The prophet Nahum, who was buried in Bagabar. At Rome, the holy martyrs Diodorus, a priest, and Marian, a deacon, with many others, while they were observing the birthdays of the martyrs in the catacombs. They were made partakers in the glory of martyrdom when the persecutors, by order of Emperor Numerian, walled up the door of the oratory and piled up a great mass of stones against it. Also in Rome, the martyrdom of the Saints Lucius, Rogatus, Cassian, and Candida. At Narni, St. Proculus, bishop and martyr, who, after performing many good works, was beheaded by order of Totila, king of the Goths. At Casale, St. Evasius, bishop and martyr. The same day, St. Ansanus, martyr, who confessed Christ at Rome, and was cast into prison in the time of Emperor Diocletian. Afterwards he was taken to Siena in Tuscany, where he ended the course of his martyrdom by beheading. At Amelia in Umbria, St. Olympias, ex-consul, who was converted to the faith by blessed Firmina, was tortured on the rack, and under Diocletian achieved martyrdom. At Arbela in Persia, St. Ananias, martyr. At Milan, St. Castritian, bishop, who was eminent for virtues and the practice of pious and religious deeds during the greatest troubles of the Church. At Brescia, St. Ursicinus, bishop. At Noyon in Belgium, St. Eligius, bishop, whose life is rendered illustrious by a considerable number of miracles. At Verdun in France, St. Agericus, bishop. The same day, St. Natalia, wife of the blessed martyr Adrian, in the time of Emperor Diocletian. She long served the holy martyrs imprisoned at Nicomedia, and when their trials were over, went to Constantinople where she peacefully went to her rest in the Lord.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
ORCCE Ordo: Dominica I Adventus ~ Semiduplex 1st class
Kaléndis Decémbris. Luna.
Sancti Nahum Prophétæ, in Bégabar quiescéntis. Romæ sanctórum Mártyrum Diodóri Presbyteri, et Mariáni Diáconi, cum áliis plúribus, qui, sub Numeriáno Príncipe, cum in Arenário natalítia Mártyrum ágerent, illic, obstrúcta a persecutóribus jánua cryptæ ac díruta désuper mole, martyrii glóriam meruérunt. Item Romæ pássio sanctórum Lúcii, Rogáti, Cassiáni et Cándidæ. Nárniæ sancti Próculi, Epíscopi et Mártyris; qui, post multa egrégia ópera, a Rege Gothórum Tótila jussus est decollári. In civitáte Casalénsi sancti Evásii, Epíscopi et Mártyris. Eódem die sancti Ansáni Mártyris, qui, sub Diocletiáno Imperatóre, Romæ conféssus Christum et in cárcerem trusus, deínde Senas, in Túscia, perdúctus, ibídem cápitis obtruncatióne cursum martyrii perfécit. Amériæ, in Umbria, sancti Olympíadis, viri Consuláris, qui a beáta Firmína ad fidem est convérsus, et sub Diocletiáno, in equúleo tortus, martyrium consummávit. Arbéle, in Pérside, sancti Anániæ Mártyris. Medioláni sancti Castritiáni Epíscopi, qui, in máxima Ecclésiæ perturbatióne, virtútum méritis ac rerum pie religioséque gestárum laude enítuit. Bríxiæ sancti Ursicíni Epíscopi. Noviómi, in Bélgio, sancti Elígii Epíscopi, cujus vitam admirándam múltiplex signórum númerus comméndat. Apud Virodúnum, in Gállia, sancti Ageríci Epíscopi. Eódem die sanctæ Natalítiæ, uxóris beáti Hadriáni Mártyris, quæ, sub Diocletiáno Imperatóre, sanctis Martyribus, Nicomedíæ in cárcere deténtis, multo témpore ministrávit; impletóque eórum certámine, Constantinópolim est profécta, et ibídem in pace quiévit.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum.
