SS Philip and James, Apostles: Missa “Clamaverunt ad te”
According to the legend, St Philip preached in different parts of Asia and Southern Russia and was crucified in Hierapolis. St James, the author of the Epistle, was a relative (‘brother’) of Our Lord and Bishop of Jerusalem. He was thrown down from the Temple in 62 or 63. Their relics are kept in the Church of the Apostles (SS. Apostoli) in Rome. This feast has been celebrated for over a Millennium on May 1st, the anniversary of the Dedication of this church.
INTROIT Neh. 9:27
In the time of their tribulation they cried to thee, O Lord, and thou heardest them from heaven, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. 29:1: Rejoice in the Lord, ye just : praise becometh the upright. V. Glory be.
COLLECT
O God, who dost gladden us year by year with the festival of thine Apostles Philip and James : grant, we beseech thee, that as we rejoice in their merits so we may be instructed by their example. 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 Wisdom 5:1-5
A lesson from the Book of Wisdom. The just shall stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labours. These, seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation, saying within themselves, repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit; these are they whom we had some time in derision, and for a parable of reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour. Behold, how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia. V. Ps. 88:6 The heavens, Lord, are witness of thy wonderful power, of thy faithfulness before the court of the holy ones. Alleluia. V. John 14:9 So long a time have I been with you, and have you not known me? Philip, he that seeth me, seeth my Father also. Alleluia.
SEQUENCE Bl. Notker Balbulus
Bright amongst the saints, the Senate of the Apostles, ruler of Kingdoms, the first of all the earth.
Govern the manners and life of the Churches,
Which believe everywhere through thy doctrine.
Antiochus and Remus gave thee, O Peter, the throne of their kingdoms,
Thou Paul, didst invade Greece, the realm of the tyrant Alexander.
The wild Ethiopians* thou, O Matthew, didst clothe in the shining skin of the lamb, which does not know any spots.
Thomas, Bartholomew, John, Philip, Simon, / both James’s equally, Andrew, Thaddeus, / famous warriors of God, Lo, the East and the West, yes, all the round circle of the world,
Rejoice to have them as fathers and await them as judges,
And therefore all the world humbly heaps upon you praise and the honour due to the saints.
[*this does not mean the modern Ethiopians, but all kinds of peoples believed to live in the unknown parts of Africa]
GOSPEL John 14:1-13
Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St John. At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I shall go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself, that where I am you also may be. And whither I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith to him: Lord, we known not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him; and you have seen him. Philip saith to him: Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus saith to him: So long a time have I been with you, and have you not known me? Philip, he that seeth me, seeth the Father also. How sayest thou, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abideth in me, he doth the works. Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? Otherwise, believe for the very works’ sake. Amen, amen, I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do. Because I go to the Father: and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do.
OFFERTORY Psalm 88:6
The heavens, Lord, are witnesses of thy wonderful power, of thy faithfulfulness before the court of the holy ones alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
SECRET
Favourably receive, O Lord, the gifts we bring on the festival of thine Apostles Philip and James : and turn away from us all the evils which we deserve. 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 the Apostles
It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto salvation, humbly to pray Thee, O Lord and eternal Shepherd, to abandon not Thy flock; but through Thy blessed Apostles to keep a continual watch over it; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom Thou didst set over it as shepherds and vicars. And therefore with angels and archangels, with thrones and dominions, and with all the heavenly hosts, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, saying without ceasing: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
COMMUNION John 14:9, 10
Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? Alleluia, alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
Replenished with the mysteries of our salvation, we beseech thee, O Lord, that we may be aided by the prayers of those whose festival we celebrate. 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.
The Brighton Oratory 