ST..JOACHIM -- FATHER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

 

                      

                      AUGUST 16

                 SAINT JOACHIM

CONFESSOR, FATHER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

                Epistle and Gospel

Epistle Ecclesiasticus 31: 8-11

Blessed is the man that is found without blemish, and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures.  Who is he, and we will praise him?  for he hath done wonderful things in his life.  Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting:  he that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed:  and could do evil things, and hath not done them:  therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the Church of the Saints shall declare his alms.

Gospel - Matthew 1: 1-16

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; and Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; and Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; and Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; and Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; and Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; and Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; and Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; and Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:  and after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; and Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

From time immemorial the Greeks have celebrated the feast of St. Joachim the day following our Lady's birthday. The Maronites kept it on the day after the Presentation in November, and the Armenians on the Tuesday after the Octave of the Assumption of the Mother of God. The Latins at first did not keep his feast. Later on it was admitted and celebrated sometimes on the day after the Octave of the Nativity, September 1:6, sometimes on the day following the Conception of the Blessed Virgin, December 9. Thus both East and West agreed in associating St. Joachim with his illustrious daughter when they wished to do him honour. About the year 1510, Julius II placed the feast of the grandfather of the Messias upon the Roman Calendar with the rank of double major; and remembering that family, in which the ties of nature and of grace were in such perfect harmony, be fixed the solemnity on March 20, the day after that of his son-in-law, St. Joseph. The life of the glorious patriarch resembled those of the first fathers of the Hebrew people; and it seemed as though he were destined to imitate their wanderings also, by continually changing his place upon the sacred cycle. Hardly fifty years after the Pontificate of Julius II the critical spirit of the day cast doubts upon the history of St. Joachim, and his name was erased from the Roman breviary. Gregory XV, however, re-established his feast in 1622 as a double, and the Church has since continued to celebrate it. Devotion to our Lady's father continuing to increase very much, the Holy See was petitioned to make his feast a holiday of obligation, as it had already made that of his spouse, St. Anne. In order to satisfy the devotion of the people without increasing the number of days of obligation, Clement XII in 1738 transferred the feast of St. Joachim to the Sunday after the Assumption of his daughter, the Blessed Virgin, and restored to it the rank of double major. On August 1, 1879, the Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII, who received the name of Joachim in baptism, raised both the feast of his glorious patron and that of St. Anne to the rank of doubles of the second class. The following is an extract from the decree Urbi et Orbi, announcing this decision with regard to the said feasts: 

Ecclesiasticus teaches us that we ought to praise our fathers in their generation; what great honor and veneration ought we then to render to St. Joachim and St. Anne, who begot the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and are on that account more glorious than all others.' By your fruits are you known,' says St. John Damascene; you have given birth to a daughter who is greater than the angels and has become their Queen.' 

Now since, through the divine mercy, in our unhappy times the honor and worship paid to the Blessed Virgin is increasing in proportion to the increasing needs of the Christian people, it is only right that the new glory which surrounds their blessed daughter should redound upon her happy parents. May this increase of devotion towards them cause the Church to experience still more their powerful protection.

Prayer

Father of Mary, we thank thee. All creation owes thee a debt of gratitude, since the Creator was pleased that thou shouldst give Him the Mother He had chosen for Himself. Husband of holy Anne, thou showest us what would have been in paradise; thou seemest to have been reinstated in primeval innocence, in order to give birth to the Immaculate Virgin; sanctify Christian life, and elevate the standard of morals. Thou art the Grandfather of Jesus: let thy paternal love embrace all Christians who are His brethren. Holy Church honors thee more than ever in these days of trial; she knows how powerful thou art with the Eternal and Almighty Father, who made thee instrumental, through thy blessed daughter, in the temporal generation of his Eternal Son.

 Dom Gueranger - The Liturgical Year

FEAST OF OUR LADY'S ASSUMPTION INTO HEAVEN

 

       Holy Day of Obligation   

Double of the First Class with a common Octave

        White Vestments

   Missa ‘Signum magnum’

 

INTROIT - Apocalypse 12: 1

Signum magnum appáruit in cælo: múlier amícta sole, et luna sub pédibus ejus, et in cápite ejus coróna stellárum duódecim. Ps. 97. 1. Cantáte Dómino cánticum novum: quia mirabília fecit. V. Gloria Patri.

