ST. TITUS
Bishop and Confessor
Bishop and Confessor
Titus was a convert from heathenism,
a disciple of St. Paul, one of the chosen companions of the Apostles in his
journey to the Council of Jerusalem, and his fellow-laborers in many apostolic
missions. From the Second Epistle which St. Paul sent by the hand of Titus to
the Corinthians we gain an insight into his character and understand the strong
affection which his master bore him. Titus had been commissioned to carry out a
twofold office needing much firmness, discretion, and charity. He was to be the
bearer of a severe rebuke to the Corinthians, who were giving scandal and were
wavering in their faith; and at the same time he was to put their charity to a
further test by calling upon them for abundant alms for the church at
Jerusalem. St. Paul meanwhile was anxiously awaiting the result. At Troas he
writes, "I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus, my
brother." He set sail to Macedonia. Here at last Titus brought the good
news. His success had been complete. He reported the sorrow, the zeal, the
generosity of the Christians, till the Apostle could not contain his joy, and
sent back to them his faithful messenger with the letter of comfort from which
we have quoted. Titus was finally left as a bishop in Crete, and here he, in
turn, received the epistle which bears his name, and here at last he died in
peace.
The mission of Titus to Corinth
shows us how well the disciple caught the spirit of his master. He knew how to
be firm and to inspire respect. The Corinthians, we are told, "received
him with fear and trembling." He was patient and painstaking. St. Paul
"gave thanks to God, Who had put such carefulness for them in the heart of
Titus." And these gifts were enhanced by a quickness to detect and call
out all that was good in others, and by a joyousness which overflowed upon the
spirit of St. Paul himself, who "abundantly rejoiced in the joy of
Titus."
ST. DOROTHY
Virgin and Martyr
Dorothy was a young virgin,
celebrated at Caesarea, where she lived, for her angelic virtue. Her parents
seem to have been martyred before her in the Diocletian persecution, and when
the Governor Sapricius came to Caesarea he called her before him, and sent this
child of martyrs to the home where they were waiting for her. She was stretched
upon the rack, and offered marriage if she would consent to sacrifice, or death
if she refused. But she replied that “Christ was her only Spouse, and death her
desire.” She was then placed in charge of two Women who had fallen away from
the faith, in the hope that they might pervert her; but the fire of her own
heart rekindled the flame in theirs, and led them back to Christ.
When she was set once more on
the rack, Sapricius himself was amazed at the heavenly look she wore, and asked
her the cause of her joy. “Because,” she said, “I have brought back two souls
to Christ, and because I shall soon be in heaven rejoicing with the angels.”
Her joy grew as she was buffeted in the face and her sides burned with plates
of red-hot iron. “Blessed be Thou,” she cried, when she was sentenced to be
beheaded,“blessed be Thou, O Thou Lover of souls! Who dost call me to Paradise,
and invitest me to Thy nuptial chamber.” St. Dorothy suffered in the dead of
winter, and it is said that on the road to her passion a lawyer called
Theophilus, who had been used to calumniate and persecute the Christians, asked
her, in mockery, to send him “apples or roses from the garden of her Spouse.”
The Saint promised to grant his request, and, just before she died, a little
child stood by her side bearing three apples and three roses. She bade him take
them to Theophilus and tell him this was the present which he sought from the
garden of her Spouse. St. Dorothy had gone to heaven, and Theophilus was still
making merry over his challenge to the Saint when the child entered his room.
He saw that the child was an angel in disguise, and the fruit and flowers of no
earthly growth. He was converted to the faith, and then shared in the martyrdom
of St. Dorothy.
St. Titus
Bishop and Confessor
Double
White vestments
Missa ‘Statuit’
Commemoration of St. Dorothy
INTROIT - Ecclesiasticus 45: 30
Statuit ei Dominus testamentum
pacis, et principem fecit eum: ut sit illi sacerdotii dignitas in æternum.
Ps. 131: 1. Memento
Domine, David: et omnis mansuetudinus ejus. Gloria Patri.
COLLECT
O God, who didst adorn blessed
Titus, Thy Confessor and Bishop, with apostolic virtues; grant that through his
merits and prayers, we may live justly and piously in this world, and thereby
made worthy to arrive at our heavenly country. Through our Lord.
COMMEMORATION of St Dorothy
O Almighty and everlasting God,
who dost choose the weak things of the world to confound the strong: mercifully
grant that we who keep the solemn feast of blessed Dorothy, Thy Virgin and
Martyr, may experience the benefit of her pleading with Thee. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE - Ecclesiasticus
44: 16-27; 45: 3-20
Behold, a great priest, who in
his days pleased God, and was found just; and in the time of wrath he was made
a reconciliation. There was not found the like to him who kept the law of the
most High. Therefore by an oath the Lord made him to increase among his people
He gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed His covenant upon his
head. He acknowledged him in His blessings; He preserved for him His mercy; and
he found grace before the eyes of the Lord. He glorified him in the sight of
kings, and gave him a crown of glory. He made an everlasting covenant with him,
and gave him a great priesthood: and made him blessed in glory. To execute the office
of the priesthood, and to have praised in His name, and to offer him a worthy
incense for an odour of sweetness.
GRADUAL - Ecclus 44: 66, 20
Behold a great priest, who in
his days pleased God. There was not found the like to him, who kept the law of
the Most High.
ALLELUIA - Psalm 109: 4
Alleluia, alleluia. Thou art a
priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech.
GOSPEL - Luke 10: 1-9
At that time, the Lord
appointed also other seventy-two; and He sent them two and two before His face
into every city and place whither He Himself was to come. And He said to them:
The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest that He send labourers into His harvest. Go, behold I send
you as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and
salute no man by the way. Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be
to this house: and if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon
him: but if not, it shall return to you. And in the same house remain, eating
and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.
Remove not from house to house. And into what city soever you enter, and they
receive you, eat such things as are set before you; and heal the sick that are
therein; and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
OFFERTORY - Psalm 88: 22
I have found David My servant,
with My holy oil I have anointed him: for My hand shall help him, and My arm
shall strengthen him.
SECRET
May Thy Saints, we beseech
Thee, O Lord, in all places bring us joy; that while we recall their merits, we
may experience their patronage. Through our Lord.
COMMEMORATION of St Dorothy
O Lord, graciously receive the
oblations which we offer up to Thee; and by the intercession of blessed
Dorothy, Thy Virgin and Martyr, loose the bonds of our sins. 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
Grant, we beseech Thee,
almighty God, that, we who give thanks for the gifts we have received, may
through the intercession of blessed Titus, Thy Confessor and Bishop, obtain
still greater blessings. Through our Lord.
COMMEMORATION of St Dorothy
We who have been refreshed with
heavenly food and drink, humbly entreat Thee, O our God, that we may be
defended by the prayers of her in whose memory we have partaken of these
mysteries. Through our Lord.
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