Saints John Fisher and Thomas More (1535 A.D.)

 

SAINTS JOHN FISHER AND THOMAS MORE

MARTYRS

[England & Wales]

FIRST CLASS/RED

St. John Fisher, Cardinal, Bishop of Rochester, was beheaded on Tower Hill under Henry VIII, June 22, A.D. 1535, for his fidelity to the Apostolic See, and the freedom of the Church.

St. Thomas More was made High Chancellor of England. On account of his strenuous resistance to the encroachments on the rights of the Church, attempted by Henry VIII, he was, by order of this miserable monarch, beheaded on Tower Hill on July 6, A.D. 1535.

 

INTROIT Ps. 33:20-21

Many were the troubles of the just men, but out of them all the Lord delivered them. The Lord watches over all their bones; not one of them shall be broken.

Ps. 33:2. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall ever be in my mouth.

V. Glory be . . .

 

GLORIA

COLLECT

O God, who didst raise up from among the English people, Thy blessed Martyrs, John and Thomas, to be the zealous defenders of the true Faith and of the primacy of the Roman Church, grant through their merits and prayers that, by the practice of the same Faith, we may all become and remain united in Christ. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON (2 Machabees 6: 18-28)

In Those days, Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh.

¹⁹ But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.

²⁰ And considering in what manner he was come to ii;, patiently bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of life.

²¹ But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded of the flesh of the sacrifice:

²² That by so doing he might be delivered from death: and for the sake of their old friendship with the man they did him this courtesy.

²³ But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient years, and the inbred honour of his grey head, and his good life and conversation from a child: and he answered without delay, according to the ordinances of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would rather be sent into the other world.

²⁴ For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble: whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore and ten years, was gone over to the life of the heathens:

²⁵ And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a corruptible life, should be deceived, end hereby I should bring a stain and a curse upon my old age.

²⁶ For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the punishments of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead.

²⁷ Wherefore by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew myself worthy of my old age:

²⁸ And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a ready mind and constancy I suffer an honourable death, for the most venerable and most holy laws. And having spoken thus, he was forthwith carried to execution.

GRADUAL (Ps. 33: 6, 16)

Come ye to Him and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be confounded. The eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and His ears unto their prayers.

Alleluia, alleluia (John 17:3)

This is eternal life; That they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. Alleluia.

GOSPEL (St. John 10: 23-30)

At that time:  And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.

²⁴ The Jews therefore came round about him, and said to him: How long dost thou hold our souls in suspense? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

²⁵ Jesus answered them: I speak to you, and you believe not: the works that I do in the name of my Father, they give testimony of me.

²⁶ But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep.

²⁷ My sheep hear my voice: and I know them, and they follow me.

²⁸ And I give them life everlasting; and they shall not perish for ever, and no man shall pluck them out of my hand.

²⁹ That which my Father hath given me, is greater than all: and no one can snatch them out of the hand of my Father.

³⁰ I and the Father are one.

OFFERTORY (Ps. 67: 36)

God is wonderful in His Saints; the God of Israel is He who will give power and strength to His people; blessed be God.

SECRET

We beseech Thee, O Lord, look mercifully upon our offerings, and by the prayers of Thy Martyrs interceding for us, grant us the gifts of Thy bounty. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION (John 10: 27-28)

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them life everlasting, and they shall not perish for ever.

POSTCOMMUNION

Invigorated by this heavenly banquet, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that through the intercession of Thy blessed Martyrs, John and Thomas, we may be made worthy to attain unto their fellowship. Though our Lord . . .