Tuesday, October 31, 2023

October 31st Ferial day, Vigil of All Saints, St. Wolfgang (994 A.D.), St. Quentin (287 A.D.)

 




FERIAL DAY

(Mass of preceding Sunday)
[Requiem or Votive Mass allowed]
VIGIL OF ALL SAINTS
SAINT WOLFGANG
SAINT QUENTIN
Introit
Ps 129:3-4
If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with You is forgiveness, O God of Israel.
Ps 129:1-2
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!
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.
If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with You is forgiveness, O God of Israel.

Lesson
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Philippians
Phil 1:6-11
Brethren: We are confident in the Lord Jesus that He Who has begun a good work in you will bring it to perfection until the day of Christ Jesus. And I have the right to feel so about you all, because I have you in my heart, all of you, alike in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, as sharers in my joy. For God is my witness how I long for you all in the heart of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the better things, that you may be upright and without offense unto the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Gradual
Ps 132:1-2
Behold how good it is, and how pleasant where brethren dwell as one!
V. It is as when the precious ointment upon the head runs down over the beard, the beard of Aaron.

Gospel
Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 22:15-21
At that time, the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might trap Jesus in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that You are truthful, and that You teach the way of God in truth, and that You care naught for any man; for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin of the tribute. So they offered Him a denarius. Then Jesus said to them, Whose are this image and the inscription? They said to Him, Caesar’s. Then He said to them, Render, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.
R. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

Offertory
Esther 14:12-13
Remember me, O Lord, You Who rule above all power: and give a well-ordered speech in my mouth, that my words may be pleasing in the sight of the prince.

Secret
Grant, O merciful God, that this saving sacrifice may always free us from sin, and protect us from all that works against us.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

Communion
Ps 16:6
I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God; incline Your ear to me; hear my word.

Post Communion
We who have received the gift of Your blessed sacrament, O Lord, humbly pray that what You have taught us to do in commemoration of You, may profit and help us in our weakness.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.



Saint Wolfgang and the Devil, by Michael Pacher.Image via Wikipedia




Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg
Bishop (924-994 A.D.)
[Historical]

Wolfgang (d. 994) + Bishop and reformer. Born in Swabia, Germany, he studied at Reichenau under the Benedictines and at Wurzburg before serving as a teacher in the cathedral school of Trier. He soon entered the Benedictines at Einsiedeln (964) and was appointed head of the monastery school, receiving ordination in 971. He then set out with a group of monks to preach among the Magyars of Hungary, but the following year (972) was named bishop of Regensburg by Emperor Otto II (r. 973-983). As bishop, he distinguished himself brilliantly for his reforming zeal and his skills as a statesman. He brought the clergy of the diocese into his reforms, restored monasteries, promoted education, preached enthusiastically, and was renowned for his charity and aid to the poor, receiving the title Eleemosynarius Major (Grand Almoner). He also served as tutor to Emperor Henry II (r. 1014-1024) while he was still king. Wolfgang died at Puppingen near Linz, Austria. He was canonized in 1052 by Pope St. Leo IX (r. 1049-1054). Feast day: October 31.
SAINT QUENTIN
Apostle of Amiens, Martyr at Rome
(†287)

