January 21
St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
St. Agnes was but thirteen years old
when she was led to the altar of Minerva at Rome and commanded to obey the
persecuting laws of Diocletian by offering incense. In the midst of the
idolatrous rites she raised her hands to Christ, her Spouse, and made the sign
of the life-giving cross. She did not shrink when she was bound hand and foot,
though the gyves slipped from her young hands, and the heathens who stood
around were moved to tears.
The bonds were not needed for her, and she hastened
gladly to the place of her torture. Next, when the judge saw that pain had no
terrors for her, he inflicted an insult worse than death: her clothes were
stripped off, and she had to stand in the street before a pagan crowd; yet even
this did not daunt her. “Christ,” she said, “will guard His own.” So it was.
Christ showed, by a miracle, the value which He sets upon the custody of the
eyes. Whilst the crowd turned away their eyes from the spouse of Christ, as she
stood exposed to view in the street, there was one young man who dared to gaze
at the innocent child with immodest eyes. A flash of light struck him blind,
and his companions bore him away half dead with pain and terror.
Lastly, her fidelity to Christ was
proved by flattery and offers of marriage. But she answered, “Christ is my
Spouse: He chose me first, and His I will be.” At length the sentence of death
was passed. For a moment she stood erect in prayer, and then bowed her neck to
the sword. At one stroke her head was severed from her body, and the angels
bore her pure soul to Paradise.
MASS PROPERS
Thursday of the Second week after Epiphany
ST AGNES, Virgin and Martyr
Double / Red Vestments
Missa ‘Me exspectaverunt’
INTROIT Psalm 118: 95, 96, 1
Me exspectaverunt peccatores, ut
perderent me: testimonia tua, Domine, intellexi: omnis consummationis vidi
finem: latum mandatum tuum nimis. Ps. Beati
immaculati in via: qui ambulant in lege Domini. Gloria Patri.
The wicked have waited for me to
destroy me: but I have understood Thy testimonies, O Lord: I have seen an end
of all perfection; Thy command is exceeding broad. Ps. Blessed are
the undefiled in the way: who walk in the law of the Lord. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
O Almighty and everlasting God, who
dost choose the weak things of the world to confound the strong: mercifully
grant that we who keep the solemn feast of blessed Agnes, Thy Virgin and
Martyr, may experience the benefit of her pleading with Thee. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE – Ecclesiasticus 51: 1-8, 12
The Lesson is taken from the Book of
Wisdom
I will give glory to Thee, O Lord, O
King, and I will praise Thee, O God my Savior. I will give glory to Thy name:
for Thou hast been a helper and protector to me, and hast preserved my body
from destruction, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them
that forge lies: and in the sight of them that stood by Thou hast been my
helper. And Thou has delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of
Thy name, from them that did roar prepared to devour; out of the hands of them
that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions which com- passed me
about: from the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of
the fire I was not burnt: from the depth of the belly of hell, and from an
unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a
slanderous tongue. My soul shall praise the Lord even to death: because Thou, O
Lord our God, deliverest them that wait for Thee, and savest the out of the
hands of the nations.
GRADUAL Psalm 44: 3, 5
Grace is poured abroad in thy lips:
therefore hath God blessed thee for ever. Because of truth, and meekness, and
justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.
ALLELUIA Matthew 25: 4, 6
Alleluia, alleluia. 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 Christ our Lord.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 25: 1-13
The continuation of the Holy Gospel
according to St. Matthew
At that time, Jesus spoke to His
disciples this parable: The kingdom of Heaven shall 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 came 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 Psalm 44: 15-16
After her shall virgins be brought to
the King: her neighbors shall be brought to Thee with gladness and rejoicing:
they shall be brought into the temple of the King, the Lord.
SECRET
O Lord, graciously receive the
oblations which we offer up to Thee; and by the intercession of blessed Agnes,
Thy Virgin and Martyr, loose the bonds of our sins. Through our Lord.
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, eternal God: through Christ our Lord,
through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, Dominations worship, 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:
SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS Dominus
Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria Tua. Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
COMMUNION Matthew 25: 4, 6
The five wise virgins took oil in
their vessels with the lamps; but at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the
bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet Christ our Lord.
POSTCOMMUNION
We who have been refreshed with
heavenly food and drink, humbly entreat Thee, O our God, that we may be
defended by the prayers of her in whose memory we have partaken of these
mysteries. Through our Lord…
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