R. Deo grátias.
At Patras in Achaia, the birthday of the apostle St. Andrew, who preached the gospel of Christ in Thrace and Sythia. He was apprehended by the proconsul Aegeas, imprisoned, and severely scourged, and finally, being hung on a cross, he lived two days on it, teaching the people. Having besought our Lord not to permit him to be taken down from the cross, he was surrounded with a great brightness from heaven, and when the light disappeared he breathed his last. At Rome, the martyrdom of the Saints Castulus and Euprepis. At Constantinople, St. Maura, virgin and martyr. Also, St. Justina, virgin and martyr. At Rome, St. Constantius, confessor, who bravely opposed the Pelagians, and by enduring many injuries from them, gained a place among the holy confessors. At Saintes in France, St. Trojan, bishop and confessor, a man of great sanctity, who shews by many miracles that he lives in heaven, though his body is buried on earth. In Palestine, blessed Zosimus, confessor, who was distinguished for his sanctity and miracles in the time of Emperor Justin.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
ORCCE Ordo:S. Andreae Apostoli ~ II. classis; Tempora: Sabbato infra Hebdomadam XXIV post Octavam Pentecostes V. Novembris
Prídie Kaléndas Decémbris. Luna.
Apud Patras, in Achája, natális sancti Andréæ Apóstoli, qui in Thrácia et Scythia sacrum Christi Evangélium prædicávit. Is, ab Ægéa Procónsule comprehénsus, primum in cárcere clausus est, deínde gravíssime cæsus, ad últimum suspénsus in cruce, in ea pópulum docens bíduo supervíxit; et, rogáto Dómino ne eum síneret de cruce depóni, circúmdatus est magno splendóre de cælo, et, abscedénte póstmodum lúmine, emísit spíritum. Romæ pássio sanctórum Cástuli et Euprépitis. Constantinópoli sanctæ Mauræ, Vírginis et Mártyris. Item sanctæ Justínæ, Vírginis et Mártyris. Romæ sancti Constántii Confessóris, qui, fórtiter Pelagiánis resístens, ab eórum factióne pértulit multa, quæ illum sanctis Confessóribus sociárunt. Apud Sántonas, in Gállia, sancti Trojáni Epíscopi, magnæ sanctitátis viri, qui, sepúltus in terris, se in cælis vívere multis virtútibus maniféstat. In Palæstína beáti Zósimi Confessóris, qui, sub Justíno Imperatóre, sanctitáte et miráculis fuit insígnis.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum.
R. Deo grátias.
The Vigil of St. Andrew, apostle. At Rome, on the Salarian Way, the birthday of the holy martyr, Saturninus, an aged man, and the deacon Sisinius, in the time of Emperor Maximian. After a long imprisonment, by order of the prefect of the city they were placed on the rack, stretched with ropes, scourged with rods and whips garnished with metal, then exposed to the flames, taken down from the rack and beheaded. At Toulouse, in the time of Decius, the holy bishop Saturninus, who was taken to the capitol of that city by the heathen and thrown down the steps from the highest part of the building. The fall having crushed his head, dashed out his brain and mangled his whole body, he rendered his worthy soul to our Lord. Also, the martyrdom of the Saints Paramon and his companions, to the number of three hundred and seventy-five under Emperor Decius and the governor Aquilinus. At Ancyra in Galatia, St. Philomenus, martyr. During the persecution of Emperor Aurelian, under the governor Felix, he was first exposed to the flames, then having his hands, feet, and head pierced with nails, he fulfilled his martyrdom. At Veroli, the holy martyrs Blaise and Demetrius. At Todi in Umbria, St. Illuminata, virgin.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
ORCCE Ordo: S Willibrordus, Apostolorum Neerlandiae; Commemoratio: In Vigilia S. Andreae Apostoli ~ Simplex; et Commemoratio: S. Saturnini Martyris; Tempora: Feria Sexta infra Hebdomadam XXIV post Octavam Pentecostes V. Novembris
Tértio Kaléndas Decémbris. Luna.