Saint Quentin was a Roman, descended from a senatorial family. Full of zeal for the kingdom of Jesus Christ, he left his country and went into Gaul, accompanied by eleven other apostles sent from Rome. They separated to extend their campaign of evangelization to the various regions of France. Saint Quentin remained at Amiens and endeavored by his prayers and labors to make that region part of Our Lord’s inheritance. By the force of his words and works he preluded the glory of his martyrdom. He gave sight to the blind, vigor to paralytics, hearing to the deaf, and agility to the infirm, in the name of Our Lord, simply by the sign of the Cross. At all hours of the day he invoked his God in fervent supplications.
But this apostolate could not escape the notice of Rictiovarus, the Roman prosecutor who at that time represented Maximian Herculeus in Gaul. Saint Quentin was seized at Amiens, thrown into prison, and loaded with chains. Rictiovarus asked him: “How does it happen that you, of such high nobility and the son of so distinguished a father, have given yourself up to so superstitious a religion, a folly, and that you adore an unfortunate man crucified by other men?” Saint Quentin replied: “It is sovereign nobility to adore the Creator of heaven and earth, and to obey willingly His divine commandments. What you call folly is supreme wisdom. What is there that is wiser than to recognize the unique true God, and to reject with disdain the counterfeits, which are mute, false and deceiving?”
When the holy preacher was found to be invulnerable to either promises or threats, the prosecutor condemned him to the most barbarous torture. He was stretched on the rack and flogged. He prayed for strength, for the honor and glory of the name of God, forever blessed. He was returned to the prison when the executioners who were striking him fell over backwards, and told Rictiovarus they were unable to stand up, and could scarcely speak. An Angel released the prisoner during the night, telling him to go and preach in the city, and that the persecutor would soon fall before the justice of God.* His sermon, a commented paraphrase of the Apostles’ Creed, has been conserved. To his profession of faith in the Holy Trinity, he added that Our Lord Jesus Christ, whom he adored, “gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, health to the sick and even life to the dead. At His voice, the lame leaped up and ran, paralytics walked, and water was changed into wine... He has promised to be forever with those who hope in Him, and He never abandons those who place their hope in Him; by His omnipotence He delivers them, whenever it pleases Him, from all their tribulations.” His guardians discovered that he had disappeared, though all doors were barred, and found him in the city preaching. They were converted by the prodigy. But Rictiovarus was furious and said to them: “You, too, have become magicians?”
Brought back before the tribunal as a sorcerer, Saint Quentin said: “If by persevering in my faith, I am put to death by you, I will not cease to live in Jesus Christ; this is my hope, I maintain it with confidence.” He was again placed on the rack and beaten, and tortured with other demoniacal means; his flesh pierced with two iron wires from the shoulders to the thighs, and iron nails were thrust into his fingers, his skull and body. Finally, this glorious martyr was decapitated, after praying and saying: “O Lord Jesus, God of God, Light of Light..., for love of whom I have given up my body to all the torments... ah! I implore Thee, in Thy holy mercy, receive my spirit and soul, which I offer Thee with all the ardor of my desires. Do not abandon me, O most kind King, most clement King, who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever!” His death occurred on October 31, 287.
His body was twice buried secretly, and twice it was rediscovered miraculously — in the years 338 and 641, first by Saint Eusebie of Rome, on a marshy island, where it had remained intact; later near the city of Augusta, by Saint Eloi. Saint Quentin remains in great honor in France above all, where more than fifty-two churches and as many localities were, at the beginning of the 20th century, dedicated to his memory; he is honored also in Belgium and in Italy. Charlemagne and the kings of France have gone to venerate the relics of Saint Quentin.
 Source: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 13.

Monday, October 30, 2023

OCTOBER 30; THE BLESSED MARTYRS OF DOUAI; SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ (1617 A.D.); SAINT MARCELLUS THE CENTURION (309 A.D.)

 





THE BLESSED MARTYRS OF DOUAI
 


Commemoration
SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ



SAINT MARCELLUS THE CENTURION
Martyr
[Historical]



The Douai Martyrs is a name applied by the Roman Catholic Church to 158 Catholic priests trained in the English College at Douai, France, who were executed by the English state between 1577 and 1680. Eighty were beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929. Today, British Catholic dioceses celebrate their feast day on 30 October. 

INTROIT (Ps. 78:1)
O God, the heathen are come into Thy inheritance, they have defiled Thy holy temple, they have made Jerusalem as a garner of fruit. (Ps. ibid. 2) The dead bodies of Thy servants have they given to be meat for the fowls of the air, the flesh of Thy Saints for the beasts of the earth. Glory be to the Father . . . ---O God, the heathen are come .  . .

