St Clement, Pope & Martyr: Missa “Dicit Dominus”
Pope Saint Clement I, who was styled by St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians (iv, 3) as his fellow laborer,” succeeded St. Cletus as Pope in the year 90. He is named third in the Canon of the Mass, after the apostles. There is no serious reason for doubting his martyrdom, although the account of it is apocryphal. That the Clement mentioned by St. Paul is the same as the pope and martyr, commemorated today, is denied by many. His church in Rome is an example of the Roman basilica of an early time. His Acts state that he was buried at Chersonesus in Crimea, When the Apostles of the Slavs, Cyril and Methodius, went to Rome to give an account of their mission to Pope Adrian I they brought with them as a gift to the Pope the relics of St. Clement discovered by them at Chersonesus.
There is a commemoration today of St. Felicitas, the mother of the Seven Holy Martyrs, who was martyred shortly after they died. Like her sons, when called to give her life for Christ, she went forth confidently that what awaited her was everlasting life. She was beheaded, November 23, 150. Her remains rested in the Cemetery of Maximus with those of Silanus, the youngest of her sons. Subsequently the bones of this saint were placed in the title of Susanna where they still repose.
INTROIT Ps. 20. 2, 3.
Lord saith, My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth: and thy gifts shall be accepted upon My altar. (Ps. 111: 1) Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he delighteth exceedingly in His commandments. V.: Glory be to the Father…
COLLECT
Eternal Shepherd, do Thou look favorably upon Thy flock, which we beseech Thee to guard and keep for evermore through the blessed Clement, Thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, whom Thou didst choose to be the chief shepherd of the whole Church. 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 of St. Felicitas, Martyr
Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that, observing the festival of blessed Felicitas, Thy Martyr, we may be protected by her merits and prayers. Through the same 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.
EPISTLE Philippians 3: 17-21; 4: 1-3
Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Philippians. Brethren, Be followers of me, and observe them who walk so as you have our model. For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping) that they are enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things. But our conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of His glory, according to the operation whereby also He is able to subdue all things unto Himself. Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved, and most desired, my joy and my crown: so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beg of Evodia, and I beseech Syntyche to be of one mind with the Lord: and I entreat thee also, my sincere companion, help those women who have labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement and the rest of my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 106: 32, 31
Let them exalt him in the Church of the people: and praise him in the chair of the ancients. V. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him and his wonderful works to the children of men. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 16: 13-19
At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Cæsarea Philippi, and He asked His disciples, saying, “Whom do men say that the Son of man is?” But they said, Some, John the Baptist, and other some, Elias, and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them, “But whom do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him, “Blessed art thou, Simon BarJona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but My Father Who is in Heaven: and I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Jeremias 1: 9,10
Behold, I have given My words in thy mouth: lo, I have set thee this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to waste and to destroy, and to build and to plant.
SECRET
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 the shepherds, under Thy guidance, may be rendered acceptable to Thee. Through 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 of St. Felicitas, Martyr
Be merciful, O Lord, and look with favor upon the prayers of Thy people, and make us to rejoice in the patronage of her whose solemnity we celebrate. 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 for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd; but, through Thy blessed apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dóminations and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matthew 16: 18
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.
POSTCOMMUNION
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 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 of St. Felicitas, Martyr
Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, that we, who in this life joyfully assist in the commemoration of Thy saints, may hereafter rejoice in beholding them forever in Heaven. 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
The Brighton Oratory 
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