SEPTUGESIMA SUNDAY; SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA (444 A.D.); SAINT APOLLONIA (249 A.D.)

SEPTUGESIMA SUNDAY

[Commemoration]

SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA

Bishop and Doctor of the Church

SAINT APOLLONIA
Virgin and Martyr

The emphasis today has ceased to be upon the joys of Christ's coming or upon the peace and wonder of possessing Him. Now the stress is on what it cost Our Lord to atone for the sins of men, on how much everyone needs His atoning death, and on what everyone can do to have a part in atoning for sin.

Every Christian without exception must enter into the warfare between Christ and Satan -- the warfare that begins to be dramatized and lived anew in these weeks.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON (Ps. 17:5, 6, 7)

The moaning of death surrounded me, the sorrows of hell enveloped me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and from His holy temple He heard my voice. Ps. 17:2, 3. I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my support, my refuge, and my deliverer. V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O Lord, we beg You to kindly hear the prayers of Your people. We are being justly punished for our sins, but be merciful and free us for the glory of Your name. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA
Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria, was known as the Doctor of the Incarnation. He took a fearless stand against the Nestorian heretics who denied that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity was made man. As the Pope's legate, Cyril presided over the third General Council, held at Ephesus in 431. The clear statements of this great council regarding the Incarnation defined that the Son of God is both God and man and that the Blessed Virgin, His Mother, is truly the Mother of God. Of St. Cyril it may be said, "Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the Church shall show forth his praise" (Eccli. 39:14).

O God, You made Cyril, Your blessed confessor bishop, the invincible champion of the most blessed Virgin Mary's divine Motherhood. We firmly believe that she is truly the Mother of God. May her motherly protection save us through the prayers of St. Cyril.

Commemoration of SAINT APOLLONIA

Apollonia was a virgin and deaconess of Alexandria. She died for Christ during a bloody persecution of the faithful in A.D. 249.

O God, one of the marvelous examples of Your power was granting the victory of martyrdom even to delicate womanhood. May the example of the blessed virgin martyr Apollonia, whose birthday we celebrate today, draw us closer to You. Through Our Lord . . . 

EPISTLE (I Cor. 9:24-27; 10:1-5)

Brethren: Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize. So run that you may obtain. And every one that striveth for the mastery refraineth himself from all things. And they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown: but we an incorruptible one. I therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty: I so fight, not as one beating the air. But I chastise my body and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway. For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud: and all passed through the sea. And all in Moses were baptized, in the cloud and in the sea: And did all eat the same spiritual food: And all drank the same spiritual drink: (And they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.) But with most of them God was not well pleased.

GRADUAL (Ps. 9:10-11, 19-20)

You are a helper to those in need, in time of distress. Let those who know You trust in You, O Lord, for You do not forsake those who seek You. For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor shall the patience of the poor forever perish. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail.

TRACT (Ps. 129:1-4)

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the prayer of Your servant. V. If You, O Lord, shall mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? V. But with You there is merciful forgiveness, and because of Your law I have waited for You, O Lord.

GOSPEL (Matt. 20:1-16)

At that time, Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle. And he said to them: 'Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just.' And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner. But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: 'Why stand you here all the day idle?' They say to him: 'Because no man hath hired us.' He saith to them: 'Go ye also into my vineyard.' And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: 'Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first.' When therefore they were come that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: And they also received every man a penny. And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house, Saying: 'These last have worked but one hour. and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.' But he answering said to one of them: 'friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny? Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee. Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Is thy eye evil, because I am good?' So shall the last be first and the first last. For many are called but few chosen."

OFFERTORY HYMN (Ps. 91:2)

It is good to praise the Lord, and to sing to Your name, O Most High.

SECRET PRAYER
Accept our offerings and prayers, O Lord. Cleanse us by this heavenly rite, and in Your mercy hear our petitions. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA

O Almighty God, look graciously upon these offerings of ours. Through the intercession of blessed Cyril may we worthily receive into our hearts Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is coeternal with You in glory; who lives and rules with You . . .

Commemoration of SAINT APOLLONIA

O Lord, Accept the gifts we bring You on the feast of Your blessed virgin martyr Apollonia, through whose intercession we hope to be set free. Through Our Lord . . . 

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Ps. 30:17-18)

Let Your face shine upon Your servant, and save me in Your kindness. Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I call upon You.

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER

O Lord, may the faithful be strengthened by the reception of Your Sacramental Gifts. And having received them, may they hunger after them still; and through hungering may they come constantly to be nourished by them. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA

O Lord, we have been nourished by Your divine Sacrament. May the example and merits of the blessed bishop Cyril help us to serve fittingly the most holy Mother of Your only-begotten Son; who lives and rules with You . . .

Commemoration of SAINT APOLLONIA

O Lord, through the intercession of Your blessed virgin martyr Apollonia, may we be aided by the reception of the Blessed Sacrament and rejoice in Your everlasting protection. Through Our Lord . . .