes behold what is right. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 64:2
V. To You we owe our hymn of praise, O God, in Sion; to You must vows be fulfilled in Jerusalem. Alleluia

Gospel
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 18:9-14
At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves as being just and despised others. Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and began to pray thus within himself: ‘O God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men, robbers, dishonest, adulterers, or even like this publican. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I possess.’ But the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went back to his home justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.
 

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  . . .

Saints Tiburtius and Susanna, (288 A.D.); Saint Philomena (304 A.D.) Martyrs

 
Tiburtius en Suzanna
Roma Crypte van de Santa Suzanna.

SAINTS TIBURTIUS AND SUSANNA
Martyrs

SAINT PHILOMENA

Virgin and Martyr

[In some places]

SIMPLE / RED
Tiburtius was the son of the prefect of Rome, a convert to the Faith. Shortly after being ordained subdeacon, the young man was betrayed to the persecutors by an apostate. Like St. Lawrence, Tiburtius was tortured by fire. He was then beheaded, about A.D. 288.
On the same day, a noble Christian virgin by the name of Susanna suffered a similar death. Because of her vow of virginity she had refused to marry the son of Emperor Diocletian; so she was beheaded in her own home by that ruler's orders.

Mass of SEVERAL MARTYRS except

COLLECT
Comfort us, O Lord, with the unfailing protection of Your holy martyrs Tiburtius and Susanna, for You are always merciful to those who are helped by Your saints. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PHILOMENA
Little is known of her life, and the information was received by private revelation from her. Martyred at about age 14 in the early days of the Church.

In 1802 the remains of a young woman were found in the catacomb of Saint Priscilla on the Via Salaria. It was covered by stones, the symbols on which indicated that the body was a martyr named Saint Philomena. The bones were exhumed, cataloged, and effectively forgotten since there was so little known about the person.

In 1805 Canon Francis de Lucia of Mugnano, Italy was in the Treasury of the Rare Collection of Christian Antiquity (Treasury of Relics) in the Vatican. When he reached the relics of Saint Philomena he was suddenly struck with a spiritual joy, and requested that he be allowed to enshrine them in a chapel in Mugnano. After some disagreements, settled by the cure of Canon Francis following prayers to Philomena, he was allowed to translate the relics to Mugnano. Miracles began to be reported at the shrine including cures of cancer, healing of wounds, and the Miracle of Mugnano in which Venerable Pauline Jaricot was cured a severe heart ailment overnight. Philomena became the only person recognized as a Saint solely on the basis of miraculous intercession as nothing historical was known of her except her name and the evidence of her martyrdom.

Pope Leo XII granted permission for the erection of altars and churches in her honor. Pope Gregory XVI authorized her public veneration, and named her patroness of the Living Rosary. The cure of Pope Pius IX, while archbishop of Imola, was attributed to Philomena; in 1849, he named her patroness of the Children of Mary. Pope Leo XIII approved the Confraternity of Saint Philomena, and raised it to an Archconfraternity. Pope Pius X raised the Archconfraternity to a Universal Archconfraternity, and named Saint John Vianney its patron. Saint John Vianney himself called Philomena the New Light of the Church Militant, and had a strong and well-known devotion to her. Others with known devotion to her include Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Saint Euphrasia Pelletier, Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini, Saint John Nepomucene Neumann, Saint Madeline Sophie Barat, Saint Peter Chanel, Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, and Venerable Pauline Jaricot.

Addition Info:

In 1802, the bones of a female between the ages of 13 and 15 were discovered in the catacomb of St. Priscilia. An inscription near her tomb read "Peace be with thee, Philomena", along with drawings of 2 anchors, 3 arrows and a palm. Near her bones was discovered a small glass vial, containing the remains of blood. Because it was a popular custom of the early martyrs to leave symbols and signs such as these, it was easily determined that St. Philomena was a virgin and a martyr. Her popularity soon became widespread, with her most memorable devotees being St. John Vianney, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, St. Peter Eymard, and St. Peter Chanel. After being miraculously cured, Ven. Pauline Jaricot insisted that Pope Gregory XVI begin an examination for the beatification of St. Philomena, who was to become known as the "wonder worker". After hundreds of other miraculous cures, she was beatified in 1837. St. Philomena, who the pope named as the Patroness of the Living Rosary and the Patroness of the Children of Mary, is the only person recognized as a saint solely on the basis of her powerful intercession, although pertinent revelations regarding her life have been recorded. Her relics are now preserved in Mugnano, Italy.

O God, who among the other marvels of Thy power, hast granted even to the weaker sex the victory of martyrdom, mercifully grant, that we who celebrate the heavenly birthday of blessed Philomena, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may by her example draw nearer to Thee. Through our Lord . . .


EPISTLE Heb. 11:33-39
Brethren: The saints by faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GOSPEL Luke 12:1-8
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. "And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. "Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows. And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God." 

SECRET 
Hear the prayers of Your people and look kindly upon their gifts, O Lord. may the offering of these sacred mysteries please You through the intercession of Your saints. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PHILOMENA
Receive, O Lord, the gifts which we bring Thee on the feast of blessed Philomena, Thy Virgin and Martyr, by whose patronage we hope to be delivered. Through our Lord . . . 

POSTCOMMUNION 
We have received in Holy Communion the pledge of eternal salvation, O Lord. May it help us in this life and in the life to come through the prayers of Your holy martyrs. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT PHILOMENA
May the Mysteries which we have received, help us, O Lord; and by the intercession of blessed Philomena, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may we ever enjoy Thy protection. Through our Lord . . .

English: Saint Philomena by Amaury-Duval (1808-1885) Français : Sainte Philomène par Amaury-Duval (1808-1885) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Parish Priest: Tradition must be completely legitimized in order to wipe out the confusion which now reigns supreme

RORATE CÆLI: A Parish Priest: Tradition must be completely legitimized in order to wipe out the confusion which now reigns supreme:

“I went to Confession in my parish. The priest who was about 60
years old, said to me “I have been here almost five years and it seems to me
that I have never seen you before”.

“That’s true Father. You have
never seen me because every Sunday I go to the […….] Shrine where Holy Mass in
the Old Rite is celebrated.” (Editor’s note: following the liturgical
indications of the Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum).

I expected the usual lecture as
had happened when I spoke about it to the Rector of a very famous Marian
Shrine. Instead this priest very kindly said to me: “Keep going my son: that is
the real future of the Church!” The liturgy of our fathers will save the
Church! Keep going and never give up!”

“Father – I replied – why don’t
you celebrate the Mass in the Old Rite which you praise so highly?”

The priest: “After
my first public celebration I experienced disparagement on the part of my
order,  but most of all  I’m concerned that they will send a Protestant
pastor here [in the parish] – be patient for a little while longer: Tradition
is going be completely legitimized and the
pestilent confusion which is reigning supreme now will be wiped out.
Have faith: Our Lady will help us!”                                 

[Source]

Translation: Contributor Francesca Romana