Saints Vitalis and Agricola, Martyrs

Saints Vitalis and Agricola, Martyrs

According to Saint Ambrose, Vitalis was a slave owned by Agricola. And the latter was a man greatly beloved for his goodness. From this Agricola, the slave Vitalis learned to be a Christian, and live for Christ. And from the slave Vitalis, his master Agricola learned how to die for Christ. Both of them were arrested at Bologna, in the fourth century, during the persecution under Diocletian and Maximian, for preaching Jesus Christ. Vitalis, the more he was implored and threatened, to make him change his mind, so much the more proclaimed himself a worshipper and servant of Christ, and after bravely bearing divers tortures, gave up his soul in prayer to God. The execution of Agricola had been put off, in the hope that the agonies of his servant might scare him into denying Christ. But the sight only hardened him. He was therefore crucified, and so became sharer and fellow in the glorious witness of his slave Vitalis. Their bodies were laid in the Jews’ Burying Place, where they were found by Saint Ambrose, who removed them to an hallowed and honorable sepulchre. 


Saints Vitalis and Agricola, Martyrs

 Antiphon on the Benedictus:

 Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered: * fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Collect:

O God, who vouchsafest unto us to keep the heavenly birthday of blessed Vitalis and Agricola, thy holy Martyrs: grant, we beseech thee, that we may rejoice in the perpetual felicity of their fellowship in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Antiphon on the Magnificat:

In the heavenly kingdom the souls of the Saints are rejoicing, even such as walked in the footsteps of Christ their Master, for love of whom they gave without stint their very life-blood; * therefore with Christ they now do reign for ever and ever.

November 3, Saint Winifred, Virgin and Martyr

Saint Winifred of Wales, Virgin and Martyr

Winifred was born of an important welsh family, and Saint Beuno was her mother’s brother. To whose instruction she listened eagerly, and with the consent of her parents consecrated her virginity to God. Whereupon Caradoc, son of King Alan, who was ready to die for love of her, sought in every way to shake her resolution. Now one day, when she was fleeing from his advances to take sanctuary in the Church which Saint Beuno had built, he overtook her, and as she refused his advances firmly, saying, “I am joined to my spouse Jesu Christ which preserveth and keepeth my virginity. And trust thou verily, that I will not forsake him for all thy menaces and threatenings,” he struck off her head with his sword. * And thereafter, through the ministry of her holy uncle, God wrought the miracle of replacing her head and raising her from the dead. For this reason she was reckoned a martyr. After this she lived fifteen years, and became Abbess of a nunnery in Denbighshire ; but in 1138 her relicks were translated to the Abbey of Shrewsbury. * In 1198, her feast was ordered to be kept throughout the province of Canterbury. And on the spot which is shewn as the place of this Virgin’s martyrdom, there is a spring, namely, Holywell of Welltown, or Tre Efynnon, in Wales. Which same is a place of pilgrimage, where people seek the grace of God through the intercession of holy Winifred.
 

Collect:

St. Winifred

Almighty and everlasting God, who didst bestow on thy blessed Winifred the crown of virginity : grant, we pray thee, that by her intercession, we may be enabled to put behind us the delight of all things earthly, and to attain with her to the place of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lessons for November 3 in the Octave of All Saints

The Venerabel Bede

From a Sermon by the Venerable Saint Bede the Priest

Never shall there be discord anywhere there, but all things in harmony. For everywhere there, things are in such concord that all the Saints are at unity with each other in one peace and joy. Everywhere there, all things are tranquil and quiet. Perpetual is the splendour there ; not like unto the sunlight which we know here, but a light which is the brighter, as it is the more blessed. For that city, as saith Scripture, needeth not the light of the sun, because the Lord Almighty doth enlighten it by the Lamb which is the Light thereof. There the Saints shall shine like as the brightness of the firmament, and they that have turned many to righteousness, as the stars, for ever and ever.

And so there is no night there, no darkness, no gathering of clouds, no asperity of heat or cold. But such is the nature of things there as no eye hath seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, except of those only who have been found worthy to enjoy it, whose names are written in the book of life ; and who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and are before the throne of God, serving him day and night. There is no old age anywhere there, nor misery of old age, for all are come to perfect manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

But far above all these things is the fellowship there. That is, to enjoy the companionship of the heavenly citizens : to look upon the choirs of Angels and Archangels, of Thrones and Dominions, Principalities, Powers, and all the heavenly Virtues on high : and to behold the army of the Saints shining more gloriously than the stars ; of the Patriarchs glowing with faith; of the Prophets rejoicing in hope ; of the Apostles judging the world reformed into twelve tribes of the new Israel ; of the Martyrs resplendent in their ruddy crowns of victory ; and of Virgins wearing garlands of the purest white.
　
　
　

