Feast of the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Commemoration of the XXIst Sunday Post Pentecost, the Marytrs, SS. Chrysanthus & Daria and in the UK, St John of Beverley: Missa “Salve sancta parens”
In many places the feast of the Patronage is held with an additional title of Queen of All Saints, of Mercy, Mother of Graces. The Greeks have no feast of this kind, but the Ruthenians, followed by all the Slavs of the Greek Rite, have a feast, called “Patrocinii sanctissimæ Dominæ” etc., or Pokrov Bogorodicy, on 1 October.
In the year 911 AD, Constantinople was under military threat and the people were praying for God’s help in the Blachernae Church in the suburb of the city. It was in this church that the omophor or veil of the Virgin Mary was reserved as a most precious relic. The church was crowded for an all-night vigil. Andrew, the future Saint known as a fool-for-Christ, was there, along with his disciple Epiphanius.
At about four in the morning, Andrew and Epiphanius had a vision of the Virgin Mary: She entered through the church doors, escorted by St. John the Forerunner and St. John the Theologian and preceded by a host of angels. She stopped at the ambo (the great stair-cased pulpit in the center of the church) and knelt there, praying fervently and with tears. She then entered the altar and prayed again and finally removed Her veil and held it out over the faithful as She ascended from them.
They concluded from Her presence that Her intercession would be the protection to the faithful in this hour of trial. And so it happened that the feared military menace was averted.
Commemorated today are Chrysanthus, an Egyptian from Alexandria, and his wife Daria from Athens, were tortured in Rome under the prefect Celerinus, and condemned by the Emperor Numerian to be thrown into a sandpit on the Salarian Way; they died buried alive under a heap of earth and stones, AD 283.
In the UK John of Beverley was one of the leaders of the Northumbrian Church following the conversion of the North to Christianity in the 620s and 630s. According to later tradition he was born at Harpham near Driffield, and he was certainly Bishop of Hexham (687-706) and then York (706-c.714).
In old age he retired to a monastery he had founded in a secluded spot called by Bede Inderawuda, ‘in the wood of Deira’ (an old name for East Yorkshire), where he died in 721. Tradition identified this place with Beverley, probably correctly; certainly a major church stood on this site before the Norman Conquest, as excavations have confirmed, and John’s tomb seems always to have been here.
His holy life, and miracles after his death, persuaded the Pope to canonize him in 1037 as St. John of Beverley. It was John’s reputation that made the Minster a privileged sanctuary and a centre of pilgrimage, and which turned the remote spot to which he had retired into a thriving town. By 1377 Beverley was one of the dozen largest towns in England.
INTROIT Sedulius
Hail, holy Mother, who in childbirth brought forth the King Who rules heaven and earth world without end. Ps 44:2 My heart overflows with a goodly theme; as I sing my ode 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. Hail, holy Mother, who in childbirth brought forth the King Who rules heaven and earth world without end.
COLLECT
Grant us, Your servants, O Lord God, we beseech You, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body; and by the intercession of glorious and blessed Mary, ever virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness. 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.
For the XXI Sunday Post Pentecost
Guard Your household, we beseech You, O Lord, with unceasing care, that under Your protection it may be free from all harm and serve You by good deeds.
For the Octave of SS. Chrysanthus & Daria
May the prayer of Your blessed Martyrs, Chrysanthus and Daria, defend us, O Lord, that we may ever enjoy the loving help of those whom we honour by this celebration.
UK For the St John of Beverley
O God, who has hallowed this day by the festival of Thy blessed Confessor Bishop John, grant that Thy Church may keep his feast with due rejoicing, so that his merits and example may help us at Thy mercy-seat. 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.
EPISTLE Ecclus 24:14-16
Lesson from the book of Ecclesiasticus. Before all ages, in the beginning, He created me, and through all ages I shall not cease to be. In the holy Tent I ministered before Him, and in Sion I fixed my abode. Thus in the chosen city He has given me rest, in Jerusalem is my domain. I have struck root among the glorious people, in the portion of my God, His heritage, and my abode is in the full assembly of Saints.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA
Blessed and venerable are you, O Virgin Mary, who, with unsullied virginity, were found to be the Mother of the Saviour. V. O Virgin, Mother of God, He Whom the whole world does not contain, becoming man, shut Himself in your womb. Alleluia, alleluia. V. After childbirth you remained a pure virgin, O Mother of God, intercede for us. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 11:27-28
At that time, as Jesus was speaking to the multitudes, a certain woman from the crowd lifted up her voice and said to Him, Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts that nursed You. But He said, Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Lk 1:28; 1:42
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
SECRET
Through Your mercy, O Lord, and by the intercession of blessed Mary, ever virgin, the Mother of Your only-begotten Son, may this offering profit us for prosperity and peace, now and forevermore. 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.
For the XXI Sunday Post Pentecost
Graciously accept these sacrificial gifts, O Lord, with which You have willed us to find favor with You, and, by Your mighty love, restore salvation to us.
For the Octave of SS. Chrysanthus & Daria
O Lord, may the offering which Your people sacrifice on the anniversary of the death of Your holy Martyrs, Chrysanthus and Daria, be pleasing to You.
UK For the Octave of S. John of Beverley
O God, accept with gracious kindness from our hands this sacrificial offering, and at the prayer of Thy holy Confessor Bishop John, absolve us from all our sins. 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.
PREFACE of the BVM
It it 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: and that we should praise and bless, and proclaim Thee, in the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin: Who also conceived Thine only-begotten Son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and the glory of her virginity still abiding, gave forth to the world the everlasting Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, and 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 these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
POSTCOMMUNION
Having received the aids conducive to our salvation, O Lord, we beseech You, grant that we may everywhere be protected by the patronage of blessed Mary, ever virgin, in veneration of whom we have made these offerings to Your Majesty. 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.
For the XXI Sunday Post Pentecost
We who have eaten the food of eternal life beseech You, O Lord, that what we take by mouth, we may strive after with pure minds.
For the Octave of SS. Chrysanthus & Daria
You have filled us with spiritual joy and delight; grant, we beseech You, O Lord, that by the intercession of Your holy Martyrs, Chrysanthus and Daria, we may spiritually attain what now we ritually perform.
UK For the Octave of S. John of Beverley
We, Thy suppliants, who are refreshed with Heavenly food and drink, beseech Thee, O our God, that we may be fortified by the prayers of him in whose commemoration we have par-taken of these gifts. 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.
PROPER LAST GOSPEL Matt 18:23-35
At that time, Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who desired to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun the settlement, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And as he had no means of paying, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. But the servant fell down and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all!’ And moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt. But as that servant went out, he met one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denarii and he laid hold of him, and throttled him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ His fellow-servant therefore fell down and began to entreat him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will pay you all.’ But he would not; but went away and cast him into prison until he should pay what was due. His fellow-servants therefore, seeing what had happened, were very much saddened, and they went and informed their master of what had taken place. Then his master called him, and said to him, ‘Wicked servant! I forgave you all the debt, because you entreated me. Should not you also have had pity on your fellow-servant, even as I had pity on you?’ And his master, being angry, handed him over to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So also My heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not each forgive your brothers from your hearts.
The Brighton Oratory 