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Ps. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because He hath done wonderful things. V. Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

Omnipotens sempitérne Deus, qui Immaculátam Virginem Maríam, Fílii tui Genitrícem, córpore et ánima ad cæléstem glóriam assumpsísti: concéde, quǽsumus; ut ad supérna semper inténti, ipsíus glóriæ mereámur esse consórtes. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast taken up the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of Thy Son, with body and soul into heavenly glory: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may always, intent on higher things, deserve to be partakers of her glory. Through the same our Lord.

EPISTLE 

Judith 13: 22-25; 15. 10 benedíxit te Dóminus in virtúte sua, quia per te ad níhilum redégit inimícos nostros. Benedícta es tu, fília, a Dómino Deo excélso, præ ómnibus muliéribus super terram. Benedíctus Dóminus, qui creávit cælum et terram, qui te diréxit in vúlnera cápitis príncipis inimicórum nostrórum; quia hódie nomen tuum ita magnificávit, ut non recédat laus tua de ore hóminum, qui mémores fúerint virtútis Dómini in ætérnum, pro quibus non pepercísti ánimæ tuæ propter angústias et tribulatiónem géneris tui, sed subvenísti ruínæ ante conspéctum Dei nostri.  Tu glória Jerúsalem, tu lætítia Israël, tu honorificéntia pópuli nostri.

The Lord hath blessed thee by His power, because by thee He hath brought our enemies to nought. Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth. Blessed be the Lord, who made heaven and earth, who hath directed thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies; because He hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord, for ever: for that thou hast not spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people; but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our God. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honour of our people.

GRADUAL - Psalm  44: 11-12, 14

Audi, fília, et vide, et inclína aurem tuam, et concupíscet rex pulchritúdinem tuam. V. Tota decóra ingréditur fília regis, textúræ áureæ sunt amíctus ejus.

Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and the King shall greatly desire thy beauty. V. The daughter of the King comes in, all beautiful: her robes are of golden cloth.

ALLELUIA

Allelúia, allelúia. V. Assúmpta est María in cælum: gaudet exércitus  Angelórum.  

Alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia. V. Mary has been taken up into heaven: the choirs of angels rejoice. Alleluia.

GOSPEL Luke 1: 41-50

In illo témpore: Repléta est Spíritu Sancto Elísabeth et exclamávit voce magna, et dixit: Benedícta tu inter mulíeres, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui. Et unde hoc mihi ut véniat mater Dómini mei ad me? Ecce enim ut facta est vox salutatiónis tuæ in áuribus meis, exsultávit in gáudio infans in útero meo. Et beáta, quæ credidísti, quóniam perficiéntur ea, quæ dicta sunt tibi a Dómino. Et ait María: Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum: et exsultávit spíritus meus in Deo salutári meo; quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ suæ, ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus, et misericórdia ejus a progénie in progénies timéntibus eum.

At that time, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord. And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour; because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His name, and His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.

OFFERTORY 

Genesis 3: 15

Inimicitias ponam inter te et Mulíerem et semen tuum et Semen illíus.

I will put enmities between thee and the Woman, and between thy seed and her Seed.

SECRET

Ascéndat ad te, Dómine, nostræ devotiónis oblátio, et, beatíssima Vírgine María in cælum assúmpta intercedénte, corda nostra, caritátis igne succénsa, ad te júgiter adspírent. Per Dóminum nostrum.

May the offering of our devotion ascend to Thee, O Lord; and through the intercession of the most blessed Virgin Mary, who was taken up into heaven, may our hearts be inflamed with the fire of love, and continually long for Thee.  Through our Lord.

PREFACE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

Vere dignum et justum est, aéquum et salutáre, nos tibi semper, et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine sancte, Pater omnipotens, ætérne Deus: Et te in Assumptióne beátae Maríæ semper Vírginis collaudáre, benedícere et prædicáre. Quæ et Unigénitum tuum Sancti Spíritus obumbratióne concépit: et virginitátis gloria permanénte, lumen ætérnum mundo effúdit, Jesum Christum Dóminum nostrum. Per quem majestátem tu am laudant Angeli, adórant Dominatiónes, tremunt Potestátes. Cæli, cælorúmque Virtútes, ac beáta Séraphim, sócia exsultatióne concélebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admítti júbeas, deprecámur, súpplici confessióne dicéntes:

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty and eternal God: and that we should praise, bless and proclaim Thee in the Assumption of the blessed Mary ever virgin: who conceived Thine only begotten Son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost; and losing not the glory of her virginity, gave forth to the world the eternal Light, Jesus Christ our Lord through Whom the angels praise Thy majesty, Dominations worship, Powers stand in awe: the Heavens and the hosts of heaven, with blessed Seraphim unite, exult, and celebrate; and we entreat that Thou wouldst bid our voices also to be heard with theirs, singing in lowly praise:

COMMUNION Luke 1: 48-49

Beatam me dicent omnes generatiónes, quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est.

