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).
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St. Ambrose and St. Augustine
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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.
