January 19
Sts. Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum
Sts. Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum (died 270) four
saints of the same family (a husband, his wife, and their two sons). They came
from Persia to Rome, and were martyred in 270 for sympathizing with and burying
the bodies of Christians.
The family's assistance to the Christians exposed them
to persecution. They were seized and delivered to the judge Muscianus or
Marcianus, who, unable to persuade them to abjure their faith, condemned them
to various tortures. Despite the torture, the saints refused to abjure. Maris
and his two sons were thus beheaded on the Via Cornelia, and their bodies were
burnt. Martha meanwhile was killed at a place called in Nimpha or Nymphae
Catabassi (later called Santa Ninfa, thirteen miles from Rome. Tradition states
that Martha was cast into a well.
Roman Breviary
Lesson 3
Commemoration of
St. Maris, and his Companions, Martyrs.
Maris was a Persian of high rank, who came to Rome in
the reign of the Emperor Claudius, with his wife Martha, who was equally noble,
and their two sons Audifax and Abachum, to pray at the graves of the Martyrs.
Here they comforted the Christians who were in prison, and whom they relieved
by their ministrations and alms, and buried the bodies of the Saints. For these
acts they were all arrested, but no threats or terrors could move them to
sacrifice to idols. They were accordingly mangled with clubs, and drawn with
ropes, after which they were burnt by applying plates of red-hot metal to their
bodies, and their flesh partly torn off with metal hooks. Lastly their hands
were all cut off, and they were fastened together by the neck, in which state
they were driven through the city to the thirteenth mile-stone on the Cornelian
Way, a place now called Santa Ninfa, where they were to die. Martha addressed a
moving exhortation to her husband and sons to hold out bravely to the last, for
the love of Jesus Christ; and was then herself drowned. The other three martyrs
were next beheaded in the same sand-pit. Their bodies were thrown into a fire.
The lady Felicity of Rome collected the half-burnt remains, and caused them to
be buried at her own farm.
ST. CANUTUS (ST. CANUTE) IV, KING
AND MARTYR
St. Canutus King of Denmark, was endowed with excellent
qualities of both mind and body. It is hard to say whether he excelled more in
courage or in conduct and skill in war; but his singular piety eclipsed all his
other endowments. He cleared the seas of pirates, and subdued several
neighboring provinces which infested Denmark with their incursions. The kingdom
of Denmark was elective till the year 1660, and, when the father of Canutus
died, his eldest brother, Harold, was called to the throne. Harold died after
reigning for two years, and Canutus was chosen to succeed him. He began his
reign by a successful war against the troublesome, barbarous enemies of the
state, and by planting the faith in the conquered provinces. Amid the glory of
his victories he humbly prostrated himself at the foot of the crucifix, laying
there his diadem, and offering himself and his kingdom to the King of kings.
After having provided for the peace and safety of his country, he married
Eltha, daughter of Robert, Earl of Flanders, who proved a spouse worthy of him.
His next concern was to reform abuses at home. For this purpose he enacted
severe but necessary laws for the strict administration of justice, and
repressed the violence and tyranny of the great, without respect to persons. He
countenanced and honored holy men, and granted many privileges and immunities
to the clergy. His charity and tenderness towards his subjects made him study
by all possible ways to make them a happy people. He showed a royal munificence
in building and adorning churches, and gave the crown which he wore, of
exceeding great value, to a church in his capital and place of residence, where
the kings of Denmark are yet buried. To the virtues which constitute a great
king, Cantus added those which prove the great saint. A rebellion having sprung
up in his kingdom, the king was surprised at church by the rebels. Perceiving
his danger, he confessed his sins at the foot of the altar, and received Holy
Communion. Stretching out his arms before the altar, the Saint fervently
recommended his soul to his Creator; in this posture he was struck by a javelin
thrown through a window, and fell a victim for Christ’s sake.
