St. John Chrysostom
Archbishop of Constantinople
and Doctor of the Church
St. John was
born at Antioch in 344. In order to break with a world which admired and
courted him, he in 374 retired for six years to a neighboring mountain. Having
thus acquired the art of Christian silence, he returned to Antioch, and there
labored as priest, until he was ordained Bishop of Constantinople in 398. The
effect of his sermons was everywhere marvellous. He was very urgent that his
people should frequent the holy sacrifice, and in order to remove all excuse he
abbreviated the long Liturgy until then in use. St. Nilus relates that St. John
Chrysostom was wont to see, when the priest began the holy sacrifice,
"many of the blessed ones coming down from heaven in shining garments, and
with bare feet, eyes intent, and bowed heads, in utter stillness and silence,
assisting at the consummation of the tremendous mystery." Beloved as he
was in Constantinople, his denunciations of vice made him numerous enemies. In
403 these procured his banishment; and although he was almost immediately
recalled, it was not more than a reprieve. In 404 he was banished to Cucusus in
the deserts of Taurus. In 407 he was wearing out, but his enemies were
impatient. They hurried him off to Pytius on the Euxine, a rough journey of
nigh 400 miles. He was assiduously exposed to every hardship, cold, wet, and
semi-starvation, but nothing could overcome his cheerfulness and his
consideration for others. On the journey his sickness increased, and he was
warned that his end was nigh. Thereupon, exchanging his travel-stained clothes
for white garments, he received Viaticum, and with his customary words,
"Glory be to God for all things. Amen," passed to Christ.
ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
BISHOP, CONFESSOR
AND DOCTOR OF THE
CHURCH
INTROIT - Ecclesiasticus 15: 5; 91: 2
In Medio Ecclesiæ aperuit os ejus: et
implevit eum Dominus spiritu sapientiæ, et intellectus: stolam gloriæ induit
eum. Ps. Bonum est confiteri Domino: et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime. Gloria
Patri.
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
We beseech Thee, O Lord, let Thy
heavenly grace give increase to Thy Church, which Thou wast pleased to adorn
with the glorious merits and the teaching of blessed John Chrysostom, Thy
Confessor and Bishop. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE - II Timothy 4: 1-8
Dearly beloved, I charge thee, before
God and Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the living and the dead, by His coming
and His kingdom: preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove,
entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine. For there shall be a time when
they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires they
will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and will indeed turn
away from the truth, but will be turned into fables. But be thou vigilant,
labour in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry. Be
sober. For I am even now ready to be sacrificed. and the time of my dissolution
is at hand. have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept
the faith. As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which
the Lord, the just Judge, will render to me in that day: and not only to me,
but to them also that love His coming.
GRADUAL – Ecclus: 44: 16, 20
Behold a great priest who in his days
pleased God. There was not any found like to him, who kept the law of the Most
High.
GOSPEL - Matthew 5: 13-19
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 91: 13
The just shall flourish like the palm
tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.
SECRET
May the holy prayer of Saint John
Chrysostom, Thy Bishop and Doctor, fail us not, O Lord: may it render our
offerings acceptable, and ever obtain for us Thy pardon. 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 – Luke 12: 42
The faithful and wise servant, whom
his lord setteth over his family: to give them their measure of wheat in due
season.
POSTCOMMUNION
We beseech Thee, O Lord, that blessed
John Chrysostom, Thy Bishop and illustrious Doctor, may approach to pray for
us, that these Thy sacrifices may bring us salvation. Through our Lord.
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