COLLECT
Excite in us, O Lord, that Spirit which Thy blessed Martyrs of Douai obeyed, that we, filled with the same Spirit may ourselves endeavor to love what they cherished, and to practice what they taught. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ 
St. Alphonsus, born at Segovia in Spain A.D. 1531, was a clock merchant up to thr age of forty. After the death of his wife and child he entered the Society of Jesus as a lay-brother and spent his religious life as porter in a College in the Island of Majorca, where he closed a life of humility, mortification and charity by a saintly death on October 31, A.D. 1617.

O God, strength of the weak and greatness of the humble, who didst make Thy servant Alphonsus wonderful by the practice of constant penance and the merit of deep humility, grant that we may mortify our flesh as he did and faithfully carry the cross in the footsteps of Thy Son, and thus attain eternal glory, Who liveth and reigneth . . .


EPISTLE (Hebrews 12:1-10)
 And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:
Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.

For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself; that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds.

For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:

And you have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh to you, as unto children, saying: My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord; neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him.

For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth; and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct?

But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.

Moreover we have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we reverenced them: shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live?

10 And they indeed for a few days, according to their own pleasure, instructed us: but he, for our profit, that we might receive his sanctification.

GRADUAL (Ps. 33:18, 19) 
The just cried, and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, and He will save the humble of spirit.
Alleluia, alleluia. Thewhite robed army of Martyrs praises Thee, O Lord. Alleluia.

GOSPEL (St. Luke 12:1-8)
And when great multitudes stood about him, so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples: Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed: nor hidden, that shall not be known.

For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness, shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers, shall be preached on the housetops.

And I say to you, my friends: Be not afraid of them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

But I will shew you whom you shall fear: fear ye him, who after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.

And I say to you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.

OFFERTORY (Baruch 3:5-6)
Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but be mindful of Thy hand and of Thy Name at this time, for Thou art the Lord our God, and we will praise Thee, O Lord.

SECRET
Hearken, O Lord, unto the voices of Thy blessed Martyrs who cry from beneath Thine altar, and look kindly upon our offerings. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ
May the holy prayers of blessed Alphonsus accompany our offerings to Thee, for, whilst he prayed before Thine altars, Thou didst refresh him with the sweetness of heavenly favors. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Apoc. 6:9, 11)
Beneath the altar of God I heard the voice of the slain saying, Wherefore dost Thou not defend our blood? And they received a divine answer, Bear ye yet a little time, until the number of your brethren be fulfilled.

POSTCOMMUNION
Quickened by this heavenly Banquet, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that by the intercession of these Thy blessed Martyrs, we may worthily attain unto their fellowship. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ
 May this heavenly banquet give us the spirit of fortitude, O Lord, so that like the blessed Confessor Alphonsus we may escape the snares of the enemy of our salvation and deserve to enjoy eternal peace. Through our Lord . . .
 

 

Saint Marcellus, The Centurion, Martyr


 
[Pictorial Lives of the Saints: Saint Marcellus, The Centurion, Martyr]The birthday of the Emperor Maximum Herculeus in the year 298 was celebrated with extraordinary feasting and solemnity. Marcellus, a Christian centurion or captain in the legion of Trajan, then posted in Spain, not to defile himself with taking part in those impious abominations, left his company, declaring aloud that he was a soldier of Jesus Christ, the eternal king. He was at once committed to prison. When the festival was over, Marcellus was brought before a judge, and having declared his faith, was sent under a strong guard to Aurelian Agricolaus, vicar to the prefect of the praetorium, who passed sentence of death upon him. Saint Marcellus was forthwith led to execution, and beheaded on the 30th of October. Cassian, the secretary or notary of the court, refused to write the sentence pronounced against the martyr, because it was unjust. He was immediately hurried to prison, and was beheaded, about a month after, on the 3rd of December.

