St. Justin Martyr
St. Justin was born of
heathen parents at. Neapolis in Samaria, about the year 103. He was well
educated, and gave himself to the study of philosophy, but always with one
object, that he might learn the knowledge of God. He sought this knowledge
among the contending schools of philosophy, but always in vain, till at last
God himself appeased the thirst which He had created. One day, while Justin was
walking by the seashore, meditating on the thought of God, an old man met him
and questioned him on the subject of his doubts; and when he had made Justin
confess that the philosophers taught nothing certain about God, he told him of
the writings of the inspired prophets and of Jesus Christ Whom they announced,
and bade him seek light and understanding through prayer. The Scriptures and
the constancy of the Christian martyrs led Justin from the darkness of human
reason to the light of faith. In his zeal for the Faith he travelled to Greece,
Egypt, and Italy, gaining many to Christ. At Rome he sealed his testimony with
his blood, surrounded by his disciples. "Do you think," the prefect
said to Justin, "that by dying you will enter heaven, and be rewarded by
God?" "I do not think," was the Saint's answer; "I
know." Then, as now, there were many religious opinions, but only one
certain—the certainty of the Catholic faith. This certainty should be the
measure of our confidence and our zeal.
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Sts. Tiburtius,
Valerian and Maximus
These holy martyrs have
always been held in singular veneration in the church, as appears from the
ancient calendar of Fronto, the sacramentary of St. Gregory, St. Jerome’s
Martyrology, that of Thomasius & Valerian was espoused to St. Cecily,
and converted by her to the faith; and with her he became the instrument of the
conversion of his brother Tiburtius. Masimus, the officer appointed to attend
their execution, was brought to the faith by the example of their piety, and
received with them the crown of martyrdom, in the year 229. The theater of
their triumph seems to have been Rome, though some have imagined they suffered
in Sicily. They were interred in the burying place of Prætextatus, which, from
them, took the name of Tiburtius. It was contiguous to that of Calixtus. In
that place Pope Gregory III. repaired their monument in 740; and Adrian I.
built a church under their patronage. But Pope Paschal translated the remains
of these martyrs, of St. Cecily, and the popes SS. Urban and Lucius, into the
city, where the celebrated church of St. Cecily stands. These relics were found
in it in 1599, and visited by the Order of Clement VIII., and approved genuine
by the Cardinals Baronius and Sfondrate. The Greeks vie with the Latins in
their devotion to these martyrs.
Most agreeable to the holy angels was this
pious family, converted to God by the zeal and example of St. Cecily, who
frequently assembled to sing together, with heavenly purity and fervor, the
divine praises. We shall also draw upon ourselves the protection, constant
favor, and tender attention of the heavenly spirits, if we faithfully imitate
the same angelical exercise. Mortification, temperance, humility, meekness,
purity of mind and body, continual sighs toward heaven, prayer, accompanied
with tears and vehement heavenly desires, disengagement of the heart from the
world, a pure and assiduous attention to God and to his holy will, and a
perfect union by the most sincere fraternal charity, are virtues and exercises
infinitely pleasing to them.
Tuesday of the Second Week after Easter
St. Justin, Martyr with a Commemoration of
April 14
Double / Red - Missa
'Narraverunt'
INTROIT Psalm 118: 85, 46, 1
Narraverunt mihi iníqui fabulatiónes, sed non ut lex tua:
ego autem loquébar de testimóniis tuis in conspéctu regum et non confundébar.
Allelúia, allelúia. Ps. Beáti immaculáti in via, qui ámbulant in lege Dómini.
Gloria Patri.
The wicked have told me
fables, but not as Thy law; but I spoke of Thy testimonies before kings, and I
was not ashamed. Alleluia, alleluia. Ps.
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Glory be
to the Father.
COLLECT
O God, Who, through the
foolishness of the cross, didst wondrously teach blessed Martyr, Justin, the
surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ: grant us, by his intercession, that we
may avoid the wiles of error and attain to firmness of faith. Through our Lord.
Second Collect
COMMEMORATION of Ss Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus - Martyrs
Grant, we beseech Thee, O
almighty God, that, as we observe the feast of Thy holy Martyrs, Tiburtius,
Valerian and Maximus, we may likewise imitate their virtues. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE I Corinthians
1: 18-25, 30
Brethren, the word of the
cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness; but to them that are saved,
that is, to us, it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the
wisdom of the wise; and the prudence of the prudent I will reject. Where is the
wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God
made foolish the wisdom of this world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the
world by wisdom knew not God; it pleased God by the foolishness of our
preaching to save them that believe. For both the Jews require signs, and the
Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed
a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness; but unto them that are
called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is
stronger than men. But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto
us wisdom and justice, and sanctification, and redemption.
PASCHAL ALLELUIA
I Corinthians 3: 19, 20; Philippians 3: 8
Alleluia, alleluia. The
wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written: The Lord
knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Alleluia. Furthermore I
count all things to be but loss, for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ my
Lord. Alleluia.
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| Death of the Sinner. Remorse of the Damned.... |
GOSPEL Luke 12: 2-8
At that time, Jesus said
to His disciples: There is nothing covered
that shall not be revealed: nor hidden, that shall not be known. For whatsoever
things you have spoken in darkness, shall be published in the light; and that
which you have spoken in the ear in chambers shall be preached on the house-tops.
And I say to you, My friends, be not afraid of them who kill the body, and
after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you Whom you shall
fear: fear ye Him Who, after He hath killed, hath power to cast into Hell. Yea,
I say to you, fear Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not
one of them is forgotten before God? Yea, the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear not, therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. And I
say to you, whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man
also confess before the angels of God.
OFFERTORY I Corinthians 2: 2
For I judged not myself
to know any thing among you, but Jesus Christ; and Him crucified. Alleluia.
SECRET
Graciously accept our
gifts, O Lord, the wondrous mystery of which Thy holy Martyr Justin,
strenuously defended against the calumnies of the impious. Through our Lord.
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Second Secret
COMMEMORATION of Sts. Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus
May this sacrifice, O
Lord, which we offer commemorating the birthday of Thy holy Martyrs, both loose
us from the bonds of our base desires and gain for us the gifts of Thy mercy.
Through our Lord.
PREFACE OF EASTER
It is truly meet and
just, right and availing unto salvation that at all times, but more especially
at this season, we should extol Thy glory, O Lord, when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is
the true Lamb that hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath
overcome our death, and by rising again hath restored our life. And therefore
with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the
heavenly hosts, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, saying without ceasing:
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 II Timothy 4: 8
There is laid up for me a
crown of justice, which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that
day. Alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
Refreshed with heavenly
food, we humbly pray Thee, O Lord, that, following the admonitions of Thy
blessed Martyr, Justin, we may give thanks incessantly for the gifts we have
received. Through our Lord
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Burial of Sts. Tiburtius,
Valerian
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Second Postcommunion
COMMEMORATION of Ss Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus
Filled With Thy sacred
gifts, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that what we celebrate in fulfillment of our
bounden service we may feel in the increase of Thy salvation. Through our Lord.
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