January 30
St. Martina Virgin and Martyr
Missa - Loquebar
Semi-double/Red
vestments
A third Roman Virgin, wearing on her brow a Martyr's
crown, comes today to share the honours given to Agnes and Emerentiana, and
offer her palm to the Lamb. Her name is Martina, which the pagans were wont to
give to their daughters in honour of their god of war. Her sacred relics repose
at the foot of the Capitoline hill, in the ancient temple of Mars, which has
now become the beautiful Church of Saint Martina. The holy ambition to render
herself worthy of Him whom she had chosen as her divine Spouse, gave her
courage to suffer torments and death for his sake; so that of her, as of the
rest of the Martyrs, we may say those words of the Liturgy, she washed her
robes in the Blood of the Lamb. Our Emmanuel is
the Mighty God, the Lord that is mighty in war, not,
like the Mars of the pagans, needing the sword to win his battles. He
vanquishes his enemies by meekness, patience, and innocence, as in the
martyrdom of today's Saint, whose victory was grander than was ever won by Rome's
boasted warriors.
This
illustrious Virgin, who is one of the Patrons of the City of Rome, is honoured
by having her praises sung by one of the Popes. It was Urban the Eighth who
wrote the Hymns, which are recited on her Feast, and which we subjoin to the
Lessons which recount the glorious combats of our Saint.
Martina, a noble virgin of Rome, was the daughter of a
Consul. Having lost her parents when quite a child, and being exceedingly
fervent in the practice of the Christian religion, she was singularly
charitable to the poor, and distributed among them her immense riches. During
the reign of Alexander Severus, she was ordered to worship the false gods, but
most courageously refused to commit so detestable a crime.
Whereupon, she was several times scourged;
her flesh was torn with iron hooks and nails, and with potsherds, and her whole
body was cut with most sharp swords; she was scalded with boiling oil, and was,
at length, condemned to be devoured by wild beasts, in the amphitheatre; but
being miraculously left untouched by them, she was thrown on a burning pile,
from which she also escaped unhurt, by the same divine power. Some of the men
that had inflicted these tortures upon her, being struck by the miracle, and
touched by the grace of God, embraced the Christian faith, and, after suffering
many tortures, gained the glorious palm of martyrdom by being beheaded.
The prayers of Martina were powerful with God.
Earthquakes shook the city, fire fell from the heavens in the midst of loud
thunder, the temples and idols of the gods were overthrown and destroyed. More
than once, milk flowed from her wounds together with the blood, and a most
sweet fragrance was perceived by the bystanders; and sometimes she was seen
raised up and placed on a beautiful throne, and singing the divine praises
surrounded by heavenly spirits.
Vexed above measure by these prodigies, and,
above all, by her constancy, the judge ordered her to be beheaded. Which being
done, a voice from heaven was heard calling Martina to ascend: the whole city
trembled, and many of the idolaters were converted to the faith of Christ
Martina suffered under the Pontificate of Urban the First; and under that of
Urban the Eighth, her body was discovered in an ancient Church, together with
those of the holy Martyrs Concordius, Epiphanius and Companions, near the
Mamertine prison, at the foot of the Capitoline hill. The Church was restored,
and decorated, and the body of the Saint was again placed in it, with much
solemnity, in the presence of a great concourse of people, and amidst shouts of
joy from the whole city.
The Lives of the Saints by Rev. Alban Butler, 1866
ST MARTINA
She was a noble Roman
virgin, who glorified God, suffering many torments and a cruel death for his
faith in the capital city of the world, in the third century. There stood a
chapel consecrated to her memory in Rome, which was frequented with great
devotion in the time of St. Gregory the Great. Her relics were discovered in a
vault, in the ruins of her old church, and translated with great pomp in the
year 1634, under Pope Urban VIII. who built a new church in her honour, and
composed himself the hymns used in her office in the Roman Breviary. The city
of Rome ranks her among its particular patrons.The Lives of the Saints by Rev. Alban Butler, 1866
MASS
INTROIT - Psalm 118: 46-47, 1
Loquebar de testimoniis tuis in conspectu regum, et
non confundebar: et meditabar in mandatis tuis, quæ dilexi nimis. Ps. Beati
immaculate in via: qui ambulant in lege Domini. Gloria Patri.
I spoke of Thy testimonies before kings, and I was not
ashamed: I meditated also on Thy commandments, which I loved. Ps. Blessed are the undefiled in the way: who
walk in the law of the Lord. Glory be to the Father.
The Virgin and Child with St Martina and St
Agnes
COLLECT
O God, who among the other marvels of Thy power, hast
granted even to the weaker sex the victory of martyrdom: mercifully grant: that
we who celebrate the heavenly birthday of blessed Martina Thy Virgin and
Martyr, may, by her example draw nearer to Thee. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE - Ecclus. 51: 1-8; 12
I will give glory to Thee, O Lord, O King, and I will
praise Thee, O God my Saviour. 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 hast
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 compassed 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 body 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 unto death: because Thou, O Lord our God, deliverest
them that wait for Thee, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.
GRADUAL - Psalm 44: 8
Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity. Therefore
God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.
TRACT - Psalm 44: 8, 5
Come thou, spouse of Christ, receive the crown which
the Lord hath prepared for thee from everlasting: for those who love thou didst
shed thy blood. Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy
God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. With thy
comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign.
GOSPEL - Matthew 25: 1-13
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
neighbours shall be brought to Thee with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be
brought into the temple of the King, the Lord.
Martyrdom of St. Martina
SECRET
Receive, O Lord, the gifts which we bring Thee, on the
feast of blessed Martina, Thy Virgin and Martyr, by whose patronage we hope to
be delivered. 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…
COMMUNION Psalm 118: 78, 80
Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done
unjustly towards me: but I will be employed in Thy commandments and in Thy
justifications, that I may not be confounded
POST COMMUNION
May the Mysteries which we have received, help us, O
Lord; and by the intercession of blessed Martina, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may we
ever enjoy their protection. Through our Lord.
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