Sunday, October 29, 2023

FEAST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING

 

 


FEAST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
THE KING



DOUBLE, FIRST CLASS / WHITE
Christ is fully the spiritual King of all mankind, for He is the giver of life, the maker of law, the supreme judge and ruling authority, in the minds and wills and hearts of human beings. He is King of mankind by natural right, because He is the divine maker and sustainer of the universe and He took human nature unto His divine Person. He is King by acquired right, because He redeemed mankind by the sacrifice of His body and blood. The Lamb of God from the throne of His Cross, reunited all peoples. Although formerly separated by sin, they became one kingdom, one family, and prospective members of one Mystical Body.

INTROIT (Apoc. 5:12, 1:6)
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive powers and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.
Ps
. 1. Give to the King, O God, Thy judgment, and to the King's Son Thy justice.
V. Glory be . . .

KYRIE ELEISON

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO

COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, who has willed to restore all things in Thy beloved Son, the King of all creation, mercifully grant that all the families of nations scattered by the wound of sin may become subject to His most gentle rule. Who liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.


EPISTLE (Col. 1:12-20)

Brethren: Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and in him. And he is before all: and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may hold the primacy: Because in him, it hath well pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell: And through him to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth and the things that are in heaven.

GRADUAL (Ps. 71:8, 11)
He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.

V.
And all kings of the earth shall adore Him, and all nations shall serve Him.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. (Dan. 7:14)

His power is an everlasting power which shall not be taken away; and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Alleluia!

GOSPEL (St. John 18:33-37)

At that time, Pilate therefore went into the hall again and called Jesus and said to him: "Art thou the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered: "Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of me?" Pilate answered: "Am I a Jew? Thy own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee up to me. What hast thou done?" Jesus answered: "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence." Pilate therefore said to him: "Art thou a king then?" Jesus answered: "Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

CREED

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 2:8)
Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for Thy possession.


SECRET
To Thee, O Lord, we present this Victim, offered for man's reconciliation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that He whom we now immolate in this sacrifice may Himself, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, grant to all nations the gifts of unity and peace. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Ps. 28:10, 11)
The Lord shall sit as King forever; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

POSTCOMMUNION

Having received the food of immortality, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we who are proud to fight under the banners of Christ the King, may one day reign in the eternally with Him in heaven. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.


Saturday, October 28, 2023

SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES

 

 



II Class/Red
Simon is called in the Gospels "the zealous one." Jude was the brother of St. James the Less and therefore related to Christ. He is the author of one of the seven Catholic (i.e., addressed to all the faithful) Epistles in the New Testament. It is not known for certain where Simon and Jude preached the Gospel after Pentecost; but according to tradition they finally went to evangelize Persia and were martyred together there.

INTROIT (Ps. 138:17)
Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.
Ps. O Lord, you have proved me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
V. Glory be . . .


GLORIA

COLLECT
O God, Your blessed apostles Simon and Jude brought us the knowledge of Your Holy Name. May our progress in virtue add honor to their eternal glory, and may the honor we pay them make us even more holy. Through Christ Our Lord . . .

EPISTLE (Eph. 4: 7-13)
Brethren: But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ.Wherefore he saith: "Ascending on high, he led captivity captive: he gave gifts to men." Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens: that he might fill all things. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors: For the perfecting of the saints, for the word of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Until we all meet into the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ.

GRADUAL (Ps. 44:17-18)
You shall make them princes through all the land; they shall remember Your Name, O Lord. V. To take the place of your fathers, sons shall be born to you; therefore peoples shall praise you.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. (Ps. 138:17)
Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established. Alleluia!

