Saint Stephen, King of Hungary (1038 A.D.); Saint Ingrid of Sweden (1282 A.D.)

SAINT STEPHEN

King, Confessor

SIMPLE/WHITE

As late as the tenth century the Magyar tribesmen of eastern Europe were still strangers to Christianity. King Stephen
(997-1038) summoned missioners from France and Germany to preach the
Faith to his subjects, and he himself accompanied the foreign priests on
their apostolic journeys. The royal apostle promoted the growth of the
Church in his realm so
tirelessly that even during his lifetime Hungary developed from a rough
mission land into a Christian kingdom. The Holy Father established a
Hungarian hierarchy and conferred upon Stephen the title of Apostolic
King. Having dedicated his country to Mary, "the Great Lady," King
Stephen died in 1038 on the feast of her Assumption.



Mass of a CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, except



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. 



COLLECT

Almighty God, grant that the blessed confessor Stephen may now defend
the Church from his throne in heaven, just as he fostered her growth
when he ruled on earth. Through our Lord . . .



Lesson


Lesson from the book of Ecclesiasticus

Ecclus 31:8-11

Happy the man found without fault, who turns not aside after gain, nor
puts his trust in money nor in treasures! Who is he, that we may praise
him? For he has done wonders in his life. He has been tested by gold and
come off safe, and this remains his glory forever; he could have sinned
but did not, could have done evil but would not, so that his
possessions are secure in the Lord, and the assembly of the Saints shall
recount his alms.

R. Thanks be to God.



Gradual


Ps 91:12, 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

Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Luke

R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

Luke 19:12-26

At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: A certain
nobleman went into a far country to obtain for himself a kingdom and
then return. And having summoned ten of his servants, he gave them ten
gold pieces and said to them, ‘Trade till I come.’ But his citizens
hated him; and they sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not wish
this man to be king over us.’ And it came to pass when he had returned,
after receiving the kingdom, that he ordered the servants to whom he had
given the money to be called to him in order that he might learn how
much each one had made by trading. And the first came, saying, ‘Lord,
your gold piece has earned ten gold pieces.’ And he said to him, ‘Well
done, good servant; because you have been faithful in a very little, you
shall have authority over ten towns.’ Then the second came, saying,
‘Lord, your gold piece has made five gold pieces.’ And he said to him,
‘Be you also over five towns.’ And another came, saying, ‘Lord, behold
your gold piece, which I have kept laid up in a napkin; for I feared
you, because you are a stern man. You take up what you did not lay down,
and you reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘Out of your own
mouth I judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I am a stern man,
taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow. Why,
then, did you not put my money in a bank, so that I on my return might
have gotten it with interest?’ And he said to the bystanders, ‘Take away
the gold piece from him, and give it to him who has the ten gold
pieces.’ But they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten gold pieces.’ I say to
you that to everyone who has shall be given; but from him who does not
have, even that which he has shall be taken away.





SECRET

Look graciously upon our offerings, O
Almighty God. Grant that we may imitate the selfless sacrifice of Our
Lord's Passion which we celebrate in this Sacrificial Rite. Through the
same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord . . .



POSTCOMMUNION

Almighty God, may we walk with true
devotion in the path of faith of Your blessed confessor Stephen, whose
zeal for spreading that faith made him worthy to pass from an earthly
kingdom to a glorious throne in heaven. Through our Lord . . .

SAINT INGRID OF SWEDEN

[Historical]

Born in Skänninge, Sweden, in the 13th century, St. Ingrid lived
under the spiritual direction of Peter of Dacia, a Dominican priest. She
was the first Dominican nun in Sweden and in 1281 she founded the first
Dominican cloister there, called St. Martin's in Skänninge. She died in
1282 surrounded by an aura of sanctity.

Miracles obtained through her intercession followed and led to a
popular cult of this saint. In 1405, a canonization process was begun
and the Swedish Bishops introduced her cause at the Council of
Constance. An inquest was held in Sweden in 1416-1417 and the results
were inconclusive. In 1497, the cause was reactivated and in 1507
her relics were solemnly translated, and a Mass and Office were composed
- but formal canonization seems never to have occurred. During the
Reformation, her cult came to an end and her convent and relics were
destroyed.