Feast of St. Vincent & St. Anastasius, Martyrs - Mass Propers

                            St. Vincent, Martyr

St. Vincent, deacon of Saragossa in Spain, suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Diocletian A.D. 304.

Vincent was archdeacon of the church at Saragossa. Valerian, the bishop, had an impediment in his speech; thus Vincent preached in his stead, and answered in his name when both were brought before Dacian, the president, during the persecution of Diocletian. When the bishop was sent into banishment, Vincent remained to suffer and to die. First of all, he was stretched on the rack; and, when he was almost torn asunder, Dacian, the president, asked him in mockery "how he fared now." Vincent answered, with joy in his face, that he had ever prayed to be as he was then. It was in vain that Dacian struck the executioners and goaded them on in their savage work. The martyr's flesh was torn with hooks; he was bound in a chair of red-hot iron; lard and salt were rubbed into his wounds; and amid all this he kept his eyes raised to heaven, and remained unmoved. He was cast into a solitary dungeon, with his feet in the stocks; but the angels of Christ illuminated the darkness, and assured Vincent that he was near his triumph. His wounds were now tended to prepare him for fresh torments, and the faithful were permitted to gaze on his mangled body. They came in troops, kissed the open sores, and carried away as relics cloths dipped in his blood. Before the tortures could recommence, the martyr's hour came, and he breathed forth his soul in peace.

St. Anastasius, Martyr

St. Anastasius was a monk of Persia, was put to death with seventy other Christians under Chosroes A.D. 628.

Originally a Persian called Magundat, a magician. Anastasius was a soldier in the army of King Khusrow II, ruler of Persia, when that ruler carried the Holy Cross from Jerusalem to Persia. He was so impressed with the relic and with the demeanor of the Christians that he left the army, became a Christian, and then a monk in Jerusalem. After seven years, Anastasius went to Persia to convert his own people. He was taken prisoner and promised honors by King Khusrow if he denied Christ. Remaining constant in the faith, Anastasius was strangled and beheaded with 68 or 70 other Christians on January 22, 628. His remains were taken to Palestine, and later Rome.

Sts. Vincent and Anastasius - Mass Propers

Semi-double / Red  -  Missa ‘Intret in conspectu’

INTROIT - Psalm 78: 11,12,10

Intret in conspectu tuo, Domine; gemitus compeditorum: redde vicinis nostris septuplum in sinu eorum: vindica sanguinem 
sanctorum tuorum, qui effusus est. 
Ps. Deus venerunt gentes in

hereditatem tuam: polluerunt templum sanctum tuum: postuerunt Jerusalem in pomorum custodiam. 
Gloria Patri.

Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before Thee, O Lord; render to our neighbors sevenfold in their bosom; revenge the blood of Thy Saints, which hath been shed. 
Ps. O God, the heathens are come into Thine inheritance: they have defiled Thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit. 
Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

O Lord, listen to our supplications: that we who acknowledge the guilt of our sins, may be delivered through the intercession of Thy blessed Martyrs Vincent and Anastasius. Through our Lord...

St. Anastasius

EPISTLE - Wisdom 3: 1-8
The Lesson is taken from the Book of Wisdom

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery: and their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are in peace. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of Himself. As gold in the furnace He hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust He hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them. The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign forever. 

GRADUAL - Exodus 15: 11,6

God is glorious in His Saints, wonderful in majesty, doing wonders. Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Thy right hand hath broken the enemies.

ALLELUIA Exodus 44: 14

Alleluia, alleluia. Thy bodies of Thy Saints are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto generation and generation. Alleluia. 

GOSPEL Luke 21: 9-19
The continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: When you shall hear of wars and seditions, be not terrified: these things must first come to pass, but the end is not yet presently. Then He said to them: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be great earthquakes in divers places, and pestilences, and famines and terrors from Heaven, and there shall be great signs. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for My name's sake; and it shall happen unto you for a testimony. Lay it up therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay. And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brethren and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death: and you shall be hated by all men for My name's sake; but a hair of your head shall not perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls. 

OFFERTORY Psalm 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. Alleluia.

Bulgarian Catholic Church of Sts. Vincent and Anastasius 

SECRET

We offer unto Thee, O Lord, the gifts of our devotion: may they please Thee as honoring Thy just ones, and through Thy mercy profit us unto salvation. Through our Lord.

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 Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.  Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

COMMUNION Wisdom 3: 4-6

And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, God hath tried them: as gold in the furnace He hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust He hath received them. 

Church of St. Vincent and Anastasius

POSTCOMMUNION

We beseech Thee, almighty God, that we, who have received this heavenly food, may at the intercession of Thy blessed Martyrs Vincent and Anastasius, thereby be defended against all adversities. Through our Lord.