The Seven Holy Brothers; Saints Rufina and Secunda (257 A.D.), Martyrs; Our Lady of Good Counsel

THE SEVEN BROTHERS 
Martyrs

SAINTS RUFINA AND SECUNDA 
Virgins and Martyrs

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
[In some places]

SIMPLE (RED)
The Roman widow Felicitas and her seven sons were martyred in about the year 162. Pope Gregory the Great said of her, "She was more than a martyr, for seeing her seven children martyred before her eyes, she was in some sort a martyr in each of them."
A century later, Rufina and Secunda, daughters of a wealthy Roman, refused to marry two suitors who had apostatized from the Christian religion. They were scourged and beheaded.

INTROIT Ps. 112:1, 9
Praise the Lord, you His children, praise the name of the Lord, who establishes the barren wife in her home as a happy mother of children. 
Ps. 112:2. Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, we pay honor to the bravery of Your glorious martyrs in bearing witness to You. Grant that we may feel the power of their intercession with You. Through our Lord . . .
 

Commemoration of OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
The devotion of Our Lady of Good Counsel originated at Gennazzano in Italy A.D. 1467. A picture of Our Lady originally at Scutari in Albania, was miraculously transferred to the Augustinian church, then in course of construction. This Church, in which is enshrined the miraculous picture, became a place of popular pilgrimage.

O God, who didst give us the Mother of Thy beloved Son for our Mother, and wert pleased by a wondrous apparition to glorify a beauteous picture of her, grant, we beseech Thee, that ever hearkening to her counsels, we may be enabled to live according to Thy Heart, and happily to reach our home in heaven. Through our Lord . . . 

LESSON Prov. 31:10-31
Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. She will render him good, and not evil all the days of her life.She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands. She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar. And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens. She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm. She hath tasted, and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night. She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments. She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple, is her covering. Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land. She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day. She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. She hath looked well on the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle. Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her. Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates. 

GRADUAL Ps. 123:7-8
Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowlers' snare.
V. The snare has been broken and we are free. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 

Alleluia, alleluia! V.
Here was true brotherliness which overcame the sinfulness of the world and followed Christ to attain the glorious kingdom of heaven. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 12:46-50
At that time, as Jesus was still speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him. And one said unto him: "Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking thee." But he answering him that told him, said: "Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?" And stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, he said: "Behold my mother and my brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother." 

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 123:7
Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowlers' snare. The snare has been broken and we are free.

SECRET 
Look with favor upon these offerings, O Lord, that they may be an aid to our devotion and to our salvation. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL  
Sanctify, O Lord, the Sacrifice we bring; and by the most salutary intercession of Blessed Mary Mother of God, Mother of Good Counsel, grant that it may avail us unto salvation. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt. 12:50
"Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother," said the Lord.

POSTCOMMUNION 
Almighty God, grant that by the intercession of Your saints we may attain the salvation promised us through this Sacrament. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
O Lord, may the venerable intercession of Thy glorious Mother, Mary ever Virgin, be our hope. May she who has showered upon us continual benefits ever make us see what it behoveth us to do, and strengthen us to fulfill the same: Who livest and reignest . . .