SUNDAY AFTER THE ASCENSION; SAINTS MARCELLINUS, PETER, AND ERASMUS Martyrs

SUNDAY AFTER THE ASCENSION

[Commemoration]

SAINTS MARCELLINUS, PETER, AND ERASMUS
Martyrs

DOUBLE / WHITE


Today's Mass has a touch of Good Friday, a sense of loss, a note of resignation that Christ's visible presence was not meant to continue. There was also a brave facing of the real world of Christian mystery, wherein charity is a constant need and violent opposition is a possible threat. But grace in the human heart is divine life shared with men: it is the seed of glory, the beginning of heaven. Mysteriously, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- tabernacled in every soul that is alive with grace -- are with every Christian as he goes on his missionary way to heaven.
 
INTROIT Ps. 26:7, 8, 9
Hear, O Lord, my voice as I cry to You, alleluia! my heart has spoken to You; I have sought You. Your presence, O Lord, I will seek; hide not Your face from me, alleluia, alleluia!
Ps. 26:1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Almighty and Eternal God, make our wills devoted to You so that our hearts may sincerely serve Your majesty. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS MARCELLINUS, PETER, ERASMUS
Marcellinus and Peter were Roman citizens, martyred during the reign of Diocletian about the year A.D. 303. Both were in the service of Christ and His Church: Marcellinus was a priest and Peter an exorcist. At the same period Erasmus, or Elmo, Bishop of Formiae in Campania, gave his life for His Master. St. Elmo was widely venerated during the Middle Ages as rge patron of sailors, and as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers in time of need.
 
O God, who dost gladden us by the yearly festival of Thy holy Martyrs Marcellinus, Peter and Erasmus, grant, we beseech Thee, that, as we rejoice in their merits, so our fervor may be kindled by their example. Through our Lord . . .
EPISTLE I Peter 4:7-11
Beloved: Be prudent therefore and watch in prayers. But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covereth a multitude of sins. Using hospitality one towards another, without murmuring, As every man hath received grace, ministering the same one to another: as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak, as the words of God. If any minister, let him do it, as of the power which God administereth: that in all things God may be honoured through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 46:9
God reigns over all the nations, God sits on His holy throne. Alleluia!
V. John 14:18. I will not leave you orphans; I go away, but I will come to you, and your heart shall rejoice. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 15:26-27; 16:1-4
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "When the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall give testimony of me. And you shall give testimony, because you are with me from the beginning. "These things have I spoken to you things have I spoken to you that you may not be scandalized. They will put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth a service to God. And these things will they do to you; because they have not known the Father nor me. But these things I have told you, that when the hour shall come, you may remember that I told you of them."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 46:6
God ascends His throne amid shouts of joy, the Lord is taken up with the sound of trumpets, alleluia!

SECRET
Cleanse us through this spotless offering, O Lord, and let our souls be made strong by Your heavenly grace. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS MARCELLINUS, PETER, ERASMUS 
 May this Sacrifice, O Lord, which we offer in remembrance of the birthdays of Your Saints, free us from the slavery of sin and win us Your mercy. Through our Lord . . .
COMMUNION ANTIPHON John 17:12-13, 15
Father, while I was with them, I kept them whom You gave Me, alleluia! but now I am coming to You; I do not pray that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from evil, alleluia, alleluia!

POSTCOMMUNION
Grant, O Lord, that we may always be grateful for the Sacramental Gift that we have just received. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINTS MARCELLINUS, PETER, ERASMUS
Nourished by Your sacred gift, O Lord, we humbly ask that through this worship we may receive an increase of Your saving grace. Through our Lord . . .