Vigília sancti Andréæ Apóstoli. Romæ, via Salária, natális sanctórum Mártyrum Saturníni senis, et Sisínii Diáconi, sub Maximiáno Príncipe; quos, diu in cárcere macerátos, jussit Urbis Præféctus in equúleum levári et áttrahi nervis, fústibus ac scorpiónibus cædi, deínde eis flammas appóni, et, depósitos de equúleo, cápite truncári. Tolósæ sancti Saturníni Epíscopi, qui, tempóribus Décii, in Capitólio ejúsdem urbis a Pagánis tentus atque de summa Capitólii arce per omnes gradus præcipitátus est, atque ita, cápite collíso, excussóque cérebro, et toto córpore dilaniáto, dignam Christo ánimam réddidit. Item pássio sanctórum Parámonis et Sociórum trecentórum septuagínta quinque, sub Décio Imperatóre et Aquilíno Præside. Ancyræ, in Galátia, sancti Philómeni Mártyris, qui, in persecutióne Aureliáni Imperatóris, sub Felíce Præside, igne probátus, mánibus pedibúsque ac demum cápite clavis confíxo, martyrium consummávit. Vérulis, in Hérnicis, sanctórum Mártyrum Blásii et Demétrii. Tudérti, in Umbria, sanctæ Illuminátæ Vírginis.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum.
R. Deo grátias.
Nota Bene: As some 450,000 Christians have fled Syria since a civil war erupted two years ago, the Syrian Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic church has called on Christians to stay in Syria and survive a ‘difficult’ future
At Corinth, the birthday of St. Sosthenes, disciple of the blessed apostle Paul, who is mentioned in his Epistle to the Corinthians. He was chief of the synagogue when converted to Christ, and as a glorious beginning, consecrated the first fruits of his faith by being scourged before the proconsul Gallio. At Rome, St. Rufus, who was martyred with all his family by Diocletian. In Africa, under the Arian king Genseric, in the persecution of the Vandals, the holy martyrs Papinian and Mansuetus, bishops, who, for the Catholic faith, were burned in every part of their bodies with hot plates of iron, which ended their glorious trial. At this time also, other holy bishops, Valerian, Urban, Crescens, Eustachius, Cresconius, Crescentian, Felix, Hortulanus, and Florentian ended the course of their lives in exile. At Constantinople, in the time of Constantine Copronymus, the holy martyrs Stephen the Younger, Basil, Peter, Andrew, and their companions, numbering three hundred and thirty-nine monks, who were subjected to diverse torments for the veneration of holy images, and confirmed the Catholic truth with the shedding of their blood. At Naples in Campania, the death of St. James della Marca, priest and confessor of the Order of Friars Minor, celebrated for the austerity of his life, his apostolic preaching, and his many diplomatic missions undertaken for the success of the affairs of Christianity. His name was added to the calendar of the saints by the Sovereign Pontiff, Benedict XIII.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
ORCCE Ordo: Feria Quinta infra Hebdomadam XXIV post Octavam Pentecostes V. Novembris ~ Ferial
Quarto Kaléndas Decémbris. Luna.
Apud Corínthum natális sancti Sósthenis, ex beáti Pauli Apóstoli discípulis; cujus mentiónem facit idem Apóstolus Corínthiis scribens. Ipse autem Sósthenes, ex príncipe Synagógæ convérsus ad Christum, fídei suæ primórdia, ante Galliónem Procónsulem ácriter verberátus, præcláro inítio consecrávit. Romæ sancti Rufi, quem, cum omni família sua, Christi Mártyrem Diocletiánus fecit. In Africa sanctórum Mártyrum Papiniáni et Mansuéti Episcopórum, qui, témpore Wandálicæ persecutiónis, sub Rege Ariáno Genseríco, pro fídei cathólicæ defensióne, candéntibus ferri láminis toto córpore adústi, gloriósum agónem consummárunt. Quo étiam témpore álii novem sancti Epíscopi, scílicet Valeriánus, Urbánus, Crescens, Eustáchius, Crescónius, Crescentiánus, Felix, Hortulánus et Florentiánus, damnáti exsílio, cursum vitæ suæ implevérunt. Constantinópoli sanctórum Mártyrum Stéphani junióris, Basilíi, Petri, Andréæ, et Sociórum trecentórum et trigínta novem Monachórum; qui, sub Constantíno Coprónymo, pro sanctárum Imáginum cultu váriis excruciáti supplíciis, veritátem cathólicam effúso sánguine confirmárunt. Neápoli, in Campánia, deposítio sancti Jacóbi Picéni, Sacerdótis ex Ordine Minórum et Confessóris, vitæ asperitáte, apostólica prædicatióne ac plúribus pro re Christiána óbitis legatiónibus præclári; quem Benedíctus Décimus tértius, Póntifex Máximus, Sanctórum fastis adjúnxit.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum.
