Tuesday in Paschaltide II: Missa “Si diligis Me“
These two Sovereign Pontiffs were martyred for the Faith 120 years apart in the second and third centuries. Pope Saint Soter was raised to the Papacy after the death of Pope St. Anicetus in 166. He was the 12th successor of Peter and it was he who forbade women to burn incense in the churches and also ratified matrimony as a sacrament, which could only be performed by a priest. He was martyred under Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 175.
One hundred and eight years later Pope Saint Caius succeeded St. Eutychian as the 28th Pope in 283. Caius decreed that no one could become a bishop until he had passed through the orders from hostarius to reader to acolyte to exorcist to subdeacon, deacon and priest. For his sufferings under his uncle Diocletian he was made a martyr although he died a natural death on April 21, 296. Ancient Inscriptions bear testimony to the devotion of the faithful to these Pontiffs.
INTROIT Ecclesiasticus 15: 5
If thou lovest Me, Simon Peter, feed My lambs; feed My sheep. Alleluia, alleluia. (Ps. 29: 1) I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me: and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen…
COLLECT
Eternal Shepherd, do Thou look favorably upon Thy flock, which we beseech Thee to guard and keep for evermore through the blessed Soter and Caius Thy Martyrs and Supreme Pontiffs, whom Thou didst choose to be the chief shepherds of the whole Church. Through Our Lord…
LESSON 1 Peter 5: 1-4, 10-11
Dearly beloved, the ancients therefore that are among you, I beseech , who am myself also am ancient, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ : as also a partaker of that glory which is to be revealed in time to come: feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it, not by constraint, but willingly, according to God: not for filthy lucre’s sake, but voluntarily: neither as lording it over the clergy, but being made a pattern of the flock from the heart. And when the prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive a never fading crown of glory. But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, will himself perfect you, and confirm you, and establish you. To Him be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia. (Matth. 16: 18) Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. Alleluia. (Ps. 44: 17, 18) Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth: they shall remember Thy name through-out all generations. Alleluia.
GOSPEL St. Matthew 16: 13-19
At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Cæsarea Philippi, and He asked His disciples, saying, “Whom do men say that the Son of man is?” But they said, Some, John the Baptist, and other some, Elias, and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them, “But whom do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but My Father Who is in Heaven: and I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 92: 15
Behold I have given My words in thy mouth: lo, I have set thee this day over the nations, and over the kingdoms, to waste and to destroy, and to build and to plant.
SECRET
In Thy loving kindness, we beseech Thee, O Lord, be moved by the offering of our gifts and enlighten Thy Church: that Thy flock may prosper everywhere and shepherds, under Thy guidance, may be rendered acceptable to Thee. 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 woulds 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 Archangesl, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of The glory, evermore saying: :
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matthew 16: 18
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. Alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
Since Thy Church has been nourished by the sacred repast, govern her in Thy clemency, we beseech Thee, O Lord, so that under the guidance of Thy mighty rule she may enjoy greater freedom and abiding integrity of religion. Through our Lord…