Vigil of St Laurence, Martyr; comm of St. Romanus, Martyr: Missa “Dispérsit, dedit paupéribus“
After the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul this is the greatest festival in the ancient Roman Liturgy. The terrible martyrdom endured by the famous archdeacon deeply impressed the generations that came immediately after him, for whom Saint Lawrence became at Rome that which Saint Stephen had been at Jerusalem. The Vigil of St. Lawrence and the feast of St. Romanus, Martyr. The vigil of St. Lawrence has been observed in the Church certainly since the Fourth Century. The ancient vigils consisted of a fixed number of scriptural Lessons alternated with responsorial Psalms and episcopal Collects. When day began to break, the Holy Sacrifice was offered and the fast came to an end. St. Romanus was a Roman soldier. He was converted to the Christian faith by the preaching of St. Lawrence, and was beheaded the day preceding that of the saint’s martyrdom.
INTROIT Psalm 111:9
Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. Ps 111:1 Happy the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commands. v. Glory be…etc
COLLECT
Heed our prayers, O Lord, and by the intercession of Your blessed Martyr Lawrence, whose feast we anticipate, graciously grant us Your everlasting mercy.Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.
For St. Romanus, Martyr
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that by the intercession of St. Romanus, Your Martyr, we may be delivered from all afflictions in the body and purified in mind from all evil thoughts.
Collect of the Souls
From all perils of soul and body defend us, O Lord, we beseech thee, and by the intercession of blessed and gloriosus ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and of blessed N. and all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace that all adversities and errors being overcome, thy Church may serve thee in security and freedom…
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, unto all thy servants, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness both of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of thine eternal gladness. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
EPISTLE Ecclus 51:1-8, 12.
Lesson from the book of Ecclesiasticus. I will give You thanks, O Lord, O King; I will praise You, O God my Savior! I will make known Your name; for You have been my helper and protector, and have preserved my body from destruction, from the scourge of a slanderous tongue, and from lips that went over to falsehood; and in the sight of those who stood by You have been my helper. And You have delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of Your name, from those who did roar, prepared to devour; from the power of those who sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions which compassed me about; from the oppression of the flames which hemmed me in on every side, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt; from the deep belly of the nether world, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from dishonest tongues. My soul shall praise the Lord even to death; because You, O Lord our God, save those who take refuge in You, and rescue them out of the hands of the nations.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 111:9, 2.
Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever. V. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed.
GOSPEL Matt. 16:24-27
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For he who would save his life will lose it; but he who loses his life for My sake will find it. For what does it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will render to everyone according to His conduct.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Job 16:20
My prayer is pure, and therefore I ask that a place may be given to my voice in heaven; for there is my judge, and He Who knows my conscience is on high. Let my prayer ascend to the Lord.
SECRET
Look with favor upon the sacrificial gifts we offer You, O Lord, and through this holy exchange, loosen the bonds of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
For St. Romanus, Martyr
Having received our gifts and prayers, we beseech You, O Lord, mercifully hear us and cleanse us by Your heavenly sacrament.
Of the souls
Hear us, O God, our salvation that through the power of this Sacrament thou mayest defend us from all enemies of soul and body and bestow upon us grace here and glory hereafter.
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Through thy mercy, O Lord, and the intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, may this oblation obtain for us prosperity and peace both now and forever. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
PREFACE of the Common
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, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the 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: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matt 16:24
He who wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
POSTCOMMUNION
Grant, we beseech You, O Lord, our God, that as we joyfully commemorate St. Lawrence, Your Martyr, in this life, so may we rejoice by beholding him in eternity.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.
For St. Romanus, Martyr
We beseech You, O almighty God, that we who have eaten the food of heaven may find in it, by the intercession of blessed Romanus, Your Martyr, strength against all harm.
Of the souls
May the offering of this divine Sacrament cleanse and protect us, O Lord we beseech thee, and by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of blessed N. and all the Saints, may it purify us from all sin, and free us from all adversity.
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Grant, O Lord, that we, who had partaken of the aids of salvation, may be everywhere protected by the patronage of blessed Mary ever Virgin, in whose honor we have offered these gifts of thy majesty. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
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