Tuesday, January 16, 2024

SAINT MARCELLUS Pope and Martyr (309 A.D.); Our Lady of Refuge of Sinners

 



SAINT MARCELLUS
Pope and Martyr



  SEMIDUPLEX/ RED
Marcellus was elected pope in the year 308, when the early Church was combating the effects of the devastating persecution under Emperor Diocletian. Pope Marcellus received back into the Church those apostates who gave indications of repentance for having denied the Christian Faith during the reign of terror. A group revolted against the Papal penances imposed upon them and used their influence with Emperor Maxentius to have the Pope exiled from Rome. Pope Marcellus died during the first year of his banishment, safeguarding the integrity of Church discipline even at the sacrifice of his own freedom and life.

Mass of a POPE, except

Introit
John 21:15-17
If you love Me, Simon Peter, feed My lambs, feed My sheep.
Ps 29:1
I will extol You, O Lord, for You drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
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 love Me, Simon Peter, feed My lambs, feed My sheep.
 
GLORIA

COLLECT

O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people. may the merits of the martyred pope Marcellus help us, just as his sufferings have given us cause for spiritual joy. Through Our Lord . . .

Lesson
Lesson from the first letter of St Peter the Apostle
1 Pet. 5:1-4, 10-11.
Beloved: I exhort the presbyters among you - I, your fellow presbyter and witness of the sufferings of Christ, the partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed in time to come - tend the flock of God which is among you, governing not under constraint, but willingly, according to God; nor yet for the sake of base gain, but eagerly; nor yet as lording it over you charges, but becoming from the heart a pattern to the flock. And when the Prince of the shepherds appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. But the God of all grace, Who has called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself, after we have suffered a little while, perfect, strengthen and establish us. To Him is the dominion forever and ever. Amen.


Gradual
Ps 106:32, 31.
Let them extol him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.
V. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His kindness and His wondrous deeds to the children of men. Alleluia, alleluia.
Matt 16:18
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. Alleluia.

  
GOSPEL
Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt. 16:13-19
At that time, Jesus, having come into the district of Caesarea Philippi, began to ask His disciples, saying, Who do men say the Son of Man is? But they said, Some say, John the Baptist; and others, Elias; and others, Jeremia, or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Then Jesus answered and said, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father in heaven. And I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Offertory
Jer 1:9-10
See, I place My words in your mouth! I set you over nations and over kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, and to build and to plant.
 

SECRET
We beg Thee, O Lord, through the gifts which we have offered, in Thy kindness enlighten Thy Church, so that everywhere Thy flock may prosper and her Shepherds by Thy guidance be pleasing to Thy name. Through our Lord . . .

Communion
Matt 16:18
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.


POSTCOMMUNION
Multiply in Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the spirit of grace which Thou hast bestowed, so that, by the prayers of blessed Marcellus Thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, neither shall the flock be lacking in obedience to the Shepherd nor the Shepherd be lacking in watchfulness over the flock. Through our Lord . . .



Our Lady Refuge of Sinners

Our Lady Refuge of Sinners
January 16
The worst evil that can befall us is unquestionably SIN, which makes us an object of abhorrence in the sight of God.
God’s infinite mercy has not only prepared for us a potent remedy against sin in the merits of Jesus Christ, our Savior, but it has also given us poor sinners a secure refuge in the assistance of Mary, Our Lady refuge of sinners. In the Old Law there were cities of refuge to which the guilty could flee for safety; in the New Law, Mary’s mantle is for us that citadel of refuge for sinful souls. How can the Divine Wrath strike us, if we are covered by the mantle of Mary, the chosen daughter and the honored Mother of God?

Our Lady refuge of sinners is thus not merely a pledge of our safety, but by her unrivaled sanctity, she is as earnest of pardon for all sinners who have recourse to her intercession. She not only disarms the just anger of God roused by our sins, but also obtains for her true clients sincere and heartfelt conversion. All we need do is turn toward her with Faith, to obtain Divine Clemency and the means to rise from the mire of sin.
[From https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-refuge-of-sinners.html]

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.