All generations shall call me blessed, because He that is mighty hath done great things to me.

POSTCOMMUNION

Sumptis, Dómine, salutáribus sacraméntis, da quǽsumus: ut, méritis et intercessióne beátæ Vírginis Maríæ in cælum assúmptæ, ad resurrectiónis glóriam perducámur.  Per Dóminum.

Now that we have received, O Lord, the Sacrament of salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that through the merits and the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, who was taken up into heaven, we may be brought to the glory of the resurrection. Through our Lord.

Lindsay Clancy courtroom stunned after cop shares rumor that psychologist COACHED Massachusetts mom !!

  

 

 

Lindsay Clancy watched as a police officer admitted the state’s apparent theory that a doctor had coached her to claim that she killed her children because she was hearing voices

 

Lindsay Clancy courtroom stunned after cop shares rumor that psychologist COACHED Massachusetts mom on what to say after killings of her three young children!!!

 

Jurors shot up straight in their chairs.

The public gallery, packed close to the brim with female observers and members of the media, was instantly on high alert.

The stunning moment came during day 12 of Lindsay Clancy’s trial when a police officer admitted the state’s apparent theory that a doctor had coached the mom-of-three to claim that she killed her children because she was hearing voices.

On January 24, 2023, Clancy strangled her three children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and Callan, eight months, with exercise bands in the basement of their home in the wealthy suburb of Duxbury, Massachusetts.

She then cut her wrists and neck and jumped from a second-floor bedroom window in a suicide attempt.

Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to three counts of first-degree murder.

She claims that she was in the throes of severe postpartum depression and psychosis and heard a voice commanding her to kill the children and herself, telling her it was her ‘last chance.’

Inside Plymouth County Superior Court on Wednesday morning, Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Dan Lawlor was forced to admit that investigators discussed a ‘theory’ that a psychologist hired by the defense had planted the seed of that story in Clancy’s mind.

A few days after the killings, forensic psychologist Dr. Paul Zeizel had visited Clancy at Brigham Women’s Hospital where she was receiving treatment.

During that visit, he let Clancy use his cell phone to call her husband, Patrick.

In that call, which marked the first time the couple had spoken since that tragic night, Clancy told her husband that she had heard voices on the day of the killings. 

During a fiery cross-examination from defense attorney Kevin Reddington, the officer admitted that one of the state’s theories was that Dr. Zeisel told Clancy inside the hospital room to say she had been hearing voices, so as to help create a defense case.

Animatedly gesturing to Clancy sitting in her wheelchair at the defense table, Reddington pointed out that no one ‘could get access’ to the mom-of-three when she was hospitalized, with officers - including Sgt. Lawlor - stationed outside the door.

Clancy’s parents and her previous attorney weren’t allowed to see her. And Reddington had to get a court order so that Dr. Ziezel could visit her.

‘Did you know that the prosecutor is saying that MY doctor told her to call Patrick to say she heard voices?’ he asked the officer.

Assistant DA Shanan Buckingham leaped to her feet and objected, while a stunned look shot across Sgt. Lawlor’s face.

Judge William Sullivan quickly summoned a sidebar.

For around 10 minutes, all eyes in the courtroom were transfixed on the judge’s bench as the defense and prosecution battled it out. 

Over the white noise, Buckingham’s voice could be heard growing louder and louder.

Reddington crossed his arms, bounced up and down on his toes, and shook his head while she spoke. He then began gesticulating animatedly with his arms when it was his turn to speak.

The 18 men and women - who had likely only heard that stunning allegation for the first time in that moment - were transfixed, staring at the heated exchange, scribbling down notes and whispering to one another.

Clancy, dressed in a khaki green blouse in her wheelchair, also watched intently but gave away no emotion—in a courtroom where her every move and expression has fallen under intense scrutiny.

