OCTOBER 29 FERIAL DAY; SAINT NARCISSUS (222 A.D.)

 

FERIAL DAY 

(Mass of preceding Sunday)

[Requiem or Votive Mass allowed]

 

SAINT NARCISSUS 

BISHOP OF JERUSALEM 

(Historical)

 

2nd-3rd century bishop of Jerusalem. Late in life, he was accused of a crime. None of the Christians in his diocese believed it, but Narcissus did not believe he should serve after being under such a cloud, and he became a desert hermit. After a complete acquittal, Narcissus returned to his see, older, weathered, but stronger and more zealous than ever, and served several more years. When his age began to wear on him, he begged God to send a bishop to help him. Saint Alexander of Cappadocia responded, and the two ruled the diocese together, Narcissus lived to age 116.

Born: 99
Died: 215 of natural causes
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Patronage: insect bites 

Introit
Esth 13:9-11
In Your will are all things, O Lord, and there is none that can resist Your will; for You have made all things, heaven and earth, and all things that are under the cope of heaven. Your are Lord of all.
Ps 118:1
Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.
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.
In Your will are all things, O Lord, and there is none that can resist Your will; for You have made all things, heaven and earth, and all things that are under the cope of heaven. You are Lord of all.

Collect
Guard Your household, we beseech You, O Lord, with unceasing care, that under Your protection it may be free from all harm and serve You by good deeds.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen. 

Lesson
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians
Eph 6:10-17
Brethren: Be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of His power. Put on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the Principalities and the Powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness on high. Therefore, take up the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and stand in all things perfect. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breast-plate of justice, and having your feet shod with the readiness of the Gospel of peace, in all things taking up the shield of faith, with which you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, that is, the word of God.
R. Thanks be to God.

Gradual
Ps 89:1-2
O Lord, You have been our refuge through all generations.
V. Before the mountains were begotten and the earth and the world were brought forth, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 113:1
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a barbarous people. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Continuation ✠ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 18:23-35
At that time, Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who desired to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun the settlement, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And as he had no means of paying, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. But the servant fell down and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all!’ And moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt. But as that servant went out, he met one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denarii and he laid hold of him, and throttled him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ His fellow-servant therefore fell down and began to entreat him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all.’ But he would not; but went away and cast him into prison until he should pay what was due. His fellow-servants therefore, seeing what had happened, were very much saddened, and they went and informed their master of what had taken place. Then his master called him, and said to him, ‘Wicked servant! I forgave you all the debt, because you entreated me. Should not you also have had pity on your fellow-servant, even as I had pity on you?’ And his master, being angry, handed him over to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So also My heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not each forgive your brothers from your hearts.

Offertory
Job 1.1
There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, simple, and upright, and fearing God, whom Satan besought that he might tempt: and power was given him from the Lord over his possessions and his flesh; and he destroyed all his substance and his children, and wounded his flesh also with a grievous ulcer.

Secret
Graciously accept these sacrificial gifts, O Lord, with which You have willed us to find favor with You, and, by Your mighty love, restore salvation to us.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Communion
Ps 118:81; 118:84; 118:86
My soul pines for Your salvation; I hope in Your word. When will You do judgment on my persecutors? The wicked persecuted me wrongfully; help me, O Lord my God!

Post Communion
We who have eaten the food of eternal life beseech You, O Lord, that what we take by mouth, we may strive after with pure minds.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.