Feast of the Martyrs Pope Saint Cornelius and Saint Cyprian, Bishop; Comm. SS. Euphemia, Lucy & Geminianus: Missa “Intret in conspectu”
Pope Saint Cornelius succeeded St. Fabian as Pope in 251. He behaved with zeal and piety in his pastoral charge and adhered to his duty with courage and steadfastness. The holy Pope suffered martyrdom, September 14, 252. Saint Cyprian, Archbishop of Carthage and Primate of Africa, laid down his life for Christ on September 14, 258, six years later, to the day, after his friend St. Cornelius. St. Cyprian, one of the most famous of the earlier Fathers of the Church.
There is a commemoration of Saints Euphemia, Lucy, and Geminianus, Martyrs as well today. St. Euphemia, a virgin of Chalcedon, suffered in the persecution continued by the successors of Diocletian, about the year 307. The Council of Chalcedon was held in her sepulchral church. St. Lucy and St. Geminianus, two other martyrs who suffered in the same persecution, are commemorated with St. Euphemia.
INTROIT Psalm 78: 11, 12, 10
Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before Thee, O Lord; render to our neighbors sevenfold in their bosom; revenge the blood of Thy saints, which hath been shed. (Ps. 78: 1) O God, the heathens are come into Thy inheritance: they have defiled Thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit. 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 Let the sighing of the prisoners…
COLLECT
May the feast of the blessed martyrs and bishops, Cornelius and Cyprian, protect us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and their august prayers commend us to Thee Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.
Commemoration Collect of the Holy Martyrs
Let us pray. Grant unto our prayers, O Lord, both joy and profit, that, as we each year commemorate with devotion the day of the suffering of the holy martyrs Euphemia, Lucy, and Geminianus, we may also follow them in the constancy of their faith.
Collect for the Intercession of the Saints
Let us pray. Defend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all dangers of mind and body: and through the intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary, ever Virgin, mother of God, of St Joseph, of Thy holy apostles, Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy loving-kindness grant us safety and peace; that, all adversities and errors being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in security and freedom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.
EPISTLE Wisdom 3:1-8
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom. The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, and their departure was taken for misery; and their going away from us for utter destruction: but they are in peace. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of Himself. As gold in the furnace He hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust He hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them. The just shall shine; and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign forever.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA
God is glorious in His Saints, wonderful in majesty, doing wonders. V. Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Thy right hand hath broken the enemies. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 144: 10,11 ) Thy Saints shall bless Thee, O Lord; they shall speak of athe glory of Thy Kingdom. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 21: 9-19
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: “When you shall hear of wars and seditions, be not terrified: these things must first come to pass, but the end is not yet presently.” Then He said to them, “Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be great earthquakes in diverse places, and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from Heaven, and there shall be great signs. But before all these things they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. And it shall happen unto you for a testimony. Lay it up therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay. And you shall be betrayed by your parents, and brethren, and kinsmen, and friends, and some of you they will put to death. And you shall be hated by all men for My name’s sake; but a hair of your head shall not perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON
God is wonderful in His saints: the God of Israel is He Who will give power and strength to His people: blessed be God. Alleluia.
SECRET
Give ear, O Lord, to our supplications which we offer in commemoration of Thy saints, that, we, having no confidence in our own justice, may be assisted by the merits of those who have been pleasing 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.
Commemoration Secret of the Holy Martyrs
Let us pray. Graciously look upon the desires of Thy people, O Lord, and cause us to rejoice in the interceding prayers of those whose festival Thou dost permit us to celebrate.
Secret for the Intercession of the Saints
Graciously hear us, O God our Saviour, and, by virtue of this Sacrament, defend us from all enemies of soul and body, bestowing upon us Thy grace here and Thy glory hereafter. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, 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
And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, God hath tried them: as gold in the furnace He hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust He hath received them.
POSTCOMMUNION
Filled with the mysteries of salvation we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be helped by the prayers of those whose festival we celebrate. Through the 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.
Commemoration Postcommunion of the Holy Martyrs
Let us pray. Harken unto our prayers, O Lord, and may we be comforted by the continual help of Thy holy martyrs, Euphemia, Lucy, and Geminianus, whose festival we solemnly celebrate.
Postcommunion for the Intercession of the Saints
Let us pray. May the gift of this Divine Sacrament which we have offered, cleanse us and defend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of God, of St. Joseph, of Thy holy apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, free us from all iniquity and deliver us from all adversity. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
The Brighton Oratory 