St. Donatus, Bishop and Martyr: Missa“Sacerdotes Dei“
St. Donatus, Bishop and Martyr who suffered martyrdom under Emperor Julian the Apostate, in 361. This Bishop of Arezzo in Tuscany was illustrious for his sanctity and for his gift of working miracles. The Church has always remembered him with the highest veneration.
This Saint came with his family to the West, from Nicodemia in the East. He was educated by the priest Pigmenius. As a child he had as a classmate Julian (the later emperor Julian the Apostate). Indeed, on Feb. 4, 362, Julian issued an edict ostensibly of religious equality, but which benefitted paganism at the expense of Christian faith. St. Donatus, his family, and his teacher Pigmenius would all perish in the persecution which followed. Having been made bishop at Arezzo, St. Donatus preached and wrought miracles. He resurrected from the dead a woman named Euphrosina. He defeated a dragon who had ruined a local well. The blind woman Syriana received her sight through his prayer. Asterius, son of the prefect of Arezzo, was afflicted by a demon, but St. Donatus drove out the devil and set Asterius free. Once pagans attacked the church where the Saint was celebrating the Holy Liturgy. They shattered the chalice which was used, but the Saint, after intense prayer, collected the pieces together. None of the Lord’s Blood spilled. Amazed, seventy-nine pagans converted to the Christian faith. A month after this miracle, Quadratian the prefect of Arezzo arrested a monk named Hilarian and the bishop Donatus. St. Hilarian was martyred in 362 on July 16. St. Donatus was beheaded upon Aug. 7.
INTROIT Daniel 3. 84, 87
O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: O ye holy and humble of heart, praise God. (Daniel 3: 57) All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all for ever 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 O ye priests of the Lord…
COLLECT
O God, the glory of Your priests, grant, we beseech You, that we may enjoy the help of Your holy Martyr and Bishop, Donatus, whose feast we are keeping. 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. Amen.
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 James 1:2 – 12
Lesson from the letter of St James the Apostle. Dearly beloved: Esteem it all joy, when you fall into various trials, knowing that the trying of your faith begets patience. And let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. But if any of you is wanting in wisdom, let him ask it of God, Who gives abundantly to all men, and does not reproach; and it will be given to him. But let him ask with faith, without hesitation. For he who hesitates is like a wave of the sea, driven and carried about by the wind. Therefore, let not such a one think that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. But let the brother of lowly condition glory in his high estate, and the rich man in his low condition; for he will pass away like the flower of the grass. For the sun rises with a burning heat and parches the grass, and its flower fails and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So too will the rich man wither in his ways. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 36: 30, 31
Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor. V. And hast set him over the works of Thy hands, O Lord. Alleluia, alleluia. V. This is the priest whom the Lord hath crowned. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mark 13:33 – 37
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is: just as a man, when he leaves home to journey abroad, puts his servants in charge, to each his work, and gives orders to the porter to keep watch. Watch, therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or early in the morning; lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all, ‘Watch.’
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 88: 21,22
I have found David My servant, with My holy oil I have anointed him; for my hand shall help him, and My arm shall strengthen him.
SECRET
Grant, we beseech You, O Lord, through the intercession of Your holy Martyr and Bishop, Donatus, whom we honor with gifts consecrated to the praise of Your name, that the fruit of devout prayer may increase in us. 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.
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 Luke 12:42
The faithful and prudent servant, whom the master will set over his household, to give them their ration of grain in due time.
POSTCOMMUNION
Almighty and merciful God, Who make us both the partakers and the ministers of Your sacraments, grant, we beseech You, that by the intercession of St. Donatus, Your Martyr and Bishop, we may progress in our fellowship with him by faith and worthy service. 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.
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.
The Brighton Oratory 
You must be logged in to post a comment.