20th July, St. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr

St. Margaret of Antioch, Virgin and Martyr

Margaret, who had been taught the Christian religion by her nurse, perished by the sword in the cruel general persecution, at Antioch in Pisidia towards 255-275. From the East her worship was carried to the West, during the Crusades. She is especially invoked by those about to become mothers. Her name is in the list of the fourteen auxiliary saints.

Me exspectaverunt peccatores, ut perderent me: testimonia tua, Domine, intellexi: omnis consummationis vidi finem: latum mandatum tuum nimis. * Beati immaculati in via: qui ambulant in lege Domini.

The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood Thy testimonies, O Lord: I have seen an end of all perfection: The commandment is exceeding broad. * Blessed are the undefiled in the way: who walk in the law of the Lord.

(Psalm 118:95-96,1 from the Introit of Mass)

May blessed Margaret Thy virgin and martyr, we beseech Thee, O Lord, implore for us Thy forgiveness; for she was ever pleasing unto Thee, both by the merit of her chastity, and by her confession of Thy power.

(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09652b.htm

20th July, St Jerome Emilian, Confessor

St. Jerome Emilian, Confessor

Born at Venice, of the patrician family of Emiliani, Jerome unreservedly gave himself up to the influence of divine grace "which on the ruins of the corrupt man, raised him as a new man made in the image of God" (Secret). Filled with the Spirit of adoption, which makes us children of the Father, he was chosen by heaven to be the Father of orphans and of the poor (Collect). As Jesus had asked the young man in the Gospel to do, he left everything and, like his Master, made little children come unto him (Gospel). He founded at Somascha, between Milan and Bergamo, a Congregation whose object was to educate youth in orphanages and colleges. Wherefore the Introit, applying to him the words of Jeremias, shows him full of compassion for children who, thanks to him, learned to praise the Lord. Dividing his bread with those who were hungry, and covering the naked, he opened asylums for the poor and gave them abundant alms with the help of the nobility of Pavia and Milan (Epistle, Gradual, Alleluia).

He died of the plague in 1537, having borne on his shoulders the plague-stricken to their burial place (Offertory).

Let us have recourse to the Father of mercies so that we may be filled like St. Jerome, with holy charity for the poor and for children.

Effusum est in terra jecur meum super contritione filiae populi mei, cum deficeret parvulus et lactens in plateis oppidi. * Laudate, pueri, Dominum: laudate nomen Domini.
My liver is poured out upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people, when the child and the suckling fainted away in the streets of the city. * Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord.
(Lamentations 2:11 and Psalm 112:1 from the introit of Mass)

Deus, misericordiarum pater: per merita et intercessionem beati Hieronymi, quern orphanis adjutorem et patrem esse voluisti: concede; ut spiritum adoptionis, quo filii tui nominamur et sumus, fideliter custodiamus. 

O God, the Father of mercies, grant, by the merits and prayers of blessed Jerome, whom Thou didst raise up to be the father and helper of orphans, that we may faithfully keep the spirit of adoption, whereby we are both in name and in deed Thy children.

(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08343a.htm

19th July, St Vincent de Paul, Confessor

St Vincent de Paul, Confessor

Providence, ever watching over men with maternal solicitude, in the seventeenth century raised up St. Vincent de Paul. He was filled with the Holy Spirit which had strengthened the apostles, and he contributed abundantly to the evangelization of the poor and to the development of the priestly virtues which are the glory of the clergy (Collect).

He was born near Dax (France). When still a young priest he fell into the hands of Turkish pirates who carried him to Africa. Having returned to France, he became successively a parish priest and grand almoner of the galley-slaves. St. Francis of Sales entrusted to him later the spiritual direction of the nuns of the Visitation.

Preaching especially to country people he bound the members of the Congregation he had founded, under the title of Priests of the Mission or Lazarists, to undertake this apostolic work by a special vow. Teaching them to leave everything to follow Christ (Communion), he sent them to work in the vineyard of God (Gospel) and to establish everywhere seminaries in order to give good priests to the people.