A local priest who had joined Clancy’s parents, Paula and Mike Musgrove, in the gallery turned and briefly spoke with them.

Ultimately, the jury was sent out of the room so that the two sides could spar in open court during voir dire questioning of Sgt. Lawlor.

As the panel walked out, Reddington returned to the defense table and whispered to Clancy. The former delivery nurse nodded in response, before raising her eyebrows.

Under questioning, Sgt. Lawlor testified that he saw Dr. Zeizel enter Clancy’s hospital room.

He admitted that he wasn’t sure if the doctor closed the door or left it open, but confirmed he could not hear anything that was being said inside.

He also admitted that he had been working with the prosecution team on the case and had spoken about possible theories with them.

Sgt. Lawlor said he remembered speaking about the theory that the doctor told Clancy to make those claims to other police officers.

But he claimed he didn’t recall ever speaking to the prosecution team about it.

‘The conversation also included the fact that it was the psychologist who planted that seed in her mind?’ Reddington pressed him.

‘That would be the theory,’ the officer admitted.

During a brief recess before he repeated the account to the jury, Sgt. Lawlor sheepishly paced the corridor outside the courtroom, his facial expression downtrodden.

He then quickly passed through the courtroom doors to escape the prying eyes of the public and the media.

It was a stunning admission that the officer nervously repeated when the jury returned to the courtroom.

When pressed by Reddington, he also admitted that there was no investigative basis to the theory—that it was only speculation.

Dr. Paul Zeizel, a highly experienced, well-respected forensic psychologist who works with Reddington, was not in the courtroom to witness the accusation against his professionalism play out.

The psychologist has so far attended several days of the trial, often sitting with Clancy’s parents in the row behind her two nurses.

The defense’s move to expose the so-called theory comes as prosecutors have tried to cast doubts on Clancy’s claims that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings.

As part of this, they have raised questions about Clancy being alone in the hospital room with Dr. Zeizel, hinting that this was the first time she mentioned hearing voices.

To date, friends, family members, and medical professionals have testified that Clancy never told them she was hearing voices prior to the killings.

But exposing the theory during the officer’s testimony might mark a blow to the state’s case as the defense was able to show the jury that investigators found no evidence to support it.

As the officer was excused and left the courtroom, Reddington leaned back in his chair and smiled.

The trial continues.

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VIGIL OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

 

                           AUGUST 14  

Vigil of the Assumption of Our Lady Into Heaven

Blessed Mary lived, cared for by St. John, for twelve years after Our Lord‘s Resurrection. Her life was spent in helping the Apostles and in praying for the conversion of the world. On the third day after Mary’s death, when the Apostles gathered around her tomb, they found it empty. The sacred body had been carried up to the celestial paradise. Jesus Himself came to conduct her thither the whole court of heaven came to welcome with songs of triumph the Mother of the Divine Word. Why was Mary’s body received into heaven instead of remaining in the earth, like the rest of mankind? The grave had no power over one who was immaculate. Her flesh could not see corruption. Her body had been over shadowed by the Holy Ghost. It had been the sacred temple in which had dwelt God Incarnate, and so it had a claim to ascend whither the Body of her Son had already gone before. But the chief reason was that as she had shared in each detail in the sorrows and agony of her Son, so it was right that she should take part in His triumph. Let us ask of God, through Mary’s intercession, the grace of a happy death.

St Eusebius, Confessor

Eusebius of Vercelli (c. March 2, 283 – August 1, 371) was a bishop and saint in Italy. Along with Athanasius, he affirmed the divinity of Jesus against Arianism. Born in Sardinia, he was a lector in Rome before he became the first bishop in Vercelli (in northern Italy), probably sometime in the early- to mid-340s. According to a letter of Ambrose to the congregation in Vercelli two decades after Eusebius’ death, the local leaders recognized his piety and thus elected him rather than local candidates (Epistola lxiii, Ad Vercellenses). At some point he led his clergy to form a monastic community modelled on that of the Eastern cenobites (Ambrose, Ep. lxxxi and Serm. lxxxix). For this reason the Canons Regular of St. Augustine honor him along with Augustine as their founder (Proprium Canon. Reg., 16 December).

