13th August, SS. Hippolytus and Cassian, Martyrs

SS. Hippolytus and Cassian, Martyrs

The account in the breviary tells us that Hippolytus, who was to guard St. Laurence in his prison, was converted by the saint.

He was martyred about A.D. 258 and was buried not far from the tomb of St. Laurence, where a church was built in his honour.

On the same day, Cassian of Imola, a schoolmaster, was delivered, with his hands tied behind his back, to his young pagan pupils who pierced him to death with their stilettos.

Salus autem justorum a Domino: et protector eorum est in tempore tribulationis. * Noli aemulari in malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem.
But the salvation of the just if from the Lord: and He is their protector in the time of trouble. * Be not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity.
(Psalm 36:39,1 from the Introit of Mass)

Da, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut beatorum Martyrum tuorum Hippolyti et Cassiani veneranda solemnitas, et devotionem nobis augeat, et salutem.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that this venerable solemnity of Thy holy martyrs Hippolytus and Cassian, may increase our devotion and promote our salvation.
(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07362a.htm

12th August, St. Clare, Virgin

St. Clare, Virgin

As God had raised at the side of St. Benedict his sister St. Scholastica, so He placed by St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare, whom he made superioress of the second Order founded by him.

The Saint was born at Assisi, at the end of the twelfth century. On a visit to the Patriarch St. Francis, she expressed to him her desire of becoming the spouse of Christ (Epistle). As he had not yet instituted nuns of his Order, he sent the young virgin to the Benedictine nuns of St. Paul, and later on to the Benedictine monastery of St. Angelo de Panso, in the neighbourhood of Assisi.

Her sister, Agnes, having joined her, St. Francis placed them in a small house adjacent to the church of St. Damian. Very soon their mother and many other persons joined them. Their rule entailed austerities unknown until then in monasteries for women. They walked bare-footed, slept on the ground, observed perpetual abstinence, and made poverty the basis of their lives, so that by detachment they might give themselves more to God.

The extraordinary devotion of St. Clare to the Blessed Sacrament was rewarded by a miracle. On the day when the Saracens, who were besieging Assisi tried to enter the Convent of St. Damian, she held up the ciborium and put them to flight.

On August 11, 1253, she was visited by a choir of virgins, in white robes, among whom was one who surpassed in beauty all the others (Offertory), and she went to meet her spouse (Communion). Two years after she was canonized by Pope Alexander IV.

St. Francis founded three Orders: The Franciscans or First Order, the Poor Clares or Second Order and lastly, for the laity, his Third Order. The Second Order, numbered In 1935 13600 members. It gave to the Church 5 saints and 17 beatified.

Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniquitatem: properea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo laetitiae prae consortibus tuis. * Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego opera mea Regi.
Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. * My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the King.
(Psalm 44:8,2 from the Introit of Mass)

Hear us, O God our Saviour; that as we rejoice in the festivity of blessed Clare Thy Virgin, so we may be instructed in the affection of pious devotion.

(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04004a.htm

11th August, St Philomena, Virgin and Martyr

St Philomena, Virgin and Martyr

On 25 May, 1802, during the quest for the graves of Roman martyrs in the Catacomb of Priscilla, a tomb was discovered and opened. The remains found in the above-mentioned tomb were shown to be those of a young maiden, and, as the name Filumena was discovered on the earthenware slabs closing the grave, it was assumed that they were those of a virgin martyr named Philumena. On 8 June, 1805, the relics were translated to the church of Mugnano, Diocese of Nola (near Naples), and enshrined under one of its altars. In 1827 Leo XII presented the church with the three earthenware tiles, with the inscription, which may be seen in the church even today.

On the basis of private revelations to a nun in Naples, in consequence of the wonderful favours received in answer to prayer before the relics of the saint at Mugnano, devotion to them spread rapidly, and, after instituting investigations into the question, Gregory XVI appointed a special feast to be held on 9 September, "in honorem s. Philumenae virginis et martyris."

Loquebar de testimoniis tuis in conspectu regum, et non confundebar: et meditabar in mandatis tuis, quae dilexi nimis. * Beati immaculati in via, qui ambulant in lege Domini.
I spoke of Thy testimonies before kings, and I was not ashamed: I meditated also on Thy commandments, which I loved. * Blessed are the undefiled in the way: who walk in the law of the Lord.
(Psalm 118:46-47,1 from the Introit of Mass)

Deus, qui inter cétera poténtiae tuae mirácula etiam in sexu frágili victóriam martýrii contulísti: concéde propítius; ut, qui beátae Philomenae Vírginis et Martyris tuae natalítia cólimus, per ejus ad te exémpla gradiámur.
O God, who among the wonders of Thy power hast granted even to the weaker sex the triumph of martyrdom: mercifully grant that we who celebrate the heavenly birthday of blessed Philomena Thy virgin and martyr may, through her example, advance nearer to Thee.
(Collect)

11th August, SS. Tiburtius and Susanna, Martyrs

SS. Tiburtius and Susanna, Martyrs

Like St. Laurence, Tiburtius, son of the prefect of Rome, was thrown into the flames. Armed with the sign of the cross, the martyr walked full of confidence on the burning coal. He was then led out of the town and beheaded on the Lavicanian Way in 286.

On the same day Susanna, a maiden of high birth who, on account of her vow of virginity had refused to marry Galerius Maximus, son of the Emperor Diocletian, was beheaded in her house about 295.