In order to help poor people, foundlings, young girls whose virtue was exposed to danger, and others insane, invalided or sick, he founded, in conjunction with St. Louise de Marillac, the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity, which is now the most numerous and the most diffused throughout the world.



After a life which recalls the apostolate of St. Paul (Epistle), and which caused Leo XIII to proclaim him the special patron of all charitable associations, St. Vincent died in 1660 in Paris, at St. Lazarus's which was the mother-house of his congregation.

Let us beseech God that, following the example of St. Vincent, whose pious merits we venerate on this day (Collect), our hearts like his may be filled with divine charity.

Justus ut palma florebit: sicut cedrus Libani multiplicabitur: plantatus in domo Domini: in atriis domus Dei nostri. * Bonum est confiteri Domino: et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime.

The just shall flourish like the palm-tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus: planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.

(Psalm 91:13-14,2 from the Introit of Mass)

Deus, qui ad evangelizandum pauperibus et ecclesiastici ordinis decorem promovendum, beatum Vincentium apostolica virtute roborasti: praesta, quaesumus; ut, cujus pia merita veneramur, virtutum quoque instruamur exemplis. 
O God who, for the preaching of the Gospel to the poor and for promoting the honour of the priesthood, didst strengthen blessed Vincent with the zeal of an apostle: grant, we humbly pray Thee, that we who venerate his holy life, may profit by the examples of virtue he has left us.
(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15434c.htm

18th July, St. Symphorosa and her seven Sons, Martyrs

St. Symphorosa and her seven Sons, Martyrs

St. Symphorosa of Tivoli, wife of the martyr St. Getulus, was the mother of seven sons to whom she taught the faith. Arrested at Tivoli by order of the Emperor Adrian, she was hung up by the hair and then thrown into the River Teverone with a stone tied to her neck. All her children, stretched on stakes by means of pulleys, imitated her constancy and were martyred about A.D. 125.

Clamaverunt justi, et Dominus exaudivit eos: et ex omnibus tribulationibus eorum liberavit eos. * Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore: semper laus ejus in ore meo.
The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles.* I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall be always in my mouth.
(Psalm 33:18,2 from the introit of Mass)

Deus, qui nos concedis sanctorum Martyrum tuorum Symphorosae et filiorum ejus natalitia colere: da nobis in aeterna beatitudine de eorum societate gaudere.
O God, by whose grace we keep the festival of Thy holy martyrs Symphorosa and her sons ; grant that we may enjoy their fellowship in everlasting bliss. Through our Lord.

(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14379a.htm

18th July, St. Camillus de Lellis, Confessor

St. Camillus de Lellis, Confessor

The Holy Ghost, who has manifested Himself in all manner of ways in the souls of the saints whose names have appeared in the Cycle since the Feast of Pentecost, proposes to our admiration on this day St. Camillus, whose charity towards his neighbour had specially Jesus in view (Communion).

Born in 1550 in the kingdom of Naples, of the noble family of Lellis, St. Camillus entered the Capuchin Order, but twice he had to leave it on account of a sore on his leg. For God intended him to be the founder of a congregation of Regular Clerks, consecrating themselves to the service of the sick. He obtained from the Apostolic See approbation for his Order. Inspired by the example of Jesus who died for us (Epistle) and who has declared that there is no greater proof of love than to give one's life for others (Introit, Gospel), these religious promise to tend the sick, even those stricken with the plague. St. Camillus, as well as his Institute received from God a special grace to help souls to emerge victoriously from the death-struggle (Collect, Secret), wherefore the name of this saint has been included in the Litany for the Agonizing. St. Camillus died at Rome on July 14, 1614. Leo XIII proclaimed him the patron of hospitals and patients, and Pius XI of all those who nurse them.

