Sunday IV Post Pascha; Commemoration of St Venantius, Martyr: Missa “Cantate”
Of all the gifts that come from God, the most excellent is the gospel and regeneration in baptism, by which He has made us His children and heirs of heaven. How great is this honor, and how earnestly we should endeavor to preserve it! To hear the word of God, when preached to us in sermons, will aid our endeavors. The admonition of the apostle to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, contains true wisdom, for: In the multitude of words there shall not want sin; but he that refraineth his lips is most wise. (Prov. X. 19.) As the disciples, in their grief at Christ’s going to His passion and death, after the accomplishment of which He was to return to His Father, never once asked Him: “Whither goest Thou?” many Christians, because of their attachment to this world and its pleasures, never ask themselves: Whither am I going, whither leads my way? By my sinful life I am perhaps going towards hell, or will my little fervor for the right, my lukewarm prayers take me to heaven? Ark yourself in all earnestness, dear Christian, whither leads the way you are going? Is it the right path? if not, retrace your steps, and follow Jesus who by suffering and death entered heaven.
Saint Venantius was a young Christian martyr of the 3rd century, venerated especially in central Italy. According to tradition, he was born into a noble family in Camerino, a town in the region of Picenum (modern-day Marche), and was only fifteen years old when he was put to death during the persecution under Emperor Decius (c. 250 AD).
Despite his youth, Venantius courageously professed his faith in Christ and refused to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. For this, he was subjected to brutal tortures: scourging, burning, mutilation, and being thrown from a cliff—miraculously surviving each ordeal. His constancy inspired conversions, including that of his jailer and even a local magistrate, who were themselves martyred. Finally, Venantius was beheaded outside Camerino, receiving the crown of martyrdom.
His cult quickly spread through Italy, and he became the patron saint of Camerino. His relics were enshrined there and honoured with great solemnity. In the traditional Roman liturgy, he is commemorated as a youthful and valiant witness to Christ, and his name appears in various martyrologies from early centuries.
INTROIT Psalm 97:1; 97:2
Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle, alleluia: because the Lord hath done wonderful things, alleluia. He hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles, allelúja, allelúja, allelúja. Ps 97:1 His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy. 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. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle, alleluia: because the Lord hath done wonderful things, alleluia. He hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles, allelúja, allelúja, allelúja.
COLLECT
O God, of Whom it cometh that the minds of thy faithful people be all of one will, grant unto the same thy people that they may love the thing which Thou commandest, and desire that which Thou dost promise, that so, amid the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R.Amen.
Commemoration St. Venantius, Martyr
O God, Who made this day holy by the triumph of blessed Venantius, Your Martyr, listen to the prayers of Your people, and grant that we, who honor his noble deeds, may imitate the constancy of his faith.
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, unto all thy servants, that they may remain continually in the enjoyment of soundness both of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, always a Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of thine eternal gladness.
EPISTLE James 1. 17-21
Lesson from the first Epistle of Blessed James the Apostle. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires, which war against the soul, having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by the good works which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation. Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake: whether it be to the king as excelling, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of the good: for so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God. Honor all men: love the brotherhood: fear God: honor the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy before God: in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia. V. Christ, rising again from the dead, dieth now no more: death shall no more have dominion over Him. Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 16:5-14
In that time: But I told you not these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I go to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me: Whither goest thou? But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart. But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go: for if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he is come, he will convince the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment. Of sin: because they believed not in me. And of justice: because I go to the Father; and you shall see me no longer. And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged. I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall shew you. He shall glorify me; because he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it to you.
OFFERTORY Psalm 65:1-2; 85:16
Shout with joy to God, all the earth, sing ye a psalm to his name; give glory to his praise. O look upon me, and have mercy on me: give thy command to thy servant, and save the son of thy handmaid, allelúja.
SECRET
O God, who by the august communion of this sacrifice hast make us partakers of one Sovereign Godhead, grant we beseech thee, that as we know thy truth, so we may follow it up by worthy behavior. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. R.Amen.
Commemoration St. Venantius, Martyr
May the merits of blessed Venantius make these sacrificial gifts acceptable to You, almighty God, that, with his help, we may be made sharers of his glory.
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Through thy mercy, O Lord, and the intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, may this oblation obtain for us prosperity and peace both now and forever.
PREFACE of Easter
It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially this when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the Lamb Who hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath destroyed our death: and by rising again hath restored us to life. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
COMMUNION John 16:8
And when he is come, he will convince the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment, allelúja, allelúja
POSTCOMMUNION
Stand by us, O Lord, our God, that by what we have faithfully received we may be cleansed from our vices and rescued from all dangers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. R.Amen.
Commemoration St. Venantius, Martyr
We have partaken of the sacrament of eternal life, humbly entreating You, O Lord, that, through the prayer of blessed Venantius in our behalf, it may gain for us pardon and grace.
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Grant, O Lord, that we, who had partaken of the aids of salvation, may be everywhere protected by the patronage of blessed Mary ever Virgin, in whose honor we have offered these gifts of thy majesty.