St. Augustine the Bishop

A homily by St. Augustine the Bishop

Blessed are the poor in spirit. Thus do the Beatitudes begin with humility, whereby the soul doth submit itself to God, and that through the Gift of Holy Fear. Thereafter the soul goeth on in blessedness to grasp things divine, such as are set forth in the Scriptures ; wherefore the soul cometh to be meek as it is said : Blessed are the meek : and that by reason of the Gift of Piety (or True Godliness, as it is also called). Then it beginneth to know what are the entanglements of this world, whereby we are held back in the customs of the world and in fleshly desires ; and so in this third stage is the Gift of Knowledge, whereby the loss of the highest good is mourned for, from knowing how the soul is fain to cleave to the lowest ; and hence : Blessed are those that mourn. Next, in the fourth state, is the Gift of Ghostly Strength (or Might, or Fortitude, as it is variously called) ; for in this stage of blessedness there is much labour, and the soul must exert itself greatly, to wrench itself away from those things wherewith, by reason of their pestilential sweetness, it was entangled. Hence : Blessed are they, which do hunger and thirst after righteousness. To which end such Fortitude is very necessary, for what is retained with delight is not abandoned without pain.

Then for all such as have shown Fortitude in this labour, at the fifth stage is the Gift of Counsel, that is, perception as to how to escape from these entanglements. For unless one hath assistance in the matter from some one higher, he cannot fit himself to get out of his so many miserable entanglements. And it is only just that he who would have assistance of another’s strength should assist one weaker than himself. For which reason Counsel is indicated in the fifth stage, thus: Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. The sixth benediction: Blessed are the pure in heart : sheweth that at the sixth state there is purity which is the Gift of Understanding, springing from a good conscience, obtained by all these good works, wherein the soul is able to contemplate the Highest Good, which can be discerned only by a mind pure and tranquil.

Lastly, there is, as the seventh, the Gift of Wisdom, that is, such a grace of contemplation of the Truth as doth completely tranquilize the whole man, and give to him the likeness of God, thus bringing us to the conclusion : Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. The eighth, as it were, returneth to the beginning, because it sheweth forth and commandeth what is complete and perfect. Therefore in the first and in the eighth is named the kingdom of heaven, thus: Blessed are the poor in spirit : Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Video Presentation: All Saints Propers

Here is a video featuring two lessons and the Introit and Gradual. It was a tremendous joy last evening to praise God in His saints, so innumerable as the sands of the seashore, at the Mass last night. Hoping all have enjoyed a blessed and profitable Feast!  May this humble video be a taste of our celebration, and a means of grace for faithful souls.

All Saints Day Chants & Lessons : Youtube

All Souls Day

From the treatise on Caring for the Dead, by St. Augustine the Bishop



All such things as embalming the body, selecting a fitting place for burial, and bearing the corpse thereto with due dignity, are comfort for the living, rather than help for the dead. Nevertheless, it doth not follow that the bodies of the departed are to be despised, or treated as naught, and specially in the case of just men and faithful ; for the bodies of such men were used by their spirits in this life for godly purposes, that is, as organs and vessels of all good works. [And there is not only the sacredness of the body to consider, but also the demands of filial piety.] Hence, if a father’s garment or ring, or any like thing, is dear to his bereaved family because of their natural affections, in no wise ought the dead body of the deceased to be held in dishonour. For man doth wear his body in more familiar and intimate wise than anything he putteth thereon. Furthermore, the body doth not belong to anything which is applied outwardly for its adornment or welfare. Rather the body belongeth to the very nature of man. Wherefore, as we know from the records of just men of old, funeral rites have been wont to be fulfilled as a matter of dutiful piety, and have been reverently celebrated, and decent graves provided. Yes, such men of old, whilst still alive, often charged their children, as a matter of filial duty, with directions concerning their burial, and even concerning the future translation of their bodies.
Hence, remembrance of the departed, and prayers for them, are tokens of true affection. And since the faithful are moved thereto by filial piety, doubt not that this same remembrance and prayer is profitable unto everyone that so lived in this world, as to attain profit from such things after death. But even if some necessity permitted not the body to be buried, or from lack of proper facilities giveth no opportunity for burial in a sacred place, yet should not prayers for the soul of the departed be omitted. The duty of such prayers is taught us by the Church, which hath undertaken, as an obligation, to offer them for all the departed of the Christian and Catholic fellowship in a general commemoration without mention of names. By this observance, such departed souls as lack the assistance of parents or sons, or any kindred or friends whatsoever, may have such assistance afforded unto them by the one loving mother which is comm0n to us all. And I give it as my opinion that, if there be lacking prayers of right faith and piety to any of the dead, the mere burial of their lifeless bodies, even if it be done in a most sacred spot, doth not one whit benefit their souls.
If these things be so, then let us not think that anything reacheth unto the dead, unto whom we would extend our care, save such things as we solemnly supplicate for them by means of sacrifices, either of the altar, or of prayers, or of alms [given to God in their name]. And even so, such sacrifices be not profitable unto all for whom they are offered, but to them only who so lived their lives on earth as to merit that such things should be profitable after death. But forasmuch as we know not who these be, it is meet to offer them for all regenerate persons, lest anyone be passed over whom these benefits may and ought to reach. Far better it is that these things be needlessly done on behalf of them whom they neither hinder nor help, than that they be lacking unto them whom they aid.
And it is natural that one should do these things right diligently on behalf of his own kin, in the hope that by his kinsfolk the same likewise will some day be done on his behalf. But so far as burying of the body is concerned, whatsoever is bestowed on that, is no aid to salvation, but a mere duty to humanity ; for it cometh naturally from that affection by which it is said that no one ever hateth his own flesh. Wherefore it is fitting that man should take whatever care he can for the flesh, so these things, how much more ought we, that believe, so to do? For are not such offices, bestowed upon a dead body, which yet shall rise again and remain unto eternity, a kind of testimony to our faith in the resurrection?

