THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY; [Commemoration] SAINT AGNES (304 A.D.) Virgin and Martyr

 

saint-agnes-domenichino [wikipedia.org]

SAINT AGNES' SCULL

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

 [Commemoration]

SAINT AGNES
Virgin and Martyr

 

Chair of Unity Octave Intention: Return of European Protestants

DOUBLE/GREEN

Jesus reached out His miraculous charity to an outcast leper and to a pagan foreigner. These two strangers were attracted to Christ and disposed to believe in Him because of the outstanding miracles He worked. But it was necessary for them to believe definitely, before Jesus would do as they asked.
The compassionate love of Christ teaches us to look to the needs of people, without judging their consciences. Sometimes their distress will be all the greater in proportion to the injury they may have done us. And no one is more destitute than the one who has lost even his self-respect and is reduced to begging. Our kindness to those in difficulty will be a sign, a reason for men to believe that the compassion of Jesus is still at work.

 

ENTRANCE HYMN (Ps. 96:7-8)

Worship God, all you His angels. Sion heard and was glad, and all the daughters of Juda rejoiced. Ps. 96:1. The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad! V. Glory be . . .

 

GLORIA

COLLECT

Almighty and eternal God, look mercifully upon our weakness, and stretch forth the right hand of Your power to protect us. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT AGNES, Virgin and Martyr

Agnes is the archetype of the virgins who throughout the Christian centuries have followed the Lamb wherever He goes, "first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb" (Apoc. 14:4). She was twelve years old when she was commanded to offer incense before the pagan altar of Minerva at Rome, soon after Emperor Diocletian began his persecution of the Christians in the year 303. The persecutors tried in vain to overcome the virgin's refusal by flattery and offers of marriage. "Christ is my Spouse," she answered. "He chose me first and His I will be." Her sentence of death was passed and the child martyr died by the sword.

Almighty and eternal God, you choose the weak things of the world to confound the strong. May the virgin martyr Agnes intercede for us who celebrate her feast. Through Our Lord . . .

READING (Romans 12:16-21)

Brethren: Be not wise in your own conceits. To no man rendering evil for evil. Providing good things, not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as is in you, have peace with all men. Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; but give place unto wrath, for it is written: "Revenge is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." But ,"If the enemy be hungry, give him to eat; if he thirst, give him to drink. For, doing this, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head." Be not overcome by evil: but overcome evil by good.

GRADUAL (Ps. 101:16-17)

The nations shall revere Your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth shall reverence Your glory. V. For the Lord has built up Sion, and He shall appear in His glory.

Alleluia, alleluia! (V. Ps. 96:1)

The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad!

Alleluia!

GOSPEL (Matthew 8:1-13)

At that time, when Jesus had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him: And behold a leper came and adored him, saying: "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." And Jesus stretching forth his hand, touched him, saying: "I will, be thou made clean." And forthwith his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith to him: "See thou tell no man: but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."
And when he had entered into Capharnaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him,
and saying, "Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented." And Jesus saith to him: "I will come and heal him." And the centurion, making answer, said: "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it." And Jesus hearing this, marvelled; and said to them that followed him. "Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel. And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven: But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And Jesus said to the centurion: "Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee." And the servant was healed at the same hour.

 

CREED

OFFERTORY HYMN (Ps. 117:16, 17)

The right hand of the Lord has exercised power; the right hand of the Lord has lifted me up. I shall not die, but live, and shall declare the works of the Lord.

SECRET PRAYER

May this offering cleanse us from our sins, O Lord, and may it sanctify Your servants in body and soul for the celebration of this sacrifice. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT AGNES

O Lord, graciously accept the sacrifices we offer You, and free us from the slavery of sin through the intercession of Your blessed virgin martyr Agnes. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION HYMN (Luke 4:22)

All marveled at these things that came from the mouth of God.

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER

Make us worthy, O Lord, to reap the fruits of these great mysteries which you have graciously given us to celebrate. Through Our Lord . . .

Commemoration of SAINT AGNES

Refreshed with Heavenly Food and Drink we humbly pray You, our God, that we may be strengthened by the prayers of Your saint, in whose memory we have received this Sacrament. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.