Friday, May 13, 2016

St. Robert Bellarmine - Mass Propers


                   May 13
Saint Robert Bellarmine, Jesuit and Doctor of the Church Born 4 October, 1542, Montepulciano, Italy Died 17 September, 1621, Rome, Italy. Beatified 13 May 1923 by Pope Pius XI Canonized 29 June 1930 by Pope Pius XI.

Robert, a native of Montepulciano and of the noble family of Bellarmine, had for his mother the most pious Cynthia Cervini, sister of Pope Marcellus II. From the first he was conspicuous for exemplary piety and most chaste manners, earnestly desiring this one thing, to please God alone and to win souls to Christ. He attended the college of the Society of Jesus in his native town where he was highly commended for his intelligence and modesty. 

At the age of eighteen he entered the same Society at Rome, and was a model of all religious virtues. Having passed through the course of philosophy at the Roman College, he was sent first to Florence, then to Monreale, later to Padua to teach sacred theology, and afterwards to Louvain where, not yet a priest, he ably discharged the office of preacher. After ordination at Louvain, he taught theology with such success that he brought back many heretics to the unity of the Church, and was regarded throughout Europe as a most brilliant theologian; and St. Charles, Bishop of Milan, and others keenly sought after him.
 Recalled to Rome at the wish of Pope Gregory XIII, he taught the science of controversial theology at the Roman College, and there, as spiritual director he guided the angelic youth Aloysius in the paths of holiness. He governed the Roman College and then the Neapolitan province of the Society of Jesus in accordance with the spirit of St. Ignatius. 

Again summoned to Rome, he was employed by Clement VIII in the most important affairs of the Church, with the greatest advantage to the Christian state; then against his will and in spite of opposition, he was admitted among the number of the cardinals, because, as the Pontiff publicly declared, he did not have his equal among theologians in the Church of God at the time.
 He is eminently noted for very numerous short works for fostering piety, and especially for that golden Catechism, which he never failed to explain to the young and ignorant both at Capua and at Rome, although preoccupied with other very important affairs.


A contemporary cardinal declared that Robert was sent by God the instruction of Catholics, for the guidance of the good, and for the confusion of heretics; St. Francis de Sales regarded him as a fountain of learning; the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XIV called him the hammer of heretics; and Benedict XV proclaimed him the model of promoters and defenders of the Catholic religion.

He was most zealous in the religious life and he maintained that manner of life after having been chosen as one of the empurpled cardinals. He did not want any wealth beyond what was necessary; he was satisfied with a moderate household, and scanty fare and clothing. He did not strive to enrich his relatives, and he could scarcely be induced to relieve their poverty even occasionally. He had the lowest opinion of himself, and was of wonderful simplicity of soul. He had an extraordinary love for the Mother of God; he spent many hours daily in prayer. He ate very sparingly, and fasted three times a week. Uniformly austere with himself, he burned with charity towards his neighbour, and was often called the father of the poor. He earnestly strove that he might not stain his baptismal innocence to even the slightest fault. 

Almost eighty years old, he fell into his last illness at St. Andrew's on the Quirinal hill, and in it he shewed his usual radiant virtue. Pope Gregory XV and many cardinals visited him on his deathbed, lamenting the loss of such a great pillar of the Church. He fell asleep in the Lord in the year 1621, on the day of the sacred Stigmata of St. Francis, the memory of which he had been instrumental in having celebrated everywhere. The whole city mourned his death, unanimously proclaiming him a Saint. The Supreme Pontiff Pius XI inscribed his name, first, in the number of the Blessed, and then in that of the Saints, and shortly afterwards, by a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, he declared him a Doctor of the universal Church. His body is honoured with pious veneration at Rome in the church of St. Ignatius, near the tomb of St. Aloysius, as he himself had desired.

              

                St. Robert Bellarmine
           Cardinal, Confessor and 
              Doctor of the Church               

Friday after the Octave of the Ascension
                Double – White vestments
                      Missa ‘In Medio’              

                       INTROITUS
                Ecclesiasticus 15: 5 
In medio Ecclesiæ aperuit os ejus: et implevit eum Dominus Spiritu sapientiæ, et intellectus: stolam gloriæ induit eum. Ps. 91: 2. Bonum est confiteri Domino: et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime. Gloria Patri.
                        INTROIT
In the midst of the Church the Lord opened his mouth: and filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding: He clothed him with a robe of glory. Ps. It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to Thy Name, O Most High. Glory be to the Father.
            
                       COLLECT
O God, who didst adorn blessed Robert, Thy Bishop and Doctor, with marvellous learning and virtue to expose the deceptions of error and to defend the rights of the Apostolic see, grant that, by his merits and intercession, love for the truth may increase in us and the souls of the erring may return to the unity of Thy Church. Through our Lord.

                       EPISTLE
                Wisdom 7: 7-14
I wished, and understanding was given me; and I called, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me; and I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her. Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone, for all gold in comparison of her is as a little sand, and silver in respect to her shall be counted as clay. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light, for her light cannot be put out. Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands. And I rejoiced in them all; for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all; which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not; for she is an infinite treasure to men, which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline.


                      ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia. They that are learned shall shine as the brightness of the firmament.
Alleluia. They that instruct many to justice, as stars for all eternity. Alleluia.

                      GOSPEL
           Matthew 5: 13-19
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and be trodden on by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, Who is in heaven. Do not think that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and so shall teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

                   OFFERTORY
                  Psalm 72: 28 
It is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in my Lord, that I may declare all Thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion. Alleluia.

                       SECRET
We offer this sacrifice unto Thee, O Lord, for an odour of sweetness; grant that, taught by the instruction and example of blessed Robert, we may with enlarged heart run the way of Thy commandments. Through our Lord.

        PREFACE FOR ASCENSION
It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty and eternal God; through Christ our Lord. Who after His resurrection appeared and showed Himself to all His disciples; and while they beheld Him, was lifted up into heaven, so that He might make us partakers of His Godhead. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of heaven, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, without ceasing.



               COMMUNION
You are the light of the world: so let your light shine before all men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven. Alleluia.

           POSTCOMMUNION

May the sacraments which we have received, O Lord, our God, inflame us with that fire of love which ardently consumed blessed Robert and led him to spend himself continually for Thy Church. Through our Lord.




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