R. Deo grátias.
A.M.D.G.
Feria V infra Hebdomadam VI quae superfuit post Epiphaniam IV. Novembris Commemoratio infra octavam: S. Edmundi, Regis et Confessoris
Carissimi,
The “Roman Martyrology” is an official list of recognised saints and beati (those called “blessed”), it provides an extensive but not exhaustive list of the saints recognized by the Church. After a recent conversation with a parishioner, and as a way to encourage myself to post here more regularly and compliment my other blog “Carissimi“, I shall endeavour to facilitate my suggestion preached last weekend of assisting in the inculcation of devotion and appreciation of the saints, by reproducing daily excerpts from the Martyrology.
The entry for each date in the Martyrology is usually read during the Office of Prime on the previous day. The Martyrology was read on the day before because Prime, the hour at which it was read, was the last hour said in choir before going to the day’s work – Terce, Sext and None being said, often by memory, as the monks worked. Every feast began at Vespers of the preceding day (this changed fro Romans in 1960 with Bl. John XXIII’s Rubricarum Instructum). Thus, it was necessary to know the next day’s celebration in the morning, so when the monks returned to choir for Vespers, they were prepared for the proper feast. Often in seminaries, religious houses and similar institutes it has been traditional to read it in the refectory after the main meal of the day. Reading of the Martyrology is completely omitted on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday where our attention is drawn wholly to the passion of Christ. I shall here produce it “on the day” and try to do so for the morning!
In my daily recitation of the Breviary, I particularly love reading the excerpt from the Martyrology and the lections in Mattins about the day’s Saint(s). Although the Martyrology may only give brief details of those whom the Church regards as particularly blessed and commemorates on the day, the lections at Mattins are often excerpts from the life of the saint, from their “Vita” (life) or “acta” (acts) i.e. a biography or even their writings particularly if a “Doctor of the Church”. Particularly moving sometimes can be the account of their “passio” (passion) if a martyr, describing how they gave their life for Christ.
This tradition comes to us from the age of the Apostles and the earliest times of the Church, St Luke’s book of “Acts” in the New Testament being the first example, where he records the actions of the Apostles and important figures and events in the life of the first century Church at Jerusalem. Later writers and commentators followed suit similarly, recording the oral tradition of the testimonies of the early saints and later developing the “martyrolgies” or collections of the lives of the saints for prosperity. The term “martyrology” of course stemming from the witness initially of the martyrs – in the first three centuries of the Church’s life, saints were more often than not, martyrs.
The Early Church under persecution, having originally met for worship in the homes of local members, was driven to seek the protection of the cemeteries and in some places, the catacombs – essentially the burial places around their towns/cities. Due to a long existing “fear” of the dead and places associated with them(!) Christians could meet almost without interruption from their pagan persecutors who were too fearful to enter the places of the dead in the hours of darkness. The site of the Vatican is one such place, the great basilica of St Peter being built over the catacombs.
As the Persecutions became more deadly and church members were being martyred for their faith, the importance for Christians of gathering together in the places where the mortal remains of their brothers and sisters in the faith were kept became acutely poignant, particularly in connection to the offering of the Holy Mysteries wherein the remembrance of the Passion and Death of Our Lord were celebrated and His Body and Blood shared. Thus, as the liturgical life of the Church developed, the remembrance of the martyrs and confessors at Mass and in the “Prayer of the Church” became a logical extension of this memory of the Church.
For the Early Church to be a martyr was something some Christians “looked forward to” in the sense that they were so confident in their faith and the promise of eternal life offered to them in the Gospel, that the possibility to spill their blood in defence of the religion of He who spilt His Blood for the world was something not undesired. It became quite something then to the Early Christians to meet in the tombs surrounded by the mortal remains of their forbears in the Faith and to offer the Holy Sacrifice in “memory of Me”.
