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Bishop and Martyr
SATURDAY SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT
SIMPLE / RED
Eusebius was bishop of Vercelli in northern Italy in the middle of the fourth century. St. Ambrose
says that he was the first in the West to introduce the practice of
community life among secular clergy. Eusebius was exiled to Palestine
and Cappadocia by Emperor Constantius for his defense of St. Athanasius and his opposition to the Arian heresy,
which denied the divinity of Christ. Though greatly mistreated in
exile, [he won the title of martyr for his grievous sufferings] the
courageous bishop survived the ordeal and, on the death of the Emperor,
took up the fight for the Church once more. He won other enemies,
however, by urging clemency toward repentant Arian bishops, the very
ones who had been a cause of his exile. St. Eusebius died in peace at Vercelli in 371.
INTROIT (Daniel 3: 84, 87)
O ye priests of the Lord, bless the
Lord: O ye holy and humble of heart,
praise God. (Daniel 3: 57) All ye works
of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and
exalt Him above all for ever. 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. O ye priests
of the Lord, bless the Lord: O ye holy
and humble of heart, praise God.
COLLECT
O God, who gladdens us each year by the
feast of Your blessed martyr bishop Eusebius, mercifully grant that we
who celebrate his birthday may also enjoy his protection. Through Our
Lord . . .
Commemoration of the 2nd Sunday of Advent
O
Lord, stir up our hearts to accept the message of Your only-begotten
Son, so that, through His coming on earth, we may serve Him always with a
pure intention; who lives and rules with You . . .
Lesson
Lesson from the second letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
2 Cor. 1:3-7
Brethren:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our
afflictions, that we also may be able to comfort those who are in any
distress by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God. For
as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also through Christ does
our comfort abound. For whether we are afflicted, it is for your
instruction and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your
comfort; which shows its efficacy in the endurance of the selfsame
sufferings that we also suffer. And our hope for you is steadfast,
knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so will you also be
of the comfort, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gradual
Ps 8:6-7
You crowned him with glory and honor.
V. You have given him rule over the works of Your hands, O Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
V. This is the priest whom the Lord has crowned. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt. 16:24-27
At
that time, Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For he
who would save his life will lose it; but he who loses his life for My
sake will find it. For what does it profit a man, if he gain
the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what will a
man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is to come with
His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will render to
everyone according to His conduct.
OFFERTORY (Psalms 88: 21-22)
I have found David My servant, with
My holy oil I have anointed him: for
My hand shall help him, and My arm
shall strengthen him.
SECRET
Bless
the gifts we have set apart for You, O Lord. May the prayers of Your
blessed martyr bishop Eusebius help these offerings to win Your mercy
for us. Through Our Lord . . .
Commemoration of the 2nd Sunday of Advent
O
Lord, let our humble offering of these prayers and sacrifices appease
You for our sins. We have no merits of our own to depend on; so assist
us with Your aid. Through Our Lord . . .
Communion
Ps 20:4
You placed on his head, O Lord, a crown of pure gold.
POSTCOMMUNION
O
Lord, may this Communion cleanse us from sin, and bestow on us
spiritual health from heaven through the intercession of Your martyr
bishop Eusebius. Through Our Lord . . .
Commemoration of the 2nd Sunday of Advent
We
have just been nourished with Your Body and Blood, O Lord. Teach us
through this Sacramental rite to despise the things of earth and to
yearn for the things of heaven. Through Our Lord . . .
Saint Adelaide of Burgundy
Also known as
- Adelaide of Italy
- Adelheid….
- Alice….
Profile
Born a princess, the daughter of King Rudolf II (Rupert II) of Upper Burgundy. Promised at age two in an arranged marriage as part of a treaty between Rudolf and Hugh of Provence. Married at age 16 to Lothair of Italy, who eventually became king of Italy. Widowed in 950 while still a teenager; Lothair was probably poisoned by his successor to the throne, Berengarius. As part of his attempt to solidify his grip on power, Berengarius ordered Adelaide to marry his son; she refused, and was imprisoned. She was freed soon after when the German king Otto the Great defeated Berengarius.
Adelaide married Otto in Pavia, Italy in 951. He was crowned Emperor in Rome, Italy in 952, and Adelaide reigned with him for 20 years. Widowed in 973, she was ill-treated by her step-son, Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophano, but eventually reconciled with her royal in-laws.
When Otto II died in 983, he was succeeded by his infant son, Otto III. Theophano acted as regent, and since she still did not like Adelaide, used her power to exile her from the royal court. Theophano died in 991, and Adelaide returned once again to the court to act as regent for the child emperor. She used her position and power to help the poor, to evangelize, especially among the Slavs, and to build and restore monasteries and churches. When Otto III was old enough, Adelaide retired to the convent of Selta near Cologne, a house she had built. Though she never became a nun, she spent the rest of her days there in prayer.
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