Dominica III Post Pascha; Comm. SS. Cletus & Marcellinus Popes & Martyrs & comm. the Octave of St George Patron of England: Missa “Jubilate”
On this Third Sunday After Easter, the Church rejoices because Christ is risen again and has redeemed us (Alleluia); and so she utters cries of joy (Introit) and sings the praises of God (Offertory).
A little while, and now you shall not see Me, and you shall lament and weep,” Jesus said in His last discourse to His disciples; “and again a little while, and you shall see Me, and your heart shall rejoice”
The Apostles, when again they saw Christ risen from the dead, were filled with the same joy to which the liturgical services for Easter give expression this day; and seeing that Easter is but a figure of the eternal Pasch, the Church will experience a similar joy when, having brought forth in sorrow souls to God, she sees Jesus again in His triumphant entry into Heaven. “He will turn our sorrow then into joy, which no man shall take from us” (Gospel).
The head of the Church, moreover, states in the Epistle that we are here only as strangers and pilgrims, and he enumerates the positive and negative precepts to be observed in order that those “who profess themselves Christians may be able to reject those things which disgrace the name and follow those which are becoming to it” (Collect).
ST. CLETUS was the third bishop of Rome, and succeeded St. Linus, which circumstance alone shows his eminent virtue among the first disciples of St. Peter in the West. He sat twelve years, from 76 to 89. The canon of the Roman mass, (which Bossuet and all others agree to be of primitive antiquity,) Bede, and other Martyrologists, style him a martyr. He was buried near St. Linus, on the Vatican, and his relics still remain in that church.
St. Marcellinus succeeded St. Caius in the bishopric of Rome, in 296, about the time that Dioclesian set himself up for a deity, and impiously claimed divine honours. Theodoret says, that in those stormy times of persecution, Marcellinus acquired great glory. He sat in St. Peter’s chair eight years, three months, and twenty-five days, dying in 304, a year after the cruel persecution broke out, in which he gained much honour. He has been styled a martyr, though his blood was not shed in the cause of religion, as appears from the Liberian Calendar, which places him among those popes that were not put to death for the faith.
INTROIT Psalm 65: 1-2
Shout with joy to God, all the earth, alleluia: sing ye a psalm to His Name, alleluia: give glory to His praise, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Ps. 65: 3) Say unto God: How terrible are Thy works, O Lord! In the multitude of Thy strength Thine enemies shall lie to Thee. 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. Repeat Shout with joy to God…
COLLECT
O God, who to those that go astray dost show the light of Thy truth, that they may return to the path of justice: grant that all who are enrolled in the Christian faith, may both reject all that is hostile to that name, and follow after what is fitting to it. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R.Amen.
For Popes St Cletus & St Marcellinus, Martyrs
Eternal Shepherd, do Thou look favorably upon Thy flock, which we beseech Thee to guard and keep for evermore through the blessed Cletus and Marcellinus Thy Martyrs and Supreme Pontiffs, whom Thou didst choose to be the chief shepherds of the whole Church. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.
For the Octave of St George
O God, Who dost gladden us by the merits and inter-cession of blessed George, Thy Martyr, mercifully grant that we, who ask Thy favors 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. R.Amen.
EPISTLE 1 Peter 2: 11-19
Lesson from the first Epistle of Blessed Peter the Apostle. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires, which war against the soul, having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by the good works which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation. Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake: whether it be to the king as excelling, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of the good: for so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God. Honor all men: love the brotherhood: fear God: honor the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy before God: in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 110: 9) The Lord hath sent redemption to His people. Alleluia. V. (Luke 24: 46) It behooved Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead, and so to enter into His glory. Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 16: 16-22
At that time. Jesus said to His disciples: “A little while, and now you shall not see Me: and again a little while, and you shall see Me: because I go to the Father.” Then some of His disciples said one to another: what is this that He saith to us: A little while, and you shall not see Me: and again a little while, and you shall see Me: because I go to the Father? They said therefore: What is this that He saith, A little while? We know not what He speaketh. And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask Him. And He said to them: Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: A little while, and you shall not see Me: and again a little while, and you shall see Me? Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. So also you now indeed have sorrow: but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice: and your joy no man shall take from you.”
OFFERTORY Psalm 145: 2
Praise the Lord, O my soul: while I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have being, alleluia.
SECRET
Grant, O Lord, by these Mysteries, that checking our earthly longings, we may learn to love heavenly things. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. R.Amen.
For Popes St Cletus & St Marcellinus, Martyrs
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 Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
For the Octave of St George
Sanctify the gifts we offer Thee, O Lord, and through the intercession of blessed George, Thy martyr, cleanse us by them from the stains of our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
PREFACE of Easter
It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially this when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the Lamb Who hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath destroyed our death: and by rising again hath restored us to life. 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: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
COMMUNION John 16: 16
A little while and you shall not see Me, alleluia and again a little while, and you shall see Me, because I go to the Father, alleluia, alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
May the Sacraments which we have received, we beseech Thee, O Lord, renew us with spiritual refreshment and defend us with bodily help. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. R.Amen.
For Popes St Cletus & St Marcellinus, Martyrs
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 Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.
For the Octave of St George
We beseech Thee, O almighty God, that those whom Thou dost refresh with Thy sacrament, Thou also grant them, by the intercession of blessed George, Thy martyr, to serve Thee, as befits them, with behavior pleasing unto Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.
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