Like the divine Sower mentioned in the Gospel of Sexagesima Sunday, Titus, the well-beloved disciple of St. Paul "endured the fatigues of numerous and distant voyages on land and sea to go and sow the divine word among nations of different countries speaking different tongues". Wherefore the Church declares that "God had adorned him with the virtues of an apostle" (Collect), and that he was one of the "husbandmen whom the Master of the harvest had sent to gather it in" (Gospel).Employed by St. Paul in important circumstances, he landed with him in Crete and was made by the apostle, bishop of the island (Introit, Epistle, Offertory). It was there that he received from his master a letter included in the New Testament, of which we find extracts in the Epistle of certain masses. In to-day's Mass, we read, as Christ had already said (Communion), that the Bishop is "God's steward", and that "Jesus is the Saviour who has given Himself to redeem us". St. Titus died at the age of 94, towards the year 105, and his name is highly praised by St. John Chrysostom and by St. Jerome.
Statuit ei Dominus testamentum pacis, et principem fecit eum: ut sit illi sacerdotii dignitas in aeternum. * Memento, Domine, David, et omnis mansuetudinis ejus.
The Lord made to him a covenant of peace, and made him a prince: that the dignity of the priesthood should be to him for ever. * O Lord, remember David: and all his meekness.
(Ecclesiasticus 45:30 and Psalm 131:1 from the Introit of Mass)
Deus, qui beatum Titum Confessorem tuum atque Pontificem, apostolicis virtutibus decorasti: ejus meritis et intercessione concede; ut juste et pie viventes in hoc saeculo, ad caelestem patriam pervenire mereamur.
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.
(Collect)
From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14727b.htm
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