Double Feast of Saint Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
WHITE Vestments

Missa "In medio Ecclesiae"

       After having persecuted the Church during the first centuries, the Christian, but at the same time heretical emperors, continued their attacks by supporting Arianism which denied the divinity of Christ. In the season after Epiphany, when Jesus affirms His divinity by His teaching and miracles, the first saint whom the Church presents to us is one of the more intrepid defenders of this fundamental dogma of Christianity. St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers in 352 (Communion) endowed with great spiritual and supernatural talent, for, “the Lord has filled him with the spirit of wisdom and intelligence” (Introit), fought with his pen and his eloquence against those “who closed their ears to truth and opened them to fables” (Epistle).

       This salt of the earth, this light of God’s house, would not suffer, under the false excuse of favouring peace and unity, the salt of true doctrine to be corrupted or the light of truth to be hidden under a bushel. “Having thus taught the practice of the commandments even to the last title, he is great in the kingdom of Heaven” (Gosepl), and the Church which is the earthly portion of this kingdom, has, by the voice of Pius IX, awarded him the title Doctor (Collect). He died in 368.

       Let us have recourse to the intercession of St. Hilary in order always to be the intrepid defenders of the divinity of Christ.

    For more on this "Laborer for God" see Saint Hilary of Poitiers in our Doctors of the Church series.

      Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945

Also the Traditional Feast of Saint Felix, Confessor who was martyred in 260.
There is a commemoration in the Proper of the Mass

Missa "In medio Ecclesiae"

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INTROIT:   Malachias 3: 1
      In medio Ecclesiae aperuit os ejus: et implevit eum Dominus spiritu sapientiae et intellectus: stolam gloriae induit eum. (Ps. 91: 2 ) Bonum est confiteri Domino: et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime. V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
      Repeat In medeo Ecclesiae...
      In the midst of the Church the Lord opened His mouth: and He filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding: He clothed him with a robe of glory. (Ps. 91: 2) It is good to give praise to the Lod: and to sing to Thy name, O most High. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
      Repeat In the midst of the Church...
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      COLLECT


      Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Oremus. Deui, Qui populo Tuo aeternae salutis beatum Hilarium. ministrum tribuisti: praesta, quaesumus; ut, quem Doctorem vitae habuminus in terries, intercessorem habere mereamur in Caelis. Per eumdem Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

      Let us pray. O God, Who didst give unto Thy people blessed Hilary to be a minister of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be worthy to have as an intercessor in Heaven him, whom we have had as teacher of life on earth. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
      Forever and ever.
      R.Amen.

      EPISTLE:   2 Timothy 4: 1-8


      Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Timotheum. Carissime: Testificor coram Deo et Jesu Christo, qui judicatures est vivos et mortuos, per adventum ipsius, et regnum ejus: praedic verbum, insta opportune, importune: argue, obsecra, increpa in omni patempus cum sanam doctrinam non substinebunt, sed ad sua desideria coacervabunt sibi magistros prurientes auribus, et a veritate quidem auditum avertrent, ad fabulas autem convertenbur. Tu vero vigila, in omnibus labora, opus fac evangelistae, ministerium tuum imple. Sobrium esto. Ego enim jam delibor, et tempus resolutionis meae instate. Bonum certamen certavi, cursum consumavi, fiem servavi. In reliquo reposita est mihi corona qustiae, quam redeet mihi dominus in illa die, Justus judex: non solum autem mihi, sed et iis, qui diligent adventum ejus.
      Deo Gratias.

      Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to Timothy. Dearly beloved, I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead, by His coming and His kingdom: preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned unto fables But be thou vigilant, labour in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry. Be sober. For I am even now ready to be sacrificed, and the time of my dissolution is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just Judge, will render to me in that day: and not only to me, but to them also that love His coming.
      Thanks be to God.
      GRADUAL:   Psalm 36: 30, 31


      Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicum. V. Lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius: et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus.

      Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Eccl. 45: 9) Amavit eum Dominus, et ornavit eum: stolam gloriae induit eum. Alleluia.

      The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment. V. The law of his God is in his heart: and his steps shall not be supplanted.

      Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Eccl. 45: 9) The Lord loved him and adorned him: He clothed him with a robe of glory. Alleluia.

      GOSPEL:   Matthew 5: 13-19


      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum.
      R.Gloria tibi, Domine

      In illo tempore: Dixit Jesus discipulis suis: Vos estis sal terrae. Wuod sis al evanuerit, in quo salietur? Ad nihilum valet ultra, nisi ut mittatur foras, et consculcetur ab hominibus. Vos estis lux mundi. Non potest civitas abscondi supra montem posita. Neque accendunt lucernam, et pronunt eam sub modio, sed super candelabrum, ut luceat omnibus qui in domo sunt. Sic luceat lux vestra coram hoinibus ut videant opera vestra bona, et glorificent Patrem vestrum, qui in caelis est. Nolte putare, quoniam veni solvere legem, aut prophetas: non veni solvere sed adimplere. Amen quipped dico vobis transeat caelum et terra, iota unum , aut unus apex non praeteribit a lege, donec ommnia fiant. Qui ergo solverit unum de mandates istis minimis, et docuerit sic hominess, minimus vocabitur in regno Caelorum: qui autem fecerit et docuerit, hic magnus vocabitur in regno Caelorum.
      Laus tibi Christe.

      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
      R. Glory to Thee, O Lord

      At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to e cast out, and to e trodden on by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, who is in heaven. Do not thik that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For amen I say unto yu, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven: but he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.
      Praise be to Christ

      OFFERTORY:    Psalms 91: 13
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Justus ut palma florebit: sicut cedrus quae in Libano est, multiplicabitur.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      The just shall flourish like the palm-tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.
      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE OFFERTORY
      SECRET
      Sancti Hilaris Pontificis atque Doctoris, nobis, Domine, pia non desit oratio: quae, et munera nostra conciliet; et tuam nobis indulgentiam simper obtineat. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      May the holy prayer of blessed Hilary, Thy bishop and doctor never fail us, O Lord; may it render our offerings acceptable, and ever obtain for us thy pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
      Forever and ever.
      R.Amen.
      PREFACE   Common Preface
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sursum corda.
      R.Habemus ad Dominum.
      Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
      R. Dignum et justum est.
      Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos Tibi simper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem Tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates, Coeli, Coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim socia exultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti, jubeas, supplici confessione dicentes:
      SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS...
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Lift up your hearts.
      R.We have lifted them up to the Lord.
      Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
      R. It is meet and just.
      It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:
      HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE CANON OF THE MASS
      COMMUNION:    Luke 12: 42
      Fidelis servus et prundens, quem constituit dominus super familiam suam: ut det illis in tempore tritici mensuram.
      The faithful and wise servant whom his Lord setteth over his family: to give them their measure of wheat in due season.
      POSTCOMMUNION
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Oremus.       Ut nobis Domine, Tua sacrificat dent salutem: beatus Hilarius Pontifex Tuus et Doctor egregious,quaesummus, precator accedat. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Let us pray.       May blessed Hilary Thy bishop and illustrious doctor intercede for us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that these Thy sacrifices may obtain for us salvation. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
      For ever and ever.
      R. Amen.
      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS CONCLUSION OF THE HOLY MASS



      Feast of the holy Doctor of the Church St. Hilary