FERIA IV: SAINTS MARIUS, MARTHA, AUDIFAX AND ABACHUM (270 A.D.) Martyrs; SAINT CANUTE (1086 A.D.) Martyr

 

SAINTS MARIUS, MARTHA, AUDIFAX,

AND ABACHUM

Martyrs

SAINT CANUTE
Martyr

DOUBLE / GREEN
 
INTROIT (Ps. 65:4)

Let all on earth worship You, O God, and sing praise to You; let them sing a psalm to Your name, O Most High.
Ps. 65:1-2. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing a psalm to the glory of His name; proclaim His glorious praise.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

Almighty and Eternal God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace in our days. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT MARIUS AND COMPANIONS 
These saints -- a family of father, mother, and two sons -- were Persians. In the year 270 they made a pilgrimage to Rome, one of the many proofs that the faithful, even at that early date, held the Holy See to be the center of Christendom. Emperor Claudius was then persecuting the Church, and these holy Persians gave Christian burial to the remains of martyrs. God rewarded the veneration they paid His saints by granting them in their turn the supreme gift of martyrdom. After their arrest, Marius and his two sons were beheaded, and Martha was drowned.

Hear, O Lord, the prayers of Your people and Your saints who intercede for them. Grant us peace in this life and Your assistance to attain eternal life.

Commemoration of SAINT CANUTE, MARTYR

During the eleventh century King St. Canute of Denmark was one of the missionary rulers who spread the Faith of Scandinavia. Rebels rose against him and murdered him at Odense in 1086.

O God, You have added glory to Your Church by granting to the blessed king Canute the gift of miracles and the crown of martyrdom. May we walk in the footsteps of Your saint and follow our Lord's own path of suffering, so that we too may enter into everlasting happiness. Through Our Lord . . .

 

EPISTLE (Rom. 12:6-16)

Brethren: We having different gifts, according to the grace that is given us, either prophecy, to be used according to the rule of faith; or ministry, in ministering; or he that teacheth, in doctrine; he that exhorteth, in exhorting; he that giveth, with simplicity; he that ruleth, with carefulness; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Hating that which is evil, cleaving to that which is good, loving one another with the charity of brotherhood: with honour preventing one another. In carefulness not slothful. In spirit fervent. Serving the Lord. Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Instant in prayer. Communicating to the necessities of the saints. Pursuing hospitality. Bless them that persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that rejoice: weep with them that weep. Being of one mind one towards another. Not minding high things, but consenting to the humble. Be not wise in your own conceits.

GRADUAL (Ps. 106:20-21)

The Lord sent forth His word and healed them, and rescued them from destruction. V. Let them praise the Lord for His mercies, and His wondrous deeds towards the children of men.

Alleluia, alleluia! (V. Ps. 148:2)

Praise the Lord, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL (John 2:1-11)

At that time, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: "They have no wine." And Jesus saith to her: "Woman, what is that to me and to thee? My hour is not yet come." His mother saith to the waiters: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to them: "Draw out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast." And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, And saith to him: "Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now." This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 65:1-2, 16)

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing a psalm to the glory of His name. Come and hear, all you who fear God, while I declare what He has done for me, alleluia!

SECRET

O Lord, sanctify the gifts we offer You, and cleanse us from the stain of our sins. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT MARIUS AND COMPANIONS 
Look favorably on the prayers and offerings of Your people, O Lord. may this celebration of the feast of Your saints please You and bring us Your merciful help.
 

Commemoration of SAINT CANUTE

O Lord, let the prayers of Your saints whom we honor by this sacred rite make our offering acceptable to You, so that it may aid our salvation. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (John 2:7, 8, 9, 10-11)

The Lord said, "Fill the waterpots with water, and carry them to the chief steward of the feast." When the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, he calleth the bridegroom, and saith to him: "thou hast kept the good wine until now." This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord, increase Your grace within us, so that this divine Sacrament may bring us life and prepare us for the blessedness It promises. Through Our Lord . . .

 Commemoration of SAINT MARIUS AND COMPANIONS 

May the prayers of Your saints win forgiveness for us, O Lord. Grant that the Sacrifice we offer in this life may be our everlasting possession in the life to come.

Commemoration of SAINT CANUTE

We are refreshed by the reception of Your sacred Gift, O Lord. May the prayers of Your blessed martyr Canute make us feel the benefit of the sacred rite we have performed. Through Our Lord . . .