GOSPEL (St. John 15:17-25)
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hate you, know ye that it hath hated me before you. If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake: because they know not him that sent me.
"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no other man hath done, they would not have sin: but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. But that the word may be fulfilled which is written in their law: 'They hated me without cause.' "

CREED

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 18:5)
Their voice has gone forth through all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

SECRET 
O Lord, we pay homage to the everlasting glory of Your holy apostles Simon and Jude. May these sacred mysteries atone for our sins so that we may be more worthy to honor them. Through Christ Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Matt. 19:28)
You who have followed Me shall sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

POSTCOMMUNION 
We who received Your Sacraments, O Lord, humbly pray that this sacred rite which we offer in honor of the sufferings of Your blessed apostles Simon and Jude may heal our own infirmities through their intercession. Through Christ Our Lord . . .

[pinterest.com image]
 

Friday, October 27, 2023

Oct. 27 Feria 21st Sunday After Pentecost

 

[The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant - (after) Pieter Coecke Van Aelst - WikiGallery.org,]

 

IV Class/Green

INTROIT Esth. 13:9, 10-11
All things depend on Your will, O Lord, and there is no one who can resist Your will. For You have made all things, heaven and earth, and all things that are under the canopy of heaven. You are the Lord of all.
Ps. 118:1. Blessed are they who are undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
Keep Your family under Your continual care, O Lord. Shelter it with Your protection from all adversity, that it may be zealous in doing good for the honor of Your name. Through our Lord . . .


EPISTLE Eph. 6:10-17
Brethren, be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of his power. Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.
Therefore, take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day and to stand in all things perfect. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of justice: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God).

GRADUAL Ps. 89:1-2
O Lord, You have been our refuge through all generation.
V. Before the mountains were made, or the earth was formed, from eternity to eternity You are God.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 113:1.
When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob fled from a barbarous people. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matt. 18:23-35
At that time, Jesus spoke to his disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants. And when he had begun to take the account, one as brought to him, that owed him ten thousand talents. And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. But that servant falling down, besought him, saying: 'Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' And the lord of that servant being moved with pity, let him go and forgave him the debt.
"But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow-servants that owed him an hundred pence: and laying hold of him, he throttled him, saying: 'Pay what thou owest.' And his fellow-servant falling down, besought him, saying: 'Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he paid the debt.
"Now his fellow servants seeing what was done, were very much grieved, and they came, and told their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him: and said to him: 'Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt, because thou besoughtest me: Shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellow servant, even as I had compassion on thee?' And his lord being angry, delivered him to the torturers until he paid all the debt. So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Job 1:2
There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, simple and upright, and fearing God. Satan asked that he might tempt him, and power was given Satan from the Lord over Job's possessions and his flesh; and Satan destroyed all his substance and his children, and afflicted his body with a grievous ulcer.

SECRET
O Lord, graciously accept this offering which You in Your boundless mercy instituted to atone for our sins and to restore salvation to us. Through our Lord . . .


COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 118:81, 84, 86
My soul looks to Your salvation, and in Your word have I hoped. When will You come in judgment for those who persecute me? The wicked have persecuted me; help me, O Lord my God.

POSTCOMMUNION
We have been seeking the food of immortality and implore Thee, O Lord, that with its savour still on our tongues, we may with pure hearts continue to pursue it. Through our Lord . . .

 

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Saint Evaristus (107 A.D.); Saint Eata (700 A.D.); Saint Demetrius (4th C.)

 

 




SAINT EVARISTUS
Pope and Martyr


 
[Commemoration]
SAINT EATA 
Bishop, Confessor
 
SAINT DEMETRIUS
Martyr
[Historical]


SIMPLE / RED
The fourth successor of St. Peter, Pope Evaristus was said to have been the son of a Hellenic Jew of Bethlehem. He ruled for some eight years, during a very stormy period in the history of the Church. He died about A.D. 107, and was buried near St. Peter's tomb on the Vatican.

