JANUARY 5th: FERIA: COMMEMORATION SAINT TELESPHORUS, Pope and Martyr; SAINT JOHN NEUMANN (1860 A.D.)

 

  

English: The Statue of Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus, Marija Bistrica, Croatia Hrvatski: Kip Blažene Djevice Marije s Djetetom Isusom u Mariji Bistrici (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

FERIA

The Mass of the 
CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD
[The Profession of Faith is not said]

COMMEMORATION

SAINT TELESPHORUS

Pope and Martyr

SAINT JOHN NEUMANN 
Bishop of Philadelphia 

SIMPLE / WHITE

Pope Telesphorus reigned as bishop of Rome for ten years, and was martyred in the persecution of Hadrian about the year 138 A.D.

INTROIT Isa. 9:6

A Child is born to us, and a son is given to us; upon his shoulder is supreme sovereignty, and his name shall be called the Angel of great counsel. 
Ps. 97:1. Sing a new canticle to the Lord, for He has done wondrous things. 
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, it was through the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary that You bestowed the gift of eternal life upon mankind. Grant that we may feel the powerful intercession of Mary, through whom we were privileged to receive the giver of life, Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord; who lives and rules with You . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN NEUMANN

John Neumann was born in what is now the Czech Republic. After studying in Prague, he came to New York at 25 and was ordained a priest. He did missionary work in New York until he was 29, when he joined the Redemptorists and became its first member to profess vows in the United States. He continued missionary work in Maryland, Virginia and Ohio, where he became popular with the Germans. At 41, as bishop of Philadelphia, he organized the parochial school system into a diocesan one, increasing the number of pupils almost twentyfold within a short time. Gifted with outstanding organizing ability, he drew into the city many teaching communities of sisters and the Christian Brothers. During his brief assignment as vice provincial for the Redemptorists, he placed them in the forefront of the parochial movement. Well-known for his holiness and learning, spiritual writing and preaching, on October 13, 1963, John Neumann became the first American bishop to be beatified. Canonized in 1977, he is buried in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia. O God, who willed blessed John, Your confessor and bishop, to shine in pastoral works, graciously grant that, following his teachings and examples, we might obtain eternal life.

O God, who willed blessed John, Your confessor and bishop, to shine in pastoral works, graciously grant that, following his teachings and examples, we might obtain eternal life.

Commemoration of the feast of SAINT TELESPHORUS

O Eternal Shepherd, who appointed blessed Telesphorus shepherd of the whole Church, let the prayers of this martyr and supreme pontiff move You to look with favor upon Your flock and to keep it under Your continual protection. Through Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE Titus 2:11-15

Beloved: The grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men: Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and justly and godly in this world, looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

GRADUAL Ps. 97:3-4, 2

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Sing joyfully to God, all the earth. 
V. The Lord has made His salvation known; in the sight of the nations He has revealed His justice.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Heb. 1:1-2

God, who in divers manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all in these days has spoken to us by His Son.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 2:21

At that time, when eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given to Him by the Angel before He was conceived in the womb.

 

SECRET

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 JOHN NEUMANN
Look down favorably, O Lord, upon the sacrifice which we offer in honor of blessed John, bishop, and enkindle in us the fire of Your loved, with which he burned. 
  

Commemoration of the feast of SAINT TELESPHORUS
We have offered our gifts to You, O Lord. Let Your light graciously shine upon Your Church so that this flock may everywhere prosper, and its pastors, under Your guidance, may be truly pleasing to You. Through Our Lord . . .

POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord, may this Communion cleanse us from sin, and bestow on us spiritual health from heaven through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT JOHN NEUMANN
Refreshed, O Lord, by the Precious Body and Blood of Your Son, we humbly implore You, by the merits of blessed John, we who followed him as Shepherd of shepherds on earth might arrive at eternal pastures.  
 

Commemoration of the feast of SAINT TELESPHORUS
O Lord, govern Your Church, which You have been pleased to nourish with Your Heavenly Food. Guide her by Your powerful direction so that she may enjoy greater freedom and remain unshaken in the fullness of faith. Through Our Lord . .