Thus later, when the Church was able to grow and develop during those times without persecutions and worship resumed to at first homes (Domus Ecclesiae) and then later Churches and more permanent and dedicated places of worship, the remembrance of the martyrs and their obvious connection to the Sacrifice of the Mass, meant that the remains of those of particular memory were transferred from the burial places to be located in these new places of worship and specifically under the Altars upon which the Blood of the Saviour of the World was offered. The connection in the Church’s heart, let alone the remembrance of those who had died for her Faith, had been inextricably linked with the most solemn offering of her worship and expression of community, the holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Martyrology generally begins with the announcement of the calends. This simply provides the date, which in the Latin is given in the old Roman format, followed by the current phase of the moon. After the mention of any movable feast which happens to fall on this day, there then follows the reading of the saints who either died or who are for some other reason commemorated on this anniversary. Each entry generally provides the name and type of saint, information on the location where the saint died, and if a martyr, the name of the persecutor, a description of the tortures, and the method of execution. Often other information is added, thus making the Martyrology an invaluable reference for those interested in the lives of the saints in addition to those celebrated in the Universal Kalendar. The Church recognizes that the Martyrology is not an exhaustive compilation of the entire Church Triumphant (of those in Heaven), and so the daily reading always concludes with the words “Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum” (And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins) with the response “Deo gratias”.
We can see in the Martyrology the growing and continuing witness of the Church through the ages as we note how some saints, though mentioned on any given day are perhaps no longer liturgically commemorated i.e. there is no “collect” or prayer for them; or there is but only in the Office and not at Mass etc. This simply demonstrates how later saints have come into greater prominence over time as the Church has added to the number of the elect. There was a “purge” after the Second Vatican Council and a directive that, “The accounts of martyrdom or the lives of the saints are to accord with the facts of history.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 92 c). A fully revised edition of the Roman Martyrology was issued in 2001, followed in 2005 by a revision that corrected some typographical errors in the 2001 edition and added 117 people canonized or beatified between 2001 and 2004, as well as many more ancient saints not included in the previous edition. “The updated Martyrology contains 7,000 saints and blesseds currently venerated by the Church, and whose cult is officially recognized and proposed to the faithful as models worthy of imitation.” (Adoremus Bulletin, February 2005)
The “new” Martyrologium Romanum is not yet available – as far as I can find – in English, but as we Old Roman Catholics follow the older Kalendar (Calendar) for our Offices I shall post from the older Martyrology which will accord generally with the publication of the Mass on “Carissimi“. I should point out, of course, that naturally the Masses published on “Carissimi” follow the 1570 Universal Kalendar with British and sometimes European additions or differences. Such regional variations have always been a part of the liturgical life of the Church, reflecting for example devotion to the regional saints by the local churches. Differences between the traditional Kalendar and the contemporary Calendar often reflect some of the modern scholarship that contributed to the 2001 revision referred to above, where perhaps a saint’s day has been changed from their “day of translation” (movement of relics) back to their “heavenly nativity” (earthly passing), or even where they have been removed from commemoration and been replaced with a later or contemporary saint etc.
