Feast of Sts. PHILIP & JAMES, Apostles - Mass Propers

                  St. Philip - Apostle

Philip was one of the first chosen Disciples of Christ. On the way from Judea to Galilee Our Lord found Philip, and said, “Follow Me.” Philip straightway obeyed; and then in his zeal and charity sought to win Nathaniel also, saying, “We have found Him of Whom Moses and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth” and when Nathaniel in wonder asked, “Can any good come out of Nazareth?” Philip simply answered, “Come and see,” and brought him to Jesus. Another characteristic saying of this apostle is preserved for us by St. John. Christ in His last discourse had spoken of His Father; and Philip exclaimed, in the fervor of his thirst for God, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough.” 

St. James the Less, the author of an inspired epistle, was also one of the Twelve. St. Paul tells us that he was favored by a special apparition of Christ after the Resurrection. On the dispersion of the apostles among the nations, St. James was left as Bishop of Jerusalem; and even the Jews held in such high veneration his purity, mortification, and prayer, that they named him the Just. The earliest of Church historians has handed down many traditions of St. James’s sanctity. He was always a virgin, says Hegesippus, and consecrated to God. He drank no wine, wore no sandals on his feet, and but a single garment on his body. He prostrated himself so much in prayer that the skin of his knees was hardened like a camel’s hoof. The Jews, it is said, used out of respect to touch the hem of his garment. He was indeed a living proof of his own words, “The wisdom that is from above first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, full of mercy and good fruits.” He sat beside St. Peter and St. Paul at the Council of Jerusalem; and when St. Paul at a later time escaped the fury of the Jews by appealing to Caesar, the people took vengeance on James, and crying, “The just one hath erred,” stoned him to death.

ST. PHILIP AND ST. JAMES THE LESS, APOSTLES

Two of the favoured witnesses of our beloved Jesus’ Resurrection come before us on this first day of May. Philip and James are here, bearing testimony to us, that their Master is truly risen from the dead, that they have seen him, that they have touched him, that they have conversed with him, during these forty days. And, that we may have no doubt as to the truth of their testimony, they hold in their hands the instruments of the martyrdom they underwent for asserting that Jesus, after having suffered death, came to life again and rose from the grave. Philip is leaning upon the cross to which he was fastened, as Jesus had been; James is holding the club where with he was struck dead. Philip preached the Gospel in the two Phrygias, and his martyrdom took place at Hierapolis. He was married when he was called by our Savior; and we learn from writers of the second century, that he had three daughters, remarkable for their great piety, one of whom lived at Ephesus, where she was justly revered as one of the glories of that early Church. James is better known than Philip. He is called, in the sacred Scripture, Brother of the Lord, on account of the close relationship that existed between his own mother and the Blessed Mother of Jesus. He claims our veneration, during Paschal Time, in as much as he was favoured with a special visit from our Risen Lord, as we learn from St. Paul. There can be no doubt, but what he had done something to deserve this mark of Jesus’ predilection. St. Jerome and St. Epiphanius tell us, that our Savior, when ascending into heaven, recommended to St. James’ care the Church of Jerusalem, and that he was accordingly appointed the first Bishop of that City. The Christians of Jerusalem, in the 4th Century, had possession of the Chair on which St. James used to sit, when he assisted at the assemblies of the Faithful. St. Epiphanius also tells us, that the holy Apostle used to wear a lamina of gold upon his fore head, as the badge of his dignity. His garment was a tunic made of linen. He was held in such high repute for virtue, that the people of Jerusalem called him ” The Just” and when the time of the Siege came, instead of attributing the frightful punishment, they then endured, to the deicide they or their fathers had committed, they would have it to be a consequence of the murder of James, who, when dying, prayed for his people. The admirable Epistle he has left us bears testimony to the gentleness and uprightness of his character. He there teaches us, with an eloquence of an inspired writer, that works must go along with our Faith, if we would be Just with that Justice, which makes us like our Risen Lord. The bodies of Saints Philip and James repose in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles, at Rome. These Relics are counted as one of the richest treasures of the Holy City, and there is reason to believe that this first of May is the real anniversary of their Translation. For a long period, the Church of Rome kept special Feasts in honour of four only of the Apostles: Ss. Peter and Paul, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Andrew (Peter’s Brother): the rest were united in the solemnity of the 29th of June, and a vestige of this is still to be found in the Office of that Day, as we shall see later on. The reception of the Bodies of SS. Philip and James, which were brought from the East, somewhere about the 6th Century, gave rise to the institution of to-day’s Feast; and this led gradually to the insertion into the Calendar of the special Feasts for the other Apostles and Evangelists.  

The Liturgical Year – Ven. Dom Gueranger, O.S.B.

THIRD FRIDAY AFTER THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

The Feast of Sts. PHILIP & JAMES, Apostles and Martyrs

    

Double of the Second Class – Red Vestments

                                   

INTROIT - II Esdras 9: 27

Clamaverunt ad te, Dómine, in témpore afflictiónis suæ, et tu de cœlo exaudísti eos. Allelúia, allelúia. Ps. 32: 1 Exsultá te, justi, in Dómino: rectos decet collaudátio. Gloria Patri.

In the time of their tribulation they cried to Thee O Lord, and Thou heardest them from heaven. Alleluia, alleluia. Ps. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just: praise becometh the upright. Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

O God, Who dost gladden us with the annual solemnity of Thine apostles, Philip and James, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may learn from the examples of those in whose merits we rejoice. Through the same Lord.

EPISTLE

Lesson from the Book of Wisdom

Wisdom 5. 1-5

Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them and taken away their labors. These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation, saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit: These are they whom we had some time in derision and for a parable of reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness and their end without honor; behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the Saints. 

PASCHAL ALLELUIA - Psalm 88: 6                          

Alleluia, alleluia. The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord; and Thy truth in the Church of the saints. 

                       

ALLELUIA - John 14: 9

Alleluia. So long a time have I been with you, and have you not known Me? Philip, he that seeth me, seeth My Father also. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

† Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. John

John 14:1-13

At that time Jesus said to His disciples: Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you, that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I shall go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you also may be. And whither I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith to Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by Me. If you had known Me, you would without doubt have known My Father also: and from henceforth you shall know Him; and you have seen Him. Philip saith to Him: Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus saith to him: So long a time have I been with you, and have you not known Me? Philip, he that seeth Me, seeth the Father also. How sayest thou, show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of Myself. But the Father Who abideth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? Otherwise, believe for the very works' sake. Amen, amen, I say to you, he that believeth in Me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do. Because I go to the Father: and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My name, that will I do.

OFFERTORY – Psalm 88: 6

The Heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the church of the saints. Alleluia, alleluia.

SECRET

Graciously receive O Lord, the offerings which we bring for the feast of Thine Apostles Philip and James, and turn aside all the evils which we deserve. Through our Lord.

PREFACE OF THE APOSTLES

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd; but through Thy blessed Apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying.

THE SANCTUS

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

COMMUNION – John 14: 9-10

So long a time have I been with you, and have you not known Me? Philip, he that seeth Me; seeth My Father also, alleluia. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? Alleluia, alleluia.

 

POSTCOMMUNION

Filled with the mysteries of salvation, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be assisted by the prayers of those whose feast we celebrate. Through the Lord.