Mass of a
POPE, except:


Introit
Simon Peter, if thou lovest Me, feed
My lambs, feed My sheep. (Ps. 29: 1)
I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast
upheld me: and hast not made my
enemies to rejoice over me. Glory be
to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Spirit, as it was in the
beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Simon
Peter, if thou lovest Me, feed My
lambs, feed My sheep

 
COLLECT
O Eternal Shepherd, who appointed blessed Evaristus 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 . . .

Commemoration of SAINT EATA

A holy Bishop of Hexham in the Anglo-Saxon period. He was the teacher of St. Columba, and the first Bishop of the See. He died A.D. 700.

On this feastday of blessed Eata, Thy Confessor and Bishop hear our prayers to Thee, O Lord, and since he gave Thee such worthy service, be mindful of his merits and blot out all our sins. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE 1 Peter 5: 1-4, 10-11 
Dearly beloved, The ancients
therefore that are among you, I
beseech, who am myself also an
ancient, and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ: as also a partaker
of that glory which is to be revealed in
time to come: feed the flock of God
which is among you, taking care of it,
not by constraint, but willingly,
according to God: not for filthy lucre's
sake, but voluntarily: neither as lording
it over the clergy, but being made a
pattern of the flock from the heart. And
when the prince of pastors shall
appear, you shall receive a never
fading crown of glory. But the God of
all grace, who hath called us into his
eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you

have suffered a little, will himself
perfect you, and confirm you, and
establish you. To him be glory and
empire for ever and ever. Amen.
Let them exalt him in the church of the
people: and praise him in the chair of
the ancients. Let the mercies of the
Lord give glory to Him: and His
wonderful works to the children of
men.

 
Alleluia, alleluia. Thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will build My Church.
Alleluia

 

GOSPEL Matthew 16: 13-19

 And Jesus came into the quarters of
Cesarea Philippi: and he asked his
disciples, saying: Whom do men say
that the Son of man is? But they said:
Some John the Baptist, and other
some Elias, and others Jeremias, or
one of the prophets. Jesus saith to
them: But whom do you say that I am?
Simon Peter answered and said: Thou
art Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answering, said to him:
Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona:
because flesh and blood hath not
revealed it to thee, but my Father who
is in heaven. And I say to thee: That
thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will
build my church, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it. And I will
give to thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt
bind upon earth, it shall be bound also
in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt
loose upon earth, it shall be loosed
also in heaven.

 OFFERTORY Jeremiah 1: 9-10

Behold I have given My words in thy
mouth: lo, I have set thee over the
nations, and over kingdoms, to root
up, and to pull down, and to build, and to plant.


SECRET
By the offered gifts we beg Thee, O
Lord: enlighten kindly Thy Church: so
that Thy flock everywhere may be
increasing, and the Shepherds, under
Thy direction, may be pleasing to Thy
Name. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with
Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever 

Commemoration of SAINT EATA

May this annual feast of Saint Eata, Thy Confessor and Bishop, make us in Thy kindness acceptable to Thee, O Lord, and may this present rite duly appease Thee, bring happy recompense to him and assure gifts of Thy grace to us. Through our Lord . . . 

COMMUNION Matthew 16: 18

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build My Church 

POSTCOMMUNION
O Lord, govern the 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 . . . 

Commemoration of SAINT EATA

O God, the Rewarder of faithful souls, grant, that by the prayers of blessed Eata, Thy Confessor and Bishop, whose venerable feast we celebrate, we may obtain pardon. Through our Lord . . .    

Demetrius of Thessaloniki

[Historical]

15th-century icon of St. Demetrius (Russian State Museum, Saint Petersburg).
 Relics of St. Demetrius at the Aghios Demetrios Basilica in Thessaloniki

Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki (Greek: Άγιος Δημήτριος της Θεσσαλονίκης) was a Christian martyr, who lived in the early 4th century.
During the Middle Ages, he came to be revered as one of the most important Orthodox military saints, often paired with Saint George. His feast day is 26 October for Christians following the Gregorian calendar and 8 November for Christians following the Julian calendar.