God is calling ever more men and women to become saints…
The life of the Church has clearly never been “static” as God has continued to call more men and women throughout the centuries to give witness to their faith in Christ through trial, temptation or even martyrdom. Even since the publication of the new Martyrology in 2004/5 further men and women have been declared saints and blessed and of course, a growing number of contemporary martyrs might also be added to that throng of the “saints in light”. Only recently the charity “Open Doors” notified its members by email that in the city of Sadad in Syria, two mass graves of massacred Christians were recently discovered when the Syrian army reclaimed the city from militant Islamist rebels who had occupied it in October. Anybody watching the developments in the Middle East should be aware of the increasing number of Christians, on a daily basis and in large numbers, who are losing their lives for their faith in Christ. Its as well to remember and spare a prayer for our suffering brothers and sisters in the faith today, whilst we remember those of yesteryear in our daily excerpts from the Martyrology…
For the day of fasting and prayers for peace called for by Pope Francis tomorrow (Sept 7), some may like to use this Litany of Syrian Saints and implore the prayers of the saints native to the region, the memory of whose witness and example grew the church and has encouraged the faithful there for centuries…
The Monastery of St. Moses existed from the middle of the sixth century, and belonged to the Syrian Antiochian Rite. The present monastery church was built in the Islamic year 450 (1058 AD), according to Arabic inscriptions on the walls, which begin with the words: “In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate”. The frescoes go back to the 11th and 12th centuries. In 1984, restoration work began through a common initiative of the Syrian State, the local Church, and a group of Arab and European volunteers. The restoration of the monastery building was completed in 1994 thanks to cooperation between the Italian and Syrian States. According to local tradition St. Moses the Abyssinian was the son of a king of Ethiopia. He refused to accept the crown, honors, and marriage, and instead he looked towards the kingdom of God. He traveled to Egypt and then to the Holy Land. Afterward, he lived as a monk in Qara, Syria, and then as a hermit not far from there in the valley of what is today the monastery. There he was martyred by Byzantine soldiers.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of Virgins,
St Michael,
St Gabriel,
St Raphael,
All ye Holy Angels and Archangels,
St John the Baptist,
St Joseph,
All ye Holy Patriarchs and Prophets, pray for us.
Blessed Peter the Apostle, and first Patriarch of Antioch, pray for us.
Blessed Paul the Apostle, born in Tarsus,
Blessed Paul the Apostle, blinded and converted on the way to Damascus,
Blessed Paul the Apostle, enlightened and baptised at the Street called Straight,
Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, models of humility and justice at Antioch,
Blessed Luke the Evangelist,
St Ananias of Damscus, laying thy holy hands on Blessed Paul the Apostle,
St Manahen, disciple of the Lord and foster-brother to Herod Antipas,
All ye holy Syrian disciples of the Lord,
All ye holy Syrian innocents,
St Apollinaris, pray for us.
St Felix of Nola,
St Abraham of Arbela,
St Dorotheus of Tyre,
St Eusebius of Samosata,
St Anthony of Antioch,
Fr Francois Mourad,[1]
All ye holy Syrian Hieromartyrs,
Ss Victor and Corona, pray for us.
Ss Galation and Episteme,
Ss Cosmas & Damian,
St Romanus of Samosata,
And thy Holy Companions Ss Jacob, Philotheus, Hyperechius, Abibus, Julianus and Paregorius,
St Anastasius of Antioch, and thy Holy Companions Ss Julian, Celsus and Marcionilla,
Ss Romanus of Caesarea and Barulas,
St Andrew Stratelates and thy 2953 Holy Companions,
St Julian of Cilicia,
All ye Forty Soldier Martyrs of Sebaste,
St Eusiginius,
Ss Sergius and Bacchus,
All ye holy Syrian martyrs,
St Ephrem the Syrian, pray for us.
St John Chrysostom,
St John Damascene,
All ye holy Syrian teachers of the Faith,
St Evodius, pray for us.
St Ignatius of Antioch,
St Herodian of Antioch,
St Theophilus of Antioch,
St Serapion of Antioch,
St Asclepiades of Antioch,
St Babylas of Antioch,
St Eustathius the Great of Antioch,
St Anastasius II of Antioch,
All ye holy Patriarchs and Bishops of Antioch,
Pope St Anicetus, pray for us.
Pope St Sergius I,
Pope St Gregory III,
St Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us.
St Sophronius of Jerusalem,
All ye holy Syrian Bishops and Patriarchs of Jerusalem,
St Maron, pray for us.
St John Maron, first patriarch of the Maronite Church,
St Mar Awtel,
St Domnina of Syria, Virgin and disciple of St Maron,
Blessed Abdel Moati, Francis and Raphael Massabki, and thy Holy Companions,
St Birillus, ordained by the Blessed Apostle Peter, pray for us.
Ss Philo and Agathopodes,
St Jacob of Nisibis,
St Frumentius, Apostle to Ethiopia,
St Maruthas, Father of the Syrian Church,
St Romanos the Melodist,
St Cosmas the Melodist, and foster-brother to the Damascene,
St Palladius the Desert Dweller, pray for us.
