S. Anthony of Padua, Confessor & Doctor of the Church: Missa “In medio Ecclesiae“
Saint Anthony of Padua of the Order of St. Francis was called “The Hammer of Heretics.” For nine years he labored in France, Italy and Sicily. Men heard his voice, saw his miracles, and their hearts were turned to God. Nothing is lacking to the glory of St. Anthony; he had a great desire for martyrdom, and on that account he entered the Franciscan Order, and set sail for Mauretania. He was an apostle, and the fame of his fervent preaching filled Italy and Rome, where he proclaimed the Word of God in 1327. Both during his lifetime and after his death in 1331, St. Anthony became renowned as a worker of miracles, and there are few cities which do not possess a church or an altar dedicated to him.
St. Paul admonishes Timothy to hold firm the sound doctrine of the Gospel. The Doctors of the Church were also renowned for their orthodoxy and their theological learning. Like the Apostles, the Doctors of the Church are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Gospel).
INTROIT Ecclesiasticus 15: 5
In the midst of the Church the Lord opened his mouth: and filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding: He clothed him with a robe of glory.. (Ps. 91: 2) It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to Thy Name, O Most High. v. Glory be…etc
COLLECT
Give ear we beseech Thee, O Lord, unto our prayers, which we offer on the solemnity of blessed Basil, Thy confessor and bishop, and by the interceding merits of him who had the grace to serve Thee worthily, free us from all our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
EPISTLE 2 Timothy 4: 1-8
Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to Timothy. Dearly beloved, I charge thee before God and Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the living and the dead, by His coming, and His Kingdom. Preach the word: be instant in season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience, and doctrine. For there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but according to their own desires they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned unto fables. But be thou vigilant, labor in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. Be sober. For I am even now ready to be sacrificed; and the time of my dissolution is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith. As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just Judge, will render to me in that day; and not only to me, but to them also that love His coming.
GRADUAL Ps. 36:30-31
Right reason is on the good man’s lips, well weighed are all his counsels. V. His steps never falter, because the law of God rules in his heart.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Eccle. 45:9) The Lord loved him well and ennobled him: he clothed him about with a robe of honour. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 5: 13-19
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples,”You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt lose its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain can not be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house; so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven. Do not think that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For, amen I say unto you, till Heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall not pass of the law till all be fulfilled. He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven: but he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 91: 13
The just shall flourish like the palm-tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.
SECRET
May the present offering, O Lord, be made salutary unto Thy people, for whom Thou didst vouchsafe to offer Thyself, a living victim, to the Father, Who, with the same God the Father and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest, God, Forever and ever. 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
A faithful and wise steward, whom the Lord set over His family; to give them their measure of wheat in due season.
POSTCOMMUNION
Filled with Thy divine gifts, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that, by the merits and intercession of blessed Anthony, Thy confessor and doctor, we may experience the effect of the sacrifice of salvation. 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.