ST. CECILIA
Virgin and Martyr
In the evening of her wedding day,
with the music of the marriage-hymn ringing in her ears, Cecilia, a rich,
beautiful, and noble Roman maiden, renewed the vow by which she had consecrated
her virginity to God. “Pure be my heart and undefiled my flesh; for I have a
spouse you know not of, an angel of my Lord.” The heart of her young husband
Valerian was moved by her words; he received Baptism, and within a few days he
and his brother Tiburtius, who had been brought by him to a knowledge of the
Faith, sealed their confession with their blood. Cecilia only remained. “Do you
not know,” was her answer to the threats of the prefect, “that I am the bride
of my Lord Jesus Christ?” The death appointed for her was suffocation, and she
remained a day and a night in a hot-air bath, heated seven times its wont. But
“the flames had no power over her body, neither was a hair of her head singed.”
The lictor sent to dispatch her struck with trembling hand the three blows
which the law allowed, and left her still alive. ‘For two days and nights
Cecilia lay with her head half severed on the pavement of her bath, fully
sensible, and joyfully awaiting her crown; on the third the agony was over, and
A.D. 177 the virgin Saint gave back her pure spirit to Christ.
St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
Double Red vestments
Missa 'Loquebar'
INTROITUS - 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.
INTROIT
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.
Ss. Cecilia, Valerian, and Tiburtius by
Botticini
COLLECT
O God, Who dost gladden us with the
yearly festival of blessed Cecilia, Thy Virgin and Martyr, grant that we who
honor her by this solemn rite, may follow the example of her godly life.
Through our Lord.
EPISTLE Wisdom 51: 13-17
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom
O Lord, my God, Thou hast exalted my
dwelling-place upon the earth, and I have prayed for death to pass away. I
called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that He would not leave me in the
day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, without help. I will praise
Thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving and my prayer was
heard, and Thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the
evil time. Therefore I will give thanks, and praise Thee, O Lord our God.
GRADUAL - Psalm 44: 11, 12, 5
Harken, O daughter, and see, and incline
thine ear; for the King hath greatly desired thy beauty. With thy comeliness
and thy beauty, set out, proceed prosperously, and reign.
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
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
May this sacrifice of atonement and
praise, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the intercession of blessed Cecilia, Thy
Virgin and Martyr, ever make us worthy of Thy forgiveness. 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.
POSTCOMMUNION
Lord, Thou hast regaled Thy household
with sacred gifts; ever comfort us, we pray, with her intercession whose
festival we celebrate. Through the Lord.
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