St Rose of Lima, Virgin; Com. Sunday XIII Post Pentecost: Missa “Dilexísti justítiam”
Saint Rose, the first canonized saint of the New World, was born at Lima in 1586. She received the name of Isabella in Baptism, but one day her mother saw a beautiful rose drooping over the baby’s cradle and ever afterwards called her Rose. She was an obedient child; her mortifications were most severe. She prayed worked, and wept for the conversion of sinners; she excelled in her love for holy purity. She lived a life of simplicity and prayer in a small hut in a corner of her father’s garden; the birds would visit her and sing with her the praises of God. The Savior frequently appeared to her. Her devotion to the Passion of Our Lord was remarkable as were her own sufferings. Her bed was strewn with glass shards, with nails and thorns; she wore chafing hair-cloth; her head was crowned with painful thorns skillfully concealed by roses. She died August 26, 1617. Her Office was written by the eminent Cardinal Bona.
There is also a commemoration of the holy martyrs Saint Felix and Saint Adauctus. St. Felix suffered martyrdom in the year 303, and was joined by Adauctus, who shared his martyr crown. There is a painting, which we have not been able to find to scan, from around the sixth century which depicts both of them with the priestly tonsure. Felix is an old man, but Adauctus stands on the right hand side, although he is young and beardless.
The liturgy for the Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost shows us that by faith we put all our hope in Jesus, for He is our Refuge and we ask for the virtue of charity, which renders us lovers of the divine law and practitioners of it. Let us pray for an increase of faith, hope and charity.
The Collect which prays for an increase of this – faith, hope and charity – re-echoes the teaching of the Apostle in the Epistle and that of the Master in the Gospel. The Jews wanted to impose the Mosaic law on Christians; St Paul shows to the Galatians that it is not this law which gives holiness to souls, since, before the law, Abraham, father of the Jewish people, was sanctified by his faith in Jesus. All those, therefore, Jews or pagans, who enter into the Church and put their faith in the merits of the Passion of Christ will be saved.
Our Divine Savior indeed heals all the lepers, Jews or Samaritans, who have recourse to Him. ” Arise,” said Jesus to the latter, ” thy faith hath made thee whole.” It is He Who, through His Church, gives back health to the souls of those, whether Jews or Gentiles, who come to Him, By faith we put in Jesus all our hope (Offertory) for He is our refuge (Alleluia) and we ask for the virtue of charity which makes us love the divine law (Collect) and makes us practice it (Postcommunion).
INTROIT Psalm 44:8
Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Ps 44:2 My heart hath uttered a good word I speak my works to the king; V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
COLLECT
Almighty God, giver of all good gifts, Who didst will that blessed Rose, imbued with the dew of heavenly grace, should bloom in the Indies with the beauty of virginity and patience, grant unto us, Thy servants, that, following the fragrance of her virtues, we may deserve to become a sweet odor of Christ, Who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.
Commemoration of Sunday XIII Post Pentecost
Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of Faith, Hope and Charity: and that we may deserve to obtain what Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command. 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.
Commemoration Collect of Sts. Felix and Adauctus
Let us pray. We humbly entreat Thy majesty, O Lord, that as Thou dost continually gladden us with the commemoration of Thy saints, so Thou ever defend us at their petition. 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 2 Cor 10:17-18; 11:1-2
Lesson from the second letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Brothers: He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he who commendeth himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth. Would to God you could bear with some little of my folly: but do bear with me. For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God. For I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 44:5
With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully. Allelúja, allelúja. Ps 44:15-16 After her shall virgins be brought to the king: They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: Allelúja.
GOSPEL St Matthew 25:1-13
In that time Jesus said to the people: shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. And five of them were foolish, and five wise. But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. But at last come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not. Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 44:10
The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety.
SECRET
May the offering of Thy consecrated people be accepted by Thee, O Lord, in honor of Thy saints, by whose merits it knoweth that it hath received aid in time of trouble. 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.
Commemoration of Sunday XIII Post Pentecost
Look graciously, O Lord, upon Thy people: graciously look upon our gifts,that, being appeased by this offering, Thou mayest both grant us pardon, and give us what we ask. 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.
Commemoration Secret of Sts. Felix and Adauctus
Have regard, O Lord, to the sacrifices of Thy people, and let them feel that these profit for their welfare since they do devoutly celebrate them in honor of Thy saints. 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:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON St Matthew 25:4; 25:6
The five wise virgins took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.
POSTCOMMUNION
Thou hast filled Thy household, O Lord, with sacred gifts; ever comfort us, we beseech Thee, through her intercession whose festival we celebrate. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, For ever and ever. R. Amen.
Commemoration of Sunday XIII Post Pentecost
We who have received the heavenly Sacraments, beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may increasingly advance towards eternal redemption. 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.
Commemoration Postcommunion of Sts. Felix and Adauctus
Let us pray. Filled with Thy sacred gifts, O Lord, we beseech Thee that, by the intercession of Thy saints, we may pass our lives in giving thanks to Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, For ever and ever. R. Amen.
The Brighton Oratory 