In 354, Pope Liberius asked Eusebius to join Bishop Lucifer of Cagliari in carrying a request to the Emperor Constantius II at Milan, pleading for the emperor to convoke a council to end the dissentions over the status of Athanasius of Alexandria and the matter of Arianism. The synod was held in Milan in 355. Eusebius attended part of the council, but refused to condemn Athanasius and so was exiled, first to Scythopolis in Syria, under the watchful eye of the Arian bishop Patrophilus, whom Eusebius calls his jailer, then to Cappadocia, and lastly to the Thebaid, in Upper Egypt. Several letters surrounding the council written to or by Eusebius still survive, as do two letters written by him during his exile.

On the accession of Julian, the exiled bishops were free to return to their sees, in 362. Eusebius passed through Alexandria and there attended Athanasius’ synod of 362 which confirmed the divinity of the Holy Ghost and the orthodox doctrine concerning the Incarnation. The synod also agreed both to deal mildly with the repentant bishops who had signed Arianizing creeds under pressure and to impose severe penalties upon the leaders of several of the Arianizing factions. While still on his way home, Eusebius took the synod’s decisions to Antioch and hoped to reconcile the schism there. The church was divided between adherents of Eustathius of Antioch, who had been deposed and exiled by the Arians in 331, and those of the Meletians. Since Meletius’ election in 361 was brought about chiefly by the Arians, the Eustathians would not recognize him, although he solemnly proclaimed his orthodox faith after his episcopal consecration. The Alexandrian synod had desired that Eusebius should reconcile the Eustathians with Bishop Meletius, by purging his election of whatever might have been irregular in it, but Eusebius found that Lucifer of Cagliari had also passed that way, and had unilaterally consecrated Paulinus, the leader of the Eustathians, as Bishop of Antioch.

Unable to reconcile the factions, he continued towards home, visiting other churches along the way in the interest of promulgating and enforcing the orthodox faith. Once back in Vercelli in 363, he continued to be a leader with Hilary of Poitiers in defeating Arianism in the Western Church, and was one of the chief opponents of the Arian bishop Auxentius of Milan. He died in 370 or 371. Later legends of his martyrdom have no historical basis. The Roman Catholic Church celebrates his feast on August 2. His former feast day of December 16 roughly coincided with his elevation as bishop. His current feast day roughly coincides with the anniversary of his death. Vercelli Cathedral is dedicated to him.

Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary/with a Commemoration of St Eusebius, Confessor

Thursday in the Eleventh week after Pentecost within the Octave of St. Lawrence

Violet Vestments – Missa ‘Vultum Tuum’ 

INTROIT – Psalm 44: 13, 15-16

Vultum tuum deprecabúntur omnes dívites plebis: adducéntur regi vírgines post eam: próximæ ejus adducéntur tibi in lætítia et exsultatióne. Ps. 44. 2. Eructávit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego ópera mea regi. V. Gloria Patri.

All the rich among the people shall entreat thy countenance: after her shall virgins be brought to the King: her neighbours shall be brought to thee in gladness and rejoicing. Ps. My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the King. V. Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

O God, Who didst deign to choose for Thy dwelling the virginal womb of the blessed Mary, grant, we beseech Thee, that defended by her protection we may assist with joy at her festival. Who livest and reignest.

COMMEMORATION of St Eusebius, Confessor

O God, Who dost gladden us by the annual feast of blessed Eusebius, Thy confessor, mercifully grant on this day of his heavenly birth, that we may grow like him in deed. Through our Lord.

EPISTLE – Wisdom 24: 23-31

As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odor, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits; for my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations. They that eat me, shall yet hunger; and they that drink me, shall yet thirst. He that harkeneth to me shall not be confounded, and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting.

GRADUAL – Psalm 44: 11-12, 14

Blessed and venerable art thou, O Virgin Mary: who, without spot, wast found the Mother of the Saviour. V. Virgin Mother of God, He Whom the whole world containeth not, being made man, shut Himself in thy womb.

GOSPEL – Luke 11: 26-27

At that time: As Jesus was speaking to the multitudes, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to Him, Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the breasts that gave Thee suck. But He said: Yea, rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.

OFFERTORY – Genesis 3:15

Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Creator of all things: thou didst bring forth Him Who made thee, and remainest forever a virgin.

SECRET

May our offerings be commended to Thy mercy, O Lord, by the prayer of the mother of God, Whom Thou hast removed from this world that she may with confidence intercede for us with Thee. Through the same Lord.

