SAINT PLACID AND HIS COMPANIONS, Martyrs; SAINT THOMAS OF HEREFORD (1287 A.D.)

SAINT PLACID AND HIS COMPANIONS

Martyrs

SAINT THOMAS OF HEREFORD

SIMPLE / RED
The Church commemorates today 32 Christians martyred in Sicily in the fourth century by Saracen pirates. An ancient tradition wrongly identified St. Placid, one of these martyrs, with the St. Placid who was a favorite disciple of St. Benedict two centuries later.

Mass of SEVERAL MARTYRS, except

Introit 

I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord; in whatever tribulation they shall cry to Me, I will hear them; and I will be their Lord forever.
Ps 77:1
Hearken, My people, to My teaching; incline yours ears to the words of My mouth.
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.
I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord; in whatever tribulation they shall cry to Me, I will hear them; and I will be their Lord forever.

COLLECT 

O God, who has granted us the grace to celebrate the birthday of Your blessed martyrs Placid and his companions, grant that we may also share their eternal happiness in heaven. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of ST. THOMAS OF HEREFORD
St. Thomas  Cantelupe, Chancellor of England and Bishop of Hereford. After devoting himself for some years to the pastoral charge, he went on pilgrimage to Rome. He died at Montefiascone in Italy on his journey home from Rome on August 25, 1287.

O God, who didst endow Thy Church with the angelical purity and the glorious virtues of blessed Bishop Thomas; grant unto us, Thy servants, that, by his good works, which plead for us, we may be found worthy to join him in the angelic Choir. Through our Lord . . .

Lesson 
Lesson from the letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians
Eph 4:23-28
Brethren: Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, which has been created according to God in justice and holiness of truth. Wherefore, put away lying and speak truth each one with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down upon your anger; do not give place to the devil. He who was wont to steal, let him steal no longer; but rather let him labor, working with his hands at what is good, that he may have something to share with him who suffers need.

Gradual 
Ps 140:2
Let my prayer come like incense before You, O Lord.
V. The lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 104:1
V. Give thanks to the Lord, invoke His name; make known among the nations His deeds. Alleluia.

Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 22:1-14
At that time, Jesus spoke to the chief priests and the Pharisees in parables, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a king who made a marriage feast for his son. And he sent his servants to call in those invited to the marriage feast for his son. And he sent his servants to call in those invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come. Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatlings are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.’ But they made light of it, and went off, one to his farm, and another to his business; and the rest laid hold of his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. But when the king heard of it, he was angry; and he sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The marriage feast indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy; go therefore to the crossroads, and invite to the marriage feast whomever you shall find.’ And his servants went out into the roads, and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; and the marriage feast was filled with guests. Now the king went in to see the guests, and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet and cast him forth into the darkness outside, where there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.

SECRET 

We offer these gifts to You in sacrifice, O Lord. May the honor we pay to Your saints please You, and may these offerings, through Your mercy, bring us closer to our salvation. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of ST. THOMAS OF HEREFORD
May this annual feast of Saint Thomas Thy Confessor and Bishop make us in Thy kindness acceptable to Thee, O Lord: and may this present rite duly appease Thee, bring happy recompense to him, and assure gifts of Thy grace to us. Through our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION 

May the intercession of Your holy martyrs Placid and his companions help us, O Lord, to cherish with pure hearts the Sacrament we have received upon our lips. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of ST. THOMAS OF HEREFORD
O God, the Rewarder of faithful souls, grant: by the prayers of blessed Thomas, Thy Confessor and Bishop, whose venerable feast we celebrate, we may obtain pardon. Through our Lord . . .