July 12
St. John Gualbert,
Abbot
St. John Gualbert was born at Florence,
A. D. 999. Following the profession of arms at that troubled period, he became
involved in a blood-feud with a near relative. One Good Friday, as he was
riding into Florence accompanied by armed men, he encountered his enemy in a
place where neither could avoid the other. John would have slain him; but his
adversary, who was totally unprepared to fight, fell upon his knees with his
arms stretched out in the form of a cross, and implored him, for the sake of
Our Lord’s holy Passion, to spare his life. St. John said to his enemy, “I
cannot refuse what you ask in Christ’s name. I grant you your life, and I give
you my friendship. Pray that God may forgive me my sin.” Grace triumphed. A
humble and changed man, he entered the Church of St. Miniato, which was near;
and whilst he prayed, the figure of our crucified Lord, before which he was
kneeling, bowed its head toward him as if to ratify his pardon. Abandoning the
world, he gave himself up to prayer and penance in the Benedictine Order. Later
he was led to found the congregation called of Vallombrosa, from the shady
valley a few miles from Florence, where he established his first monastery. Once
the enemies of the Saint came to his convent of St. Salvi, plundered it, and
set fire to it, and having treated the monks with ignominy, beat them and
wounded them. St. John rejoiced. “Now,” he said, “you are true monks. Would
that I myself had had the honor of being with you when the soldiers came, that
I might have had a share in the glory of your crowns! ” He fought manfully
against simony, and in many ways promoted the interest of the Faith in Italy.
After a life of great austerity, he died whilst the angels were singing round
his bed, July 11, 1073.
Ss. Nabor and Felix, Martyrs
Saints Nabor and Felix were martyred
during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303. A tomb in Milan is believed to
contain their relics. In early 4th-century, their relics were translated,
probably by the Bishop of Milan Maternus from their place of interment to a
place outside the walls of Milan, placed a few hundred meters north of the
present Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio. A church (Basilica Naboriana) was built over
their new tomb, as recorded by Paulinus of Milan in his life of Saint Ambrose.
Tradition states that Savina of Milan died while praying at the tomb of Nabor
and Felix. Saint Ambrose wrote a hymn about them.
In 1258 their relics were moved to the
church of Saint Francis of Assisi that was erected in place of the Basilica
Naboriana. On 14-16 April 1798, shortly before the demolition of the church of
Saint Francis of Assisi, their relics were translated in the Basilica of
Sant’Ambrogio. Their relics are placed today in an ancient sarcophagus in the
right nave of Sant’ Ambrogio Basilica along with the relics of Saint Maternus
and of Saint Valeria.
St.
John Gualbert, Abbot
Double – White vestments
Mass of a Holy Abbot - Missa ‘Os Justi’
Commemoration
of
Ss. Nabor and Felix, Martyrs
INTROITUS
Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et
lingua ejus loquetur judicium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius Ps. Noli æmulari in malignantibus: neque
zelaveris facientes iniquitatem. Gloria Patri.
INTROIT
The mouth of the just shall meditate
wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment: the law of his God is in his
heart. Ps. Be
not emulous of evildoers: nor envy them that work iniquity. Glory be to the
Father.
COLLECT
May the intercession of the blessed
Abbot John, commend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that what we cannot attain by
our own deserts we may attain through his patronage. Through our Lord.
Ss. Nabor
and Felix, Martyrs
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that as
we never fail to celebrate the natal feast of Thy holy martyrs, Nabor and
Felix, we may continually be helped by their prayers. Through our Lord.
 |
| St John Gualbert. Fresco by Neri di Bicci, Santa Trinita in Florence |
EPISTLE
Ecclesiasticus 45: 1-6
He was beloved of God and men, whose
memory is in benediction; He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified
him in the fear of his enemies; and with his words he made prodigies to cease;
He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments in the sight
of his people, and showed him his glory; He sanctified him in his faith and
meekness, and chose him out of all flesh; for He heard him and his voice, and
brought him into a cloud; and He gave him commandments before his face, and a
law of life and instruction.
GRADUAL
O Lord, Thou hast prevented him with
blessings of sweetness; Thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones.
He asked life of Thee, and Thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia. The just shall
flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 5:43-48
At that time, Jesus said to His
disciples: You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say to you: Love your enemies, do good
to them that hate you, and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
that you may be the children of your Father Who is in Heaven, Who maketh His
sun to rise upon the good and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust.
For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have; do not even the
publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not
also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your Heavenly Father
is perfect.
OFFERTORY
Thou hast given him his heart’s desire,
O Lord, and hast not withholden from him the will of his lips: Thou hast set on
his head a crown of precious stones
SECRET
May the holy Abbot John, we beseech
Thee, O Lord, obtain by his prayers that the Sacrifice laid on Thy holy altar
may profit us unto salvation. Through our Lord.
 |
| Blessed Virgin Mary and Saints Nabor and Felix; Francis of Assisi; Claire of Assisi; John the Baptist; Mary Magdalene; Catherine of Alexandria. |
Ss. Nabor and
Felix, Martyrs
May the gifts of Thy people, we pray
Thee, O Lord, be made pleasing by the favouring prayers of Thy holy martyrs,
Nabor and Felix, and let these offerings which are made for their triumph, be
also rendered worthy by their merits. Through our Lord.
PREFACE
Common Preface
It is truly meet and just, right and for our
salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee,
O holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: through Christ our Lord. through
Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, Dominations worship, Powers stand in awe.
The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in
triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee,
that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly
praise…
COMMUNION
This is the faithful and wise steward,
whom his lord setteth over his family: to give them their measure of wheat in
due season
POSTCOMMUNION
May the pleading of blessed John the
Abbot for us, as well as the reception of Thy Sacrament, protect us, O Lord,
that we may both share in the glory of his works, and receive the help of his
intercession. Through our Lord.
Ss. Nabor and Felix,
Martyrs
On the natal feast of Thy saints we
beseech Thee, O Lord, that, being strengthened by the gift of the sacrament, we
may enjoy forever the good things with which, through Thy grace, we are now
comforted. Through our Lord.
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