SAINTS CORNELIUS AND CYPRIAN (253 A.D.); SAINTS EUPHEMIA, LUCY AND GEMINIANUS (4th C.)

  

SAINTS CORNELIUS AND CYPRIAN
Martyrs

SAINTS EUPHEMIA, LUCY, AND GEMINIAN
Martyrs

SIMPLE / RED
Pope Cornelius, who was exiled after a short reign and slain by Decius in the year 253, strove always for Church unity and for kindness towards Christians who fell away during persecutions. Cyprian, an African lawyer and a pagan until middle life, had not been long a Christian when he was ordained to the priesthood and then made bishop of Carthage. He became a great leader and an inspired religious writer. At his martyrdom five years after that of Pope Cornelius, he had the consolation of being surrounded by crowds of his faithful children in Christ.

Mass of SEVERAL MARTYRS, except

COLLECT
O Lord, let the prayers of Your blessed martyr bishops Cornelius and Cyprian, whom we honor today, gain us Your protection. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of  SAINTS EUPHEMIA, LUCY, AND GEMINIAN
These martyrs bore witness to Christ under Diocletian in the fourth century. Euphemia died at Chalcedon, and Lucy and Geminian in Rome.

Grant our requests, O Lord, and fill us with joy. Each year we devoutly observe the day of martyrdom of blessed Euphemia, Lucy, and Geminian; grant that we may also imitate their resolute faith. Through our Lord . . .

Lesson
Lesson from the book of Wisdom
Wis 3:1-8
The souls of the just are in the hands of God, and no torment of death shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was judged an affliction, and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of Himself. As gold in the furnace, He proved them, and as sacrificial offerings He took them to Himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their King forever.
R. Thanks be to God.

Gradual
Exo 15:11; 15:6
God is glorious in His Saints, wonderful in majesty, a worker of wonders.
V. Your right hand, O Lord, is magnificent in power; Your right hand has shattered the enemy. Alleluia, alleluia.
Sir 44:14
V. The bodies of the Saints are buried in peace, but their name lives on and on. Alleluia.

Gospel
Continuation ✝ of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 21:9-19
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; these things must first come to pass, but the end will not be at once. Then He said to them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be great earthquakes in various places, and pestilences and famines, and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all these things they will arrest you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It shall lead to your bearing witness. Resolve therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how you are to make your defense. For I Myself will give you utterance and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to resist or gainsay. But you will be delivered up by your parents and brothers and relatives and friends; and some of you they will put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake; yet not a hair of your head shall perish. By your patience you will win your souls.

Offertory
Ps 67:36
God is wonderful in His Saints; the God of Israel is He Who gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God! Alleluia.


SECRET 
O Lord, hear the prayers we offer on the feast of Your saints. Since we cannot rely on our own merits, let the merits of those who have been pleasing to You be our assistance. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of  SAINT EUPHEMIA AND HER COMPANIONS
Look with favor upon the offerings of Your people, O Lord. Let us rejoice in the protection of Your saints whose feast we are permitted to celebrate today. Through our Lord . . .

Communion
Wis 3:4-6
For if before men they be punished, God tried them; as gold in the furnace, He proved them, and as sacrificial offerings He took them to Himself.

POSTCOMMUNION 
We have been nourished by the Sacrament of salvation, O Lord. May we be aided also by the prayers of Your saints whom we honor this day. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of  SAINT EUPHEMIA AND HER COMPANIONS
Hear our prayers, O Lord. Help us through the intercession of Your blessed martyrs Euphemia, Lucy, and Geminian, whose feast we celebrate today. Through our Lord . . .