Pope, St Martin I, Martyr: Missa “Sacerdotes Dei” (pre-1955 Roman Missal)
Martin I lay too sick to fight on a couch in front of the altar when the soldiers burst into the Lateran basilica. He had come to the church when he heard the soldiers had landed. But the thought of kidnapping a sick pope from the house of God didn’t stop the soldiers from grabbing him and hustling him down to their ship.
Elected pope in 649, Martin I had gotten in trouble for refusing to condone silence in the face of wrong. At that time there existed a popular heresy that held that Christ didn’t have a human will, only a divine will. The emperor had issued an edict that didn’t support Monothelism (as it was known) directly, but simply commanded that no one could discuss Jesus’ will at all.
Monothelism was condemned at a council convened by Martin I. The council affirmed, once again, that since Jesus had two natures, human and divine, he had two wills, human and divine. The council then went further and condemned Constans edict to avoid discussion stating, “The Lord commanded us to shun evil and do good, but not to reject the good with the evil.”
In his anger at this slap in the face, the emperor sent his soldiers to Rome to bring the pope to him. When Martin I arrived in Constantinople after a long voyage he was immediately put into prison. There he spent three months in a filthy, freezing cell while he suffered from dysentery. He was not allowed to wash and given the most disgusting food. After he was condemned for treason without being allowed to speak in his defense he was imprisoned for another three months.
From there he was exiled to the Crimea where he suffered from the famine of the land as well as the roughness of the land and its people. But hardest to take was the fact that the pope found himself friendless. His letters tell how his own church had deserted him and his friends had forgotten him. They wouldn’t even send him oil or corn to live off of.
He died two years later in exile in the year 656, a martyr who stood up for the right of the Church to establish doctrine even in the face of imperial power.
INTROIT — Daniel 3:84, 87; 3:57
O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: O ye holy and humble of heart, praise God. (Dan. 3:57) All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: O ye holy and humble of heart, praise God.
COLLECT
O God, Who dost gladden us with the yearly festival of blessed Martin, Thy martyr and bishop, mercifully grant that, as we venerate his festival, we may also rejoice in his protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Second Collect — A cunctis, for the intercession of all the Saints
From all perils of mind and body, defend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and through the intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of God, together with blessed Joseph, and Thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, graciously grant us salvation and peace; that, all evils and errors being overthrown, Thy Church may serve Thee in untroubled freedom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Third Collect — For the Church
Mercifully receive, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the prayers of Thy Church: that, having overcome all adversity and every error, she may serve Thee in security and freedom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
EPISTLE — 1 St Peter 4:13–19
Lesson from the first Epistle of blessed Peter the Apostle. Dearly beloved: If you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that when His glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is of the honour, glory, and power of God, and that which is His Spirit, resteth upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a railer, or a coveter of other men’s things. But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God in that name. For the time is, that judgment should begin at the house of God. And if first at us, what shall be the end of them that believe not the gospel of God? And if the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commend their souls in good deeds to the faithful Creator.
GRADUAL — Psalm 8:6–7
Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour. V. Thou hast set him over the works of Thy hands. ALLELUIA Alleluia, alleluia. V. This is the priest whom the Lord hath crowned. Alleluia.
GOSPEL — St Matthew 16:24–27
Continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew. At that time: Jesus said to His disciples: If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for My sake, shall find it. For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels: and then will He render to every man according to his works.
OFFERTORY — Psalm 88:21–22
I have found David My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him: for My hand shall help him, and Mine arm shall strengthen him.
SECRET
Sanctify, O Lord, the gifts dedicated to Thee, and by the intercession of blessed Martin, Thy martyr and bishop, look upon them with approval. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Second Secret — For the intercession of all the Saints
Hear us, O God our Saviour, that by the virtue of this sacrament, Thou mayest defend us from all enemies of mind and body, bestowing upon us both grace in this life and glory in the life to come.
Third Secret — For the Church
Protect us, O Lord, who assist at Thy mysteries: that, cleaving to divine things, we may serve Thee both in body and mind. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
COMMON PREFACE
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 adore it, the Powers tremble; the heavens and the hosts of heaven and the blessed Seraphim together celebrate it with exultation. With whom, we pray Thee, command that our voices also be admitted, with humble confession saying:
COMMUNION — Psalm 20:4
Thou hast set on his head, O Lord, a crown of precious stones.
POSTCOMMUNION
May this communion, O Lord, purge us of guilt, and, by the intercession of blessed Martin, Thy martyr and bishop, may it make us sharers of the heavenly healing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Second Postcommunion — For the intercession of all the Saints
Cleanse and fortify us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the oblation of this divine sacrament: and through the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of Thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the Saints, may it both purify us from all wickedness and deliver us from all evil.
Third Postcommunion — For the Church
We beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that Thou wouldst not suffer to be exposed to human dangers those whom Thou givest to rejoice in this Divine banquet. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