Majorem hac dilectionem nemo habet, ut animam suam ponat quis pro amicis suis. * Beatus qui intelligit super egenum, et pauperem: in die mala liberabit eum Dominus.
Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. * Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.
(St John 15:13 and Psalm 40:2 from the introit of Mass)

Deus, qui sanctum Camillum, ad animarum in extremo agone luctantium subsidium, singulari caritatis praerogativa decorasti: ejus, quaesumus, meritis spiritum nobis tuae dilectionis infunde; ut in hora exitus nostri hostem vincere, et ad caelestem mereamur coronam pervenire.
O God, who didst endow saint Camillus with a special grace of charity for the relief of souls in their last agony; we beseech Thee, by his merits to pour into our hearts the spirit of Thy love, that in the hour of our death we may overcome the enemy, and deserve to win a heavenly crown.

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03217b.htm

17th July, St. Alexius, Confessor

St. Alexius, Confessor

St. Alexius was born at Rome, towards 350, of a wealthy family; his father being the Senator Euphemian. Guided by the Holy Ghost, he renounced his patrimony and piously visited as a pilgrim the sanctuaries of the East. He died in the fifth century under the Pontificate of Innocent I.

His body was buried in the church which bears his name on Mount Aventine. He is honoured there with St. Boniface, to whom the Church had originally been dedicated.

Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicium; lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius. * Noli aemulari in malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem.

The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgement: the law of his God is in his heart. * Be not emulous of evildoers: nor envy them that work iniquity.

(Psalm 36:30-31,1 from the Introit of Mass)

O God who dost gladden us by the annual solemnity of blessed Alexius, Thy confessor, mercifully grant that we who celebrate his heavenly birthday may also imitate his example.

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01307b.htm

16th July, Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel

According to tradition, on the day of Pentecost a number of men who walked in the footsteps of the holy Prophets Elias and Eliseus, and whom John the BaptIst had prepared for the advent of Jesus, embraced the Christian faith, and erected the first church to the Blessed Virgin on Mount Carmel, at the very spot where Elias had seen a cloud arise, a figure of the fecundity of the Mother of God. They were called: Brethren of Blessed Mary of Mount Carmel (Collect). These religious came to Europe in the thirteenth century and in 1245 Innocent IV gave his approbation to their rule under the generalship of Simon Stock, an English saint.

On July 16, 1251, Mary appeared to this fervent servant and placed in his hands the habit which was to be their distinctive sign. Innocent IV blessed this habit and attached to it many privileges, not only for the members of the Order, but also for those who entered the Confraternity of our Lady of Mount Carmel. By wearing the scapular, which is in smaller form than that of the Carmelite Fathers, they participate in all their merits and may hope to obtain through the Virgin a prompt delivery from purgatory, if they have faithfully observed abstinence, chastity according to their state, and said the prayers prescribed by John XXII, in the Sabbatine bull, published on March 3, 1322. The feast of our Lady of Mount Garmel, at first celebrated only in the churches of the Order, was extended to all Christendom by Benedict XIII, in 1726.

Gaudeamus omnes in Domino, diem festum celebrantes sub honore beatae Mariae Virginis: de cujus solemnitate gaudent Angeli, et collaudant Filium Dei. * Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego opera mea Regi.
Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival day in honour of the blessed Virgin Mary, on whose solemnity the angels rejoice, and give praise to the Son of God. * My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the King.
(Psalm 44:2 from the introit of Mass)

Deus, qui beatissimae semper Virginis et Genitrlcis tuae Mariae singulari titulo Carmeli ordinem decorasti: concede propitius; ut, cujus hodie Commemorationem solemni celebramus officio, ejus muniti praesidiis, ad gaudia sempiterna pervemre mereamur.
O God, who hast been pleased to honour the Order of Carmel with the particular title of Mary ever Virgin and Thy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who celebrate this day her commemoration by a solemn office, may be shielded by her protection, and attain eternal joys.

(Collect)

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10604b.htm