Feast of the Seven Holy Brothers: Januarius, Felix, Philip, Silanus, Alexander, Vitalis and Martial, Martyrs as well as the Virgin Martyrs Saints Rufina and Secunda: Missa “Laudáte, púeri, Dóminum“
Today the Roman Martyrology and the Tridentine calendar place before us the feast of the Seven Holy Brothers, together with Saints Rufina and Secunda. In these martyrs we behold not an abstract ideal of courage, but the concrete triumph of supernatural faith within the very heart of pagan Rome. The Church remembers first the noble Roman widow Felicitas and her seven sons, who were martyred about the year 162 under Marcus Aurelius. Their crime, in the eyes of the empire, was fidelity to Christ; their glory, in the eyes of the Church, was that they preferred death to the smallest betrayal of the true God.
Saint Gregory the Great, contemplating the sorrow and strength of Felicitas, said of her: “She was more than a martyr, for seeing her seven children martyred before her eyes, she was in some sort a martyr in each of them.” Her martyrdom was maternal before it was bodily. She did not merely suffer the loss of her sons; she offered them back to God, one by one, as living sacrifices. In her we see Christian motherhood raised to its highest pitch: not possession, not sentiment, not worldly ambition for children, but the holy formation of souls for heaven, even when heaven demands the Cross.
A century later, Saints Rufina and Secunda, daughters of a wealthy Roman family, bore witness to the same uncompromising fidelity. Betrothed to two suitors who had abandoned the Christian faith during persecution, they refused to join them in apostasy or to profane holy matrimony by union with men who had denied Christ. For this steadfastness they were scourged and finally beheaded. Thus the feast gathers together the sanctity of the family, the heroism of virginity, and the splendour of martyrdom: Felicitas teaches mothers to love their children for God, the Seven Brothers teach children to die rather than deny Him, and Rufina and Secunda teach all Christians that no earthly love, no social advantage, and no fear of suffering can be preferred to Jesus Christ.
INTROIT Psalm 112: 1, 9
Praise the Lord, ye children, praise ye the name of the Lord; Who maketh the barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children. (Ps. 112: 2) Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth, now and forever. v. Glory be…etc
COLLECT
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that, we, who have known the courage of the glorious martyrs in their confessing Thee, may experience their kindness in interceding for us with Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.
Collect of the Saints
From all perils of soul and body defend us, O Lord, we beseech thee, and by the intercession of blessed and gloriosus ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and of blessed N. and all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace that all adversities and errors being overcome, thy Church may serve thee in security and freedom.
for the Pope (or any other)
O God, the shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, graciously look upon thy servant Leo, who thou hast willed to be chief pastor of thy Church; grant him we beseech thee, by word and example to profit those over whom he rules, that together with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain to life everlasting. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.
EPISTLE Proverbs 31: 10-31
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom. Who shall find a valiant woman? the price of her is as of things brought from afar off, and from the uttermost coasts. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. She will render him good and not evil all the days of her life. She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands: she is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar: and she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens: she hath considered a field and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm. She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good; her lamp shall not be put out in the night. She hath put out her hands to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments. She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry; fine linen and purple is her covering. Her husband is honorable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land. She made fine linen and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. Strength and beauty are her clothing: and she shall laugh in the latter day. She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue: she hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle. Her children rose up, and called her blessed; her husband, and he praised her. Many daughters have gathered together riches; thou hast surpassed them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her in the gates.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Ps. 123: 7, 8
Our soul hath been delivered, as a sparrow, out of the snare of the fowlers. V. The snare is broken, and we are delivered: our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Alleluia, alleluia. V. This is the true brotherhood, which overcame the wickedness of the world: it followed Christ, attaining the glorious kingdom of Heaven. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 12: 46-50
At that time: As Jesus was speaking to the multitudes, behold His mother and His brethren stood without seeking to speak to Him; and one said to Him, “Behold Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, seeking Thee.” But He answering him that told Him, said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brethren?” And stretching forth His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brethren: for whosoever shall do the will of My father that is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 123: 7
Our soul hath been delivered, as a sparrow, out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are delivered.
SECRET
Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and look upon the sacrifices here before Thee, and may they, by the intercession of Thy saints, benefit both our devotion and our salvation. 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.
Of the Saints
Hear us, O God, our salvation that through the power of this Sacrament thou mayest defend us from all enemies of soul and body and bestow upon us grace here and glory hereafter.
for the Pope (or any other)
Look down favorably, O Lord, we beseech thee, upon the gifts we have offered: and let thy constant protection direct thy servant Leo, whom thou hast chosen to be the chief pastor of the Church. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
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 Matthew 12: 50
Whosoever shall do the will of My Father Who is in Heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother, saith the Lord.
POSTCOMMUNION
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that, by the intercession of Thy saints, we may obtain the effect of that salvation of which we through these mysteries have received a pledge. 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.
Of the Saints
May the offering of this divine Sacrament cleanse and protect us, O Lord we beseech thee, and by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of blessed N. and all the Saints, may it purify us from all sin, and free us from all adversity.
for the Pope (or any other)
Let the reception of this divine Sacrament protect us, O Lord, we beseech theee: and may thy servant Leo, whom thou has chosen as the chief pastor of thy Church, along with the flock committed to him derive always from it protection and help. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.