St Thalassius of Syria,
St Alexius of Rome, the Man of God,
St Simeon Stylites,
St Baradates,
St Auxentius of Bithynia,
St Simeon Stylites the Younger,
All ye holy Syrian Priests and Levites,
All ye holy Syrian Monks and Hermits,
St Philip of Agira, pray for us.
All ye holy Syrian Confessors,
St Serapia, pray for us.
St Margaret of Antioch,
Ss Domnina, Berenice and Prosdoce,
St Basilissa,
All ye holy Syrian Virgins and Widows,
All ye holy Syrian Saints of God, intercede for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil, deliver us, O Lord.
From all sin,
From thy wrath,
From sudden and unlooked for death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, and hatred, and every evil will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From plague, famine and war,
From revolution,
From all false prophets,
From the errors of Mohammed,
From jihad,
From infidelity, heresy, paganism and heathendom,
From everlasting death,
Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation, deliver us, O Lord.
Through thy Coming,
Through thy Birth,
Through thy Baptism and holy Fasting,
Through thy Cross and Passion,
Through thy Death and Burial,
Through thy holy Resurrection,
Through thine admirable Ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete,
Through thy apparition on the Road to Damascus,
Through thy rebuke and blinding there of proud Saul, enemy of thy Church, and persecutor of Christians,
Through thy conversion and enlightening there of this foe, and his elevation to the blessed and most glorious office of Apostle to the Gentiles,
Through his preaching of thy Holy Gospel,
Through his witness to thy Name amongst the Heathen,
Through his faithfulness to thee, even unto death,
Through the blood of thy Holy and Blessed Syrian martyrs,
In the day of judgment,
We sinners: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst spare us: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst pardon us: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst bring us to true penance: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve thy holy Church: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all orders of the Church in holy religion: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings, princes, and rulers: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to the whole Christian world: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst call back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from her fold, and to guide all unbelievers into the light of the Gospel: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to give discernment and wisdom to the rulers of nations: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in thy holy service: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations, and benefactors, from eternal damnation: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to comfort the afflicted people of thy Holy Syria, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed: we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us: we beseech thee, hear us.
Son of God: we beseech thee, hear us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Christe audi nos, Christe audi nos.
Christe exaudi nos, Christe exaudi nos.
Pater noster [in silence, until:]
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo.
Domine exaudi orationem meam, et clamor meus ad te veniat.
Oremus:
For world leaders:
O God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that, by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be always truly wise, and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. amen.
Against Persecutors of the Church:
O Lord, we beseech thee, crush the pride of our enemies and humble their insolence by the might of thy hand. Through our Lord Jesus Christ… amen.
In any tribulation:
O Almighty God, despise not thy people who cry out in their affliction: but for the glory of thy Name, be appeased and help those in trouble. Through our Lord Jesus Christ… amen.
For our enemies:
O God, who art the Lover and Guardian both of peace and charity, give to all our enemies peace and true charity, and grant the remission of all their sins, and by thy might deliver us from their snares. Through our Lord Jesus Christ… amen.
For the defence of the Church:
Almighty, everlasting God, in whose hand are the strength of man and the nation’s sceptre, see what help we Christians need: that the heathen peoples who trust in their savagery may be crushed by the power of thy right hand. Through our Lord Jesus Christ… amen.
In time of war:
O God, who bringest wars to nought and shieldest by thy power all who hope in thee, overthrowing those that assail them; help thy servants who implore thy mercy; so that the fierce might of their enemies may be brought low, and we may never cease to praise and thank thee. Through our Lord… amen.
For peace:
O God, from whom are holy desires, right counsels and just works; give to thy servants that which the world cannot give; that both, our hearts may be disposed to obey thy commandments, and also, the fear of enemies being removed, our times, by thy protection, may be peaceful. Through our Lord Jesus Christ… amen.
Domine exaudi orationem meam, et clamor meus ad te veniat.
Exaudiat nos omnipotens et misericors Dominus. Amen.
Et fidelium animae per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.