COMMEMORATION of St Eusebius, Confessor

We offer these sacrifices of praise, O Lord, in memory of Your Saints, trusting that by them we may be delivered from both present and future evils.

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:

THE SANCTUS

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dóminus, Deus Sábaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus, qui venit in nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis.

COMMUNION

Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the eternal Father.

POSTCOMMUNION

Grant Thine assistance, O merciful God, to our frailty, that we, who anticipate the festival of the holy Mother of God, may, by the aid of her intercession, rise from our iniquity. Through the same Lord.

COMMEMORATION of St Eusebius, Confessor

Refreshed by meat and drink from heaven, O God, we humbly entreat Thee, that we may be protected by the prayers of him in whose memory we have partaken. Through our Lord.

AUGUST 13 - St. Hippolytus and St. Cassian, Martyrs

      St. Hippolytus and St. Cassian, Martyrs   

                      St. Hippolytus

St. Hippolytus, an officer of the body-guard of the emperor Decius, had been born in the darkness of idolatry, but he had become a Christian, with all his household, in consequence of witnessing the many miracles which St. Lawrence performed while in the prison under his charge. He had also been present when the saint, lying on the red-hot gridiron, endured the most terrible tortures. At the sight of the heroism of St. Lawrence, he was filled with the desire to denounce himself a Christian, but he was prevented by St. Lawrence. But when this martyr had gloriously ended his combat, Hippolytus, with the assistance of a priest, named Justinus, buried the sacred remains with great devotion and veneration. The emperor on being informed of it, had Hippolytus seized and brought before him. He asked him if it was true that he had become a Christian? Hippolytus answered firmly: "Yes, I am a Christian, and moreover resolved to die such." The emperor, who had always highly esteemed him, endeavored, first by promises and then by menaces, to induce him to forsake Christ. As, however, all was unavailing, he caused him to be tortured. He was accordingly stretched on the ground, whipped with scourges, and beaten with clubs so fearfully, that it was believed he could not survive. But God, by a visible miracle, prolonged his life. Keeping his eyes fixed upon Heaven, he frequently repeated: "I am a Christian, I suffer for Christ's sake." After having been tormented for a long time, he was cast into prison, and the prefect received the order to behead him. Before executing this order, however, he went to the house of Hippolytus to secure his property. Finding the entire household had become Christians, he took them beyond the gates of the city and had them beheaded. Concordia, an old and holy matron, who had been Hippolytus' nurse, was scourged until she expired, because she encouraged the others to remain firm in their faith. At last, Hippolytus was taken out of prison and fastened to the tails of two horses, and dragged by them until he was torn to pieces, and his heroic soul was in the presence of Him whom he had so fearlessly confessed.

On the same day, though at another place, St. Cassian suffered a martyrdom of unprecedented cruelty.

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                        St. Cassian

On the same day, though at another place, St. Cassian suffered a martyrdom of unprecedented cruelty.

This saint, was bishop of Brescia, but had been banished from his See on account of his faith. He intended to go to Rome and offer the Pope his services for the salvation of souls in some other place. On his way, he changed his mind, and taking up his residence at Imola, a town in Italy, he resolved to teach children to read and write, hoping that occasion would not be wanting to do good. In this apparently humble position, he was no less zealous than he had been in the administration of his diocese. He taught the children with love and gentleness, and endeavored to inspire them with respect for the Christian faith, fear and horror of sin, and love of virtue and piety. He continued in this occupation with great zeal for some years, to the great benefit of young and old, when suddenly a terrible persecution of the Christians arose. He was one of the first who were taken prisoners. The tyrant commanded him to sacrifice to the gods. The holy bishop and teacher refused, as might have been expected, and tried to convince the judge of his fearful blindness in worshipping dumb idols or making gods of godless men. The tyrant, furious at his arguments, ordered the executioners to strip him of his clothes and tie his hands behind his back, and leave him exposed to the mercy of the children whom he had taken such pains to teach. The children, who had been taught that Cassian was a magician and consequently must die a most painful death, took their sharp iron pencils with which, in those days, they wrote upon their wax tablets, and pierced him with them till the blood ran profusely from his veins. This torture lasted long and was extremely painful. The saint, however, never complained of the ingratitude of his pupils, nor gave a sign of impatience, but praised and thanked the Lord until his soul went to Heaven to receive the crown of martyrdom.