FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST - MASS PROPERS

                         June 19

            St. Juliana Falconieri, O.S.M.

                  Virgin and foundress

                 (1270 – June 19, 1341)

Juliana was the Italian foundress of the Religious Sisters of the Third Order of Servites (or the Servite Tertiaries).

Juliana belonged to the noble Falconieri family of Florence. Her uncle, Alexis Falconieri, was one of the seven founders of the Servite Order. Under his influence, she decided at a young age to follow the consecrated life. After her father's death, she received the habit of the Third Order of the Servites from Philip Benizi, then Prior General of that Order. She remained at home following the rule Benizi had given her until her mother's death, when Juliana and several companions moved into a house of their own in 1305. This became the first convent of the Sisters of the Third Order of Servites. Juliana would serve as Superior until the end of her life.

Saints Gervasius and Protasius (Sts. Gervase and Protase)

Christian martyrs, probably of the 2nd century. They are the patron saints of Milan and of haymakers and are invoked for the discovery of thieves.

Gervasius and Protasius were the twin sons of martyrs. Their father Saint Vitalis of Milan, a man of consular dignity, suffered martyrdom at Ravenna, possibly under Nero. The mother Saint Valeria died for her faith at Milan. Gervasius and Protasius were imprisoned, and visited in prison by Saint Nazarius.

The sons are said to have large hands and had been scourged and then beheaded, during the reign of the Emperor Nero, under the presidency of Anubinus or Astasius, and while Caius was Bishop of Milan. Some authors place the martyrdom under the Emperor Diocletian, but others object to this time, because it is not clear how, in that case, the place of burial, and even the names, could be forgotten by the time of Saint Ambrose, as is stated. It probably occurred during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180).

St. Ambrose and St. Augustine

Saint Ambrose, in 386, had built a magnificent basilica at Milan, now called the Basilica Sant'Ambrogio. Asked by the people to consecrate it in the same solemn manner as was done in Rome, he promised to do so if he could obtain the necessary relics. In a dream he was shown the place where such relics could be found. He ordered excavations to be made outside the city, in the cemetery Church of Saints Nabor and Felix, who were at the time the primary patrons of Milan, and there found the relics of Saints Gervasius and Protasius. In a letter, St Ambrose wrote: "I found the fitting signs, and on bringing in some on whom hands were to be laid, the power of the holy martyrs became so manifest, that even whilst I was still silent, one was seized and thrown prostrate at the holy burial-place. We found two men of marvelous stature, such as those of ancient days. All the bones were perfect, and there was much blood."

St Ambrose had their relics removed to the Basilica of Fausta (now the Church of Saints Vitalis and Agricola) and on the next day into the basilica, accompanied in the texts by many miracles, emblematic of divine favor in the context of the great struggle then taking place between St Ambrose and the Arian Empress Justina. Of the vision, the subsequent discovery of the relics and the accompanying miracles, St Ambrose wrote to his sister Marcellina.

Saint Augustine, not yet baptized, witnessed these facts, and relates them in his "Confessions" (IX, vii), and in "De Civitate Dei" (XXII, viii) as well as in his "Sermon 286 in natal. Ss. Mm. Gerv. et Prot.". They are also attested by Saint Paulinus in his life of Saint Ambrose. The latter died in 397 and by his own wish was buried in his basilica by the side of these martyrs. It has been suggested that the Brescia Casket was made or used to hold the relics.

          FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

                  COMMEMORATION of               

              St. Juliana Falconieri, Virgin 

                               and

      Sts. Gervase and Protase, Martyrs

INTROITUS - Psalm 26: 7, 9

Exaudi, Dómine, vocem meam, qua clamávi ad te: adjútor meus esto, ne derelínquas me, neque despícias me, Deus salutáris meus. Ps. 26. 2. Dóminus illuminátio mea, et salus mea, quem timébo? V. Glória Patri.

INTROIT

Hear O Lord, my voice with which I have cried to Thee: be Thou my helper, forsake me not, nor do Thou despise me, O God, my Saviour. Ps. The Lord is my light, and my salvation, whom shall I fear? V. Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

O God, Who hast prepared for those who love Thee such good things as eye hath not seen; pour into our hearts such love towards Thee, that loving Thee above all things, we may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire. Through our Lord.

ST JULIANA FALCONIERI, VIRGIN

O God, Who didst vouchsafe wondrously to solace blessed Juliana, Thy Virgin, in her last sufferings with the precious Body of Thy Son: grant, we beseech Thee, that, by her intercession and merits, we too in our mortal agony may be refreshed and strengthened by the same Sacrament, and so be brought to our heavenly country. Through the same our Lord.

ST. GERVASE AND ST. PROTASE, MARTYRS

 O God, Who dost gladden us by the annual feast of Thy holy Martyrs Gervase and Protase, mercifully grant that we who rejoice in their merits may be inspired by their example. Through our Lord.

EPISTLE - I Peter 3: 8-15

Dearly beloved: Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, being lovers of the brotherhood, merciful, modest, humble; not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that you may inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him decline from evil and do good; let him seek after peace, and pursue it; because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and His ears unto their prayers, but the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things. And who is he that can hurt you, if you be zealous of good? But if also you suffer anything for justice’s sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of their fear, and be not troubled; but sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts.

GRADUAL - Psalm 83: 10, 9

Behold, O God our protector, and look on Thy servants. V. O Lord God of hosts, give ear to the prayers of Thy servants.

ALLELUIA - Psalm 20: 1

Alleluia, alleluia. V. In Thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in Thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly. Alleluia.

GOSPEL - Matthew 5: 20-24

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: Except your justice abound more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother: Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say: Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath anything against thee, leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother; and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.

OFFERTORY - Psalm 15: 7, 8

I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding; I set God always in my sight; for He is at my right hand, that I be not moved.

SECRET

Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by our supplications: and in Thy loving kindness, accept the offerings Thy servants and handmaidens lay before Thee, that the offerings of each to the glory of Thy name may profit all alike unto salvation. Through our Lord.

ST JULIANA FALCONIERI, VIRGIN

May the offering of Thy holy people be accepted by Thee, O Lord, in honour of Thy saints; by whose merits they know they have received help in tribulation. Through our Lord.

ST. GERVASE AND ST. PROTASE, MARTYRS

Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the gifts now offered, and by the intercession of Thy holy Martyrs, Gervase and Protase defend us from all dangers. Through our Lord.

PREFACE OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the Oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what by Thy revelation we believe of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation; so that in confessing the true and eternal Godhead, in It we should adore distinction in persons, unity in Essence, and equality in Majesty: in praise of which Angels and Archangels, Cherubim also and Seraphim day and night exclaim, without end and with one voice saying:

COMMUNION - Psalm 26: 4

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

POSTCOMMUNION

Thou hast filled us with thy heavenly gifts, O Lord: vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to cleanse us from our hidden faults, and deliver us from the snares of our enemies.  Through our Lord

ST JULIANA FALCONIERI, VIRGIN

Thou hast fed Thy household, O Lord, with these sacred gifts: do Thou ever comfort us, we beseech Thee, by the intercession of her whose festival we celebrate. Through our Lord.

ST. GERVASE AND ST. PROTASE, MARTYRS

May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us from guilt; and through the intercession of Thy holy Martyrs Gervase and Protase, make us share in the heavenly healing. Through our Lord.