Antiphon on psalmsRest eternal * grant unto them O Lord.
And let light perpetual * shine upon them.

Collect

O GOD, the Creator and Redeemer of all them that believe: grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaidens the remission of all their sins; that as they have ever desired thy merciful pardon, so by the supplications of their brethren they may receive the same. Who livest and reignest with the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost ever one God, world without end. Amen.

All Saints Day Propers, Collect, and Lesson

A Homily by Saint Augustine the Bishop

All Saints

If it be asked what is signified by the mountain, the same may well be understood to indicate the higher and greater commandments of righteousness, since those that were given to the Jews are the lesser. In an excellent order of dispensations, the one and the same God gave, by his servants the holy Prophets, his lesser commandments unto the people that still had need to be bound by fear ; but by his Son he gave the greater to the people whom it was expedient now to set free by love. But whether it be the lesser to the lesser, or the greater to the greater, all are alike the gift of him who alone knowest what is in each epoch the seasonable medicine for mankind.
Need we than be surprised that the greater commandments were given for the kingdom of heaven, and the lesser for a commonwealth on earth? For both are gifts of that one God who is the Maker alike of heaven and of earth. The higher and greater righteousness is that whereof the Psalmist saith: Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains. And this may be taken mystically to mean that the teaching given from the mountain is from that Master who alone can give teaching of such strength. In this connection note how the Gospel saith : And when he was set, (which posture indicateth the majesty of his instructions,) his disciples came unto him. That is , they came nearer in the flesh, to hear those precepts by the fulfillment of which they should be nearer in spirit. Then saith the Gospel : He opened his mouth, and taught them. These words : He opened his mouth : appear to e redundant. It may be that this more extended introduction is adopted on account of the exceptional length of the discourse to follow. But it may also be that these words are not really redundant, but the pointed declaration that he now opened his own mouth, who under the old Law, had been used to open the mouths of the Prophets.
And then what saith he? Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The Book of the Preacher saith, concerning lusting after temporal things : The wandering of the desire is vanity and vexation of spirit. [Or, as it may be rendered, Vanity and striving after wind.] For the wandering desires which bestir the spirit into vexation do but result in rashness and pride. We are used to say of proud people that they are men of high spirit. And we say well, since one of the words for Wind in Latin is Spirit. [That is, Spiritus, which is the word for Breathing or Blowing.] It is so used, for instance, by the Psalmist : Fire and hail, snow and vapours, Wind and storm : [where the word Wind in Latin is Spiritus]. Who hath not heard the proud spoken of as puffed up, as if they were blown out with wind? Hence also the Apostle saith : Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. By the poor in spirit, who are here called blessed, are rightly to be understood such as are lowly and fear God, that is, have not minds puffed up with windy vanity.
　
　

Antiphon on the Benedictus:

The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee; the goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee; the white-robed army of Martyrs praise thee; * all thy Saints and Elect with one voice do acknowledge thee, O blessed Trinity, One God.

Antiphon on the Magnificat:

O how glorious is the kingdom wherein all the Saints rejoice with Christ; * arrayed in white robes they follow the Lamb withersoever he goeth.

Collect:

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Feast of Christ the King : Video Presentation

Yesterday, being the last Sunday in October, is Commemorated as the Feast of Christ the King. No earthly sovereign surpasses the authority of Christ, or his loving care for the people of the Earth. Being both creator and sustainer of all things in creation, the Lord Christ, also having redeemed man that fell from innocence and perfect communion with God by his own sin, has received all power in heaven and earth.

The efforts of even the best of humanity fall woefully short of the superintending grace and love of heaven, and when given no restrictions, we see human governments depriving God's subjects of the due rights. Thus we should ever bear in mind the righteous dominion of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Youtube : The Feast of Christ the King.