St. Josaphat was a monk of the Order of St. Basil, and afterward Archbishop of Polotsk, in Poland. His labors for the union of the Ruthenian Church with that of Rome are almost incredible. After a youth of singular innocence mortified by voluntary penance, Josaphat, remembering the powerful support lent to the orthodox cause by the monastic orders, entered religion, and with the help of Velamin Rutski, devoted himself to the restoration of the rule of St. Basil.

    As Superior of a monastery the saint had succeeded in keeping his disciples free from any schismatic taint: so, too, as metropolitan he devoted himself to the conquest of error with ardent and enlightened charity. He gave to all the example of a holy life, and labored for souls by preaching, by teaching the catechism, and by the distribution of controversial works. As a result of his zeal many schismatics were reconciled to the Catholic Church. His opponents at last resolved to take his life, and he suffered martyrdom at their hands with great courage and serenity at the age of forty-three years. He was struck on the head with a halberd, shot and beaten with staves on November 12, 1623 at Vitebsk, Belarus.

    In 1642, Pope Urban VIII placed his name in the ranks of the Blessed, and Pope Pius IX, on June 29, 1867, on the occasion of the centenary of the Princes of the Apostles, canonized the zealous champion of the Primacy of the Roman Church. The Ruthenians celebrate his feast on September 16.

Resources: We are grateful to Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for providing the Propers for the faithful. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945

Go to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS
INTROIT: Psalm 138: 17

Gaudeámus omnes in Dómino. diem festum celebrántes sub honóre beáti Jósaphat Mártyris: de cujus passióne gaudent Angeli, et colláudant Fílium Dei. (Ps. 32: 1) Exsultáte, justi, in Dómino: rectos decet collaudàtio v. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancti sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et saecula saeculorum. Amen. Repeat Gaudeámus omnes... Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival-day in honor of the blessed martyr Josaphat: at whose martyrdom the angels rejoice, and give praise to the Son of God. (Ps. 32: 1) Rejoice in the Lord, ye just, praise becometh the upright. 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 Let us all rejoice... Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS COLLECT Oremus. Excita, quæsumus, Dómine, in Ecclésia tua Spíritum, quo replétus beátus Jósaphat Martyr et Póntifex tuus ànimam suam pro óvibus pósuit: ut, eo intercedénte, nos quoque eódem Spíritu moti ac roboráti, ànimam nostram pro frátribus pónere non vereámur. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen. Let us pray. Stir up in Thy Church, O Lord, the spirit with which blessed Josaphat, Thy martyr and bishop, was filled when he laid down his life for his sheep, so that, by his intercession, we, also, may be moved and strengthened by the same spirit, and may not fear to lay down our lives for our brethren. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen. EPISTLE: Hebrews 5: 1-6 Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Hebræos. Fratres: Omnis Póntifex eá homínibus assúmptus, pro homínibus constitúitur in iis, quae sunt ad Deum, ut ófferat dona, et sacrifícia pro peccátis: qui condolére possit iis, qui ignórant, et errant: quóniam et ipse circúmdatus est infirmitáte: et proptérea debet, quemádmodum pro pópulo, ita étiam et pro semetípso offérre pro peccátis. Nec quisquam sumit sibi honórem, sed qui vocátur a Deo tamquam Aaron. Sic et Christus non semetípsum clarificávit ut póntifex fíeret: sed qui locútus est ad eum: Fílius meus es tu, ego hódie génui te. Quemádmodum et in alio loco dicit: Tu es sacérdos in aetérnum secúndum órdinem Melchísedech. Deo Gratias. Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews. Brethren, every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err, because he himself also is compassed with infirmity; and therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. Neither doth any man take the honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was. So Christ also did not glorify Himself that He might be made a high priest; but He that said unto Him, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee. As He saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedech. Thanks be to God. GRADUAL: Psalm 88: 21-23 Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi cum: manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, et bráchium meum confortábit eum. V. Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei. Allelúja, allelúja. V. Hic est sacérdos, quem coronávit Dóminus. Allelúja. I have found David My servant: with My holy oil I have anointed him; for My hand shall help him, and My arm shall strengthen him. V. The enemy shall have no advantage over him, and the son of iniquity shall not hurt him. Alleluia, alleluia. V. This is the priest whom the Lord hath crowned. Alleluia. GOSPEL:   John 10: 11-16 Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem R.Gloria tibi, Domine In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus pharisaeis: Ego sum Pastor Bonus. Bonus Pastor ánimam suam dat pro óvibus suis. Mercenárius autém, et qui non est pastor, cujus non sunt oves própriae, videt lupum veniéntem, et dimíttit oves, et fugit: et lupus rapit et dispérgit oves: mercenárius autem fugit, quia mercenárius est, et non pértinet ad eum de óvibus. Ego sum pastor bonus: et cognósco Meas et cognóscunt Me Meae. Sicut novit Me Pater, et ego agnósco Patrem: et ánimam Meam pono pro óvibus meis. Et álias oves hábeo, quae non sunt ex hoc ovíli: et illas opórtet me addúcere, et vocem meam áudient, et fiet unum ovíle, et unus pastor." Laus tibi Christe. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. The continuation of the holy Gospel according to John. R. Glory to Thee, O Lord At that time, Jesus said to the pharisees, "I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and flieth; and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep: and the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling, and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know Mine, and Mine know Me. As the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for My sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." Praise be to Christ OFFERTORY:    John 15: 13 Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Orémus. Majórem caritátem nemo habet, ut ánimam suam ponat quis pro amícis suis. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE OFFERTORY SECRET Clementíssime Deus, múnera hæc tua benedictióne perfúnde, et nos in fide confírma: quam sanctus Jósaphat Martyr et Póntifex tuus, effúso sánguine; asséruit. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen. Most merciful God, pour Thy blessing over these our offerings and confirm us in the Faith, which St. Josaphat, Thy martyr and bishop, upheld by the shedding of his blood. Through our 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. 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:   John 10: 14 Ego sum Pastor Bonus, et cognósco oves Meas, et cognóscunt Me Meæ. I am the good Shepherd, and I know My sheep, and Mine know Me POSTCOMMUNION Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus. Spíritum, Dómine, fortitúdinis hæc nobis tríbuat mensa cœléstis: quæ Sancti Jósaphat Mártyris tui atque Pontíficis vitam pro Ecclésiæ honóre jugiter áluit ad victóriam. 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 this heavenly table, O Lord, impart to us the spirit of fortitude which constantly nourished the life of St. Josaphat, Thy martyr and bishop, unto victory for the honor of the Church. Through our 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. Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS CONCLUSION OF THE HOLY MASS Feast of St. Josaphat