Mass Propers
Tuesday in
the Second Week after Epiphany
Simple – Red vestments
Missa 'Justi
Epulentur'
INTROIT - Ps 67:4
Justi epuléntur et exsúltent in conspéctu Dei et
delecténtur in lætítia.
Ps 67:2 Exsúrgat Deus, et dissipéntur inimíci ejus: et
fúgiant qui odérunt eum, a fácie ejus. V. Glória Patri.
The just rejoice and exult before God; they are glad
and rejoice. Ps. God arises; His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him
flee before Him.
V. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
O Lord, hear Your people as they humbly pray in union
with the patronal intercession of Your saints, that You would grant us to enjoy
peace during our life on earth and to find help for life eternal. Through our
Lord.
COMMEMORATION -
St. Canute, King and Martyr
O God, Who for the glory of Your Church, have
graciously honored blessed King Canute with the palm of martyrdom and glorious
miracles, mercifully grant that, as he was an imitator of the Lord’s passion,
so may we, walking in his footsteps, be found worthy to enter into everlasting
joys.
EPISTLE - Hebrews
10: 32-38
Lesson from
the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews
Brethren, call to mind the former days, wherein, being
illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions. And on the one hand
indeed, by reproaches and tribulations, were made a gazing-stock; and on the
other, became companions of them that were used in such sort. For you both had
compassion on them that were in bands, and took with joy the being stripped of
your own goods, knowing that you have a better and a lasting substance. Do not
therefore lose your confidence, which hath a great reward.
For patience is necessary for you; that, doing the
will of God, you may receive the promise. For yet a little and a very little
while, and he that is to come, will come, and will not delay. But my just man
liveth by faith.
GRADUAL – WISDOM 3:1
- 3
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no
torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead:
but they are in peace.
ALLELUIA - Ps
67:36
Alleluia, alleluia. Our God is wonderful in His
Saints. Alleluia.
GOSPEL - Matthew
24: 3-13
At that time, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of
Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying: Tell us, when are these
things to happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of
the world? And in answer Jesus said to them, Take care that no one leads you
astray. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will
lead many astray. For you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. Take care that
you do not be alarmed, for these things must come to pass, but the end is not
yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and
there will be pestilences and famines and earthquakes in various places. But
all these things are the beginnings of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up
to tribulation, and will put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations
for My name’s sake. And then many will fall away, and will betray one another,
and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and will lead many
astray. And because iniquity will abound, the charity of the many will grow
cold. But whoever perseveres to the end, he shall be saved.
OFFERTORY - Psalm
123: 7
We were rescued like a bird from the fowlers’ snare;
broken was the snare, and we were freed.
SECRET
Look with favor, O Lord, upon the prayers and
offerings of Your faithful, that they may be pleasing to You for the feast of
Your saints and may bring us the help of Your mercy.
COMMEMORATION - St.
Canute, Martyr
May our sacrifice, O Lord, be acceptable in Your sight
and may it bring us salvation through the prayers of him on whose feast it is
being offered.
COMMON PREFACE
It is truly meet and just, and profitable unto
salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to thee,
O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Though
whom the angels praise thy majesty, the dominions adore it, the powers are in
awe. Which the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed
seraphim joyfully do magnify. And do thou command that it be permitted to us
join with them in confessing thee, while we say with lowly praise:
SANCTUS
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dóminus, Deus Sábaoth. Pleni
sunt coeli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus, qui venit in
nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis.
COMMUNION - Luke
12:4
But I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of
those who persecute you.
POSTCOMMUNION
Be appeased by the prayers of Your Saints, O Lord, and
grant, we beseech You, that the rites we perform in this lifetime may avail for
our eternal salvation. Through our Lord.
COMMEMORATION -
St. Canute, Martyr
We who have been refreshed by partaking of the sacred
gift, beseech You, O Lord our God, that through the intercession of blessed
Canute, Your Martyr, we may feel the benefit of the worship we perform.
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