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St Barnabas, Apostle: Missa “Mihi autem nimis“
St Vitalis is honoured as the principal patron of the city of Ravenna, in which he glorified God by martyrdom in the persecution of Nero. He was a citizen of Milan, and is said in his acts to have been the father of SS. Gervasius and Protasius. The divine providence conducted him to Ravenna, where he saw a Christian named Ursicinus, who was condemned to lose his head for his faith, standing aghast at the sight of death, and seeming ready to yield. Happy is he who, by a perfect diffidence in himself and a sincere humility, obtains strength and comfort from above in the fiery trials of his last conflicts; when the devil rages with the greatest fury, knowing that he has only a little time to compass the ruin of a soul for ever. Vitalis was extremely moved at this spectacle. The honour of God, which was in danger of being insulted by sin, and the soul of a brother in Christ which appeared to be upon the very brink of apostacy, were alarming objects to awaken his zeal. He who dreaded the presumption of rashly seeking the combat, knew his double obligation of preferring the glory of God, and the eternal salvation of his neighbour to his own corporal life: he therefore boldly and successfully encouraged Ursicinus to triumph over death, and after his martyrdom, carried off his body, and respectfully interred it. The judge, whose name was Paulinus, being informed of what he had done, caused him to be apprehended, stretched on the rack, and, after other torments, to be buried alive in a place called the Palm-tree, in Ravenna, as Fortunatus and his acts relate. These acts add that his wife, Valeria, returning from Ravenna to Milan was beaten to death by certain peasants, because she refused to join them in an idolatrous festival and riot. The relics of St. Vitalis are deposited in the great church which bears his name in Ravenna, and was magnificently built by the emperor Justinian, in 547. It belongs to a noble Benedictin abbey, where in a ruinous private chapel are shown the tombs of the emperor Honorius, and of the princes and princesses of his family.
INTROIT Psalm 138: 7
To me Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable : their principality is exceedingly strengthened. (Psalm 138: 1-2). Lord, Thou hast proved me, and known me; Thou hast known my sitting down and y rising up. 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
O God, Who dost make us joyful with the merits and intercession of blessed Barnabas, Thine Apostle, mercifully grant that we, who ask Thy benefits through him, may obtain them by the gift of Thy grace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever.
LESSON Acts 16: 21-26; 13: 2-3
In those days, A great number of believers at Antioch were converted to the Lord; and the tidings came to the ears of the Church that was at Jerusalem touching these things, and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch: Who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, rejoiced: and he exhorted them all with purpose of heart to continue in the Lord: for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord. And Barnabas went to Tarsus, to seek Saul; whom, when he had found, he brought to Antioch. And they conversed there in the Church a whole year; and they taught a great multitude; so that at Antioch the disciples were first named Christians. Now there were in the Church which was at Antioch, prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas and Simon, who was called Noiger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, who was the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them, separate me Saul and Barnabas for the work whereunto I have taken them. Then they fasting and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away.
GRADUAL Psalm 18: 5, 2
Their sound went forth into all the earth; and their words to the ends of the world. V. The heavens show forth the glory of God; and the firmament declareth the work of His hands. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (John 15: 16) I have chosen you out of the world, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit: and your fruit should remain. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 10: 16-22
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: “Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and simple as doves. But beware of men; for they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before governors, and before kings, for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the gentiles. But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought of how, or what, to speak; for it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. The brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against the parents, and shall put them to death; and you shall be hated by all men for My name’s sake; but he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 44: 17-18
Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth: they shall remember Thy name, O Lord, throughout all generations.
SECRET
Sanctify, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gifts offered to Thee, and by the intercession of blessed Barnabas, Thine apostle, cleanse us through them from the stains of our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever.
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 19: 28
You who have followed Me shall sit on seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
POSTCOMMUNION
We humbly beseech Thee, O almighty God, that, through the intercession of blessed Barnabas, Thine apostle, Thou grant us, whom Thou dost refresh with Thy sacraments to serve Thee worthily with behavior pleasing in Thy sight. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever.