ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH

    St. Ignatius, Bishop and Martyr

            Double – Red vestments

                 Missa 'Mihi Autem'

St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, was the disciple of St. John. When Domitian persecuted the Church, St. Ignatius obtained peace for his own flock by fasting and prayer. But for his part he desired to suffer with Christ, and to prove himself a perfect disciple. In the year 107, Trajan came to Antioch, and forced the Christians to choose between apostasy and death. "Who art thou, poor devil," the emperor said when Ignatius was brought before him, "who settest our commands at naught?" "Call not him 'poor devil,' "Ignatius answered, "who bears God within him." And when the emperor questioned him about his meaning, Ignatius explained that he bore in his heart Christ crucified for his sake. Thereupon the emperor condemned him to be torn to pieces by wild beasts at Rome. St. Ignatius thanked God, Who had so honored him, "binding him in the chains of Paul, His apostle." He journeyed to Rome, guarded by soldiers, and with no fear except of losing the martyr's crown. He was devoured by lions in the Roman amphitheatre. The wild beasts left nothing of his body, except a few bones, which were reverently treasured at Antioch, until their removal to the Church of St. Clement at Rome, in 637. After the martyr's death, several Christians saw him in vision standing before Christ, and interceding for them.

    INTROIT - Galatians 6: 14; Psalm 131: 1

Mihi autem absit gloriári nisi in cruce Dómini nostri Jesu Christi: per quem mihi mundus crucifíxus est, et ego mundo. Ps. Meménto, Dómine, David: et omnis mansuetúdinis ejus. Gloria Patri.

God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ: by Whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. Ps. O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness. Glory be to the Father.

                          COLLECT

Have regard to our weakness, O almighty God, and since the burden of our deeds id grievous to us, grant that the glorious intercession of blessed Ignatius Thy Martyr and Bishop may protect us. Through our Lord.

          EPISTLE - Romans 8: 35-39

Brethren: who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation? or distress? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution or the sword? (As it is written, for Thy sake we are put to death all the day long: we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.) But in all these things we overcome because of Him that hath loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

       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.

         ALLELUIA - Galatians 2: 19-20

Alleluia, alleluia. With Christ I am nailed to the cross: I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me. Alleluia.

              GOSPEL - John 12: 24-26

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground, die, itself remaineth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life, shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there also shall My minister be. If any man minister to Me, him will My Father honour.

            OFFERTORY - Psalm 8: 6-7

Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour: and hast set him over the works of Thy hands, O Lord.

                          SECRET

Graciously accept, O Lord, the offerings consecrated to Thee, through the merits of blessed Ignatius, Thy Martyr and Bishop: and grant that they may be for us an abiding source of strength. 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: ACTS OF ST. IGNATIUS

I am Christ's corn; let me be ground by the teeth of beasts, that I may be made into pure bread.

                POSTCOMMUNION

Refreshed by the participation in the holy gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that by the intercession of blessed Ignatius Thy Martyr and Bishop, we may experience the effect of that which we celebrate. Through our Lord.