Her body is preserved with that of her father, St. Gabinus and that of St. Felicitas, mother of the seven martyrs honoured July 10, in the church of St. Susanna, where the Station is held on the Saturday of the third week in Lent.

Salus autem justorum a Domino: et protector eorum est in tempore tribulationis. * Noli aemulari in malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem.
But the salvation of the just if from the Lord: and He is their protector in the time of trouble. * Be not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity.
(Psalm 36:39,1 from the Introit of Mass)

Sanctorum Martyrum tuorum Tiburtii et Susannae nos, Domine, foveant continuata praesidia; quia non desinis propitius intueri, quos talibus auxiliis concesseris adjuvari.
May the unfailing protection of Thy holy martyrs Tiburtius and Susanna comfort us, O Lord; for never dost Thou turn away Thine eyes of mercy from those to whom such help is given. Through our Lord.
(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14720a.htm

10th August, St Lawrence, Martyr

St. Laurence, Martyr

The Basilica of St. Laurence-without-the-Walls, where the remains of the glorious deacon are preserved, is the fifth patriarchal church in Rome. With St. John Lateran, St. Peter, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul-without-the-Walls, it is one of the five major basilicas where the Pope alone says Mass at the high altar in order to show that his jurisdiction extends over all the churches in the world which are under the patriarchates of Rome, Jerusalem, Alexandria, Antioch and Constantinople.

Here is held the Station on Septuagesima Sunday, on the third Sunday in Lent, on the Wednesday after Easter, and on the Thursday after Pentecost. The Church invites us to-day to celebrate in this sanctuary the praises of God (Introit, Offertory) to whom this saint bore glorious witness by his martyrdom.

 Rome possesses seven other churches dedicated to St. Laurence among which St. Laurence in Paneperna, where the saint was martyred and where they hold the Station on the Thursday of the first week in Lent, St. Laurence in Lucina, where part of his gridiron is kept and where is held the Station on the Friday of the third week in Lent, and St. Laurence in Damaso where is held the Station on the Tuesday of the fourth week in Lent.

St. Laurence was the first of the seven deacons attached to the service of the Roman Church. His duty was to assist the Roman Pontiff when celebrating the Holy Mysteries, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful and to administer the revenues of the Church, which he distributed among the poor (Introit, Gradual).

Arrested by the prefect of Rome in 258, and called upon to deliver his riches to him, he showed him a crowd of poor people saying: "These are the real treasures of the Church, by the inestimable gift of their faith, and because they convert our alms into imperishable treasures for us."

He was laid on a gridiron under which were placed half-lighted coals, so as to prolong his tortures and make his death more painful.

"Flames were not able to conquer the charity of Christ: and the fire that burned without was weaker than that which within kindled in the heart of the martyr." Indeed he said to his tormentors: "You may now turn my body over; it is roasted enough on that side." And later on: "My flesh is now roasted, you can eat of it." He died in 258. His name is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass among the Roman martyrs (first list).

Let us always recite, as a thanksgiving, the collect of this day placed by the Church after the Canticle of the three youths in the furnace. She makes us beseech God to extinguish in us the ardour of our passions, as He granted to St. Laurence, who was tested by fire and found pure (Gradual), to triumph over the flames of his cruel martyrdom (Collect).

Confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu ejus: sanctitas, et magnificentia in sanctificatione ejus. * Cantate Domino canticum novum: cantate Domino, omnis terra.
Praise and beauty are before Him: holiness and majesty in His sanctuary. * Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle; sing to the Lord all the earth.
(Psalm 95:6,1 from the introit of Mass)

Da nobis, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, vitiorum nostrorum flammas exstinguere; qui beato Laurentio tribuisti tormentorum suorum incendia superare.
Grant us, we pray Thee, almighty God, to quench the flames of our vices; even as Thou gavest blessed Laurence grace to overcome his fiery torments.

(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09089a.htm

9th August, The Vigil of St Laurence, Martyr

The Vigil of St. Laurence, Martyr

Dispersit, dedit pauperibus: justitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi: cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria. * Beatus vir, qui timet Dominum: in mandatis ejus cupit nimis.
He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory. * Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he delighteth exceedingly in His commandments.
(Psalm 101:9,1 from the introit of Mass)

Adesto, Domine, supplicationibus nostris: et intercessione beati Laurentii Martyris tui, cujus praevenimus festivitatem; perpetuam nobis misericordiam benignus impende.
Hear, O Lord, our prayers and by the intercession of Thy holy martyr Laurence, whose festival we anticipate, graciously grant us perpetual mercy.
(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09089a.htm

9th August, St Romanus, Martyr

St. Romanus, Martyr

St. Romanus, a soldier, begged St. Laurence to baptize him. This he obtained, and was in turn cruelly beaten and at last beheaded (Roman Martyrology).

Laetábitur justus in Dómino, et sperábit in eo: et laudabúntur omnes recti corde. * Exáudi, Deus, oratiónem meam, cum déprecor: a timóre inimíci éripe ánimam meam.
The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in Him: and all the upright of heart shall be praised. * Hear, O God, my prayer when I make supplications to Thee: deliver my sould from the fear of the enemy.
(Psalm 63:11,2 from the Introit of Mass)

Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut, intercedente beato Romano Martyre tuo, et a cunctis adversitatibus liberemur in corpore, et a pravis cogitationibus mundemur in mente.
Grant we beseech Thee, almighty God, that through the intercession of blessed Romanus, Thy martyr, we may be delivered from all adversities in body, and be purified from all evil thoughts in mind.
(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13163a.htm