Double Feast of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr.
RED Vestments

Missa "Sacerdotes Dei"

       Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, was a disciple of Saint John. He wrote to the Philippians, exhorting them to mutual love and to hatred of heresy. When the apostate Marcion met Saint Polycarp at Rome, he asked the aged Saint if he knew him. “Yes,” Saint Polycarp answered, “I know you for the first-born of Satan.” These were the words of a Saint, most loving and most charitable, and specially noted for his compassion to sinners. He abhorred heresy, because he loved God and man so well.

       In 167 persecution broke out in Smyrna. When Polycarp heard that his pursuers were at the door, he said, “The Will of God be done;” and meeting them, he begged to be left alone for a little time, which he spent in prayer for the Catholic Church throughout the world. He was brought to Smyrna early on Holy Saturday; and as he entered, a voice was heard from heaven, “Polycarp, be strong.” When the proconsul urged him to curse Christ and go free, Polycarp answered, “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me wrong; how can I blaspheme my King and Saviour?” When he threatened him with fire, Polycarp told him this fire of his lasted but a short time, while the fire prepared for the wicked lasted forever.

       At the stake he thanked God aloud for letting him drink of Christ’s chalice. The fire was lighted, but it did him no harm; therefore he was stabbed to the heart, and his dead body was burnt. “Then,” say the writers of his acts, “we took up the bones, more precious than the richest jewels or gold, and deposited them in a fitting place, at which may God grant us to assemble with joy, to celebrate the birthday of the martyr to his life in Heaven!”

      Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945 and Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler’s Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).


Missa "Sacerdotes Dei"

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INTROIT:    Daniel 3. 84, 87
      Sacerdotes Dei, benedicite Dominum: sancti et humiles corde, laudate Deum (Daniel 3. 57 ) Benedicite, omnia opera Domini, Domino: laudate et superexaltate eum in saecula.V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
      RepeatSacerdotes Dei...
      O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: O ye holy and humble of heart, praise God. (Daniel 3: 57) All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all for ever 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.
      RepeatO ye priests of the Lord...
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      COLLECT
      Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Oremus. Deus, qui nos beati Polycarpis Martyris tui atque Pontificis annua solemnitate laetificas, concede propitious; ut, cujus natalitia colimus, de ejus dem etiam protectione gaudeamus. Per 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 givest us joy by the annual solemnity of blessed Polycarp Thy martyr and bishop, mercifully grant that we may rejoice in his protection whose birthday we celebrate. 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.


      EPISTLE:   2 Corinthians 1: 3-7
      Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios. Fratres: Benedictus Deus et Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, Pater misericordiarum, et Deus totius consolationis, quji consolatur nos in omni tribulatione nostra: ut possimus et ipsi consolari eos, qui in omni pressura sunt, per exhortationem qua exhortamur et ipsi a Deo, Quoniam sicut abundant passiones Christi in nobis: ita et per Christum abundat consolatio nostra. Sive autem tribulamur pro vestra exhortatione et salute, sive consolatmur pro vestra consolatione, sive exhortamur pro vestra exhortatione et salute, quae operatur tolerantiam earumdem passionum, quas et nos patimur: ut spes nostra firma sit pro vobis: scientes quod sicut socii passionum estis, sic eritis et consolationis: in Christo Jesu Domino nostro.
      Deo Gratias.
      Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Brethren: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, Who comforteth us in all our tribulation; that we also may jbe able to comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also are exhorted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us: so also by Christ doth our comfort abound. Now whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we be exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which worketh the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
      Thanks be to God.

      GRADUAL:   Psalm 8: 6, 7
      Gloria et honore coronasti eum. V. Et constituisti eum duper opera manum tuarum. Domine.

      Alleluia, alleluia. V. Hic est sacerdos, quem coronavit Dominus. Alleluia.

      Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor. V. And hast set him over the works of Thy hands, O Lord.

      Alleluia, alleluia. V. This is the priest whom the Lord hath crowned. Alleluia.


      GOSPEL:    Matthew: 16. 24-27
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum.
      R.Gloria tibi, Domine

      In illo tempore : Dixit Jesus discipulis Suis: 'Si quis vult post Me venire, abneget semetipsum, et tollat crucem suam, set sequatur Me. Qui enim voluerit animam suam salvam facere, perdet eam: qui autem perdiderit animam suam propter Me, inveniet eam. Quid enim prodest homini, si mundum universum lurcretur, animae vero suae detrimentum patiatur? Aut quam dabit homo commutationem pro anima sua? Filius enim hominis venturus est in gloria Patris Suis cum Angelis Suis: et tunc reddet unicuique secundum opera ejus.'
      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: 'If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For he that will save his life shall lose it : and he that shall lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels: and then will He render to every man according to his works.'
      Praise be to Christ


      OFFERTORY:    Psalm 88: 21,22
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Inveni David servum meum, oleo sancto meo unxi eum: manus enim mea auxiliabitur ei, et brachium meum confortabit eum.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.

      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.
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      SECRET
      Munera tibi, Domine, dicata sanctifica : et, intercedente beato Polycarpis Martyre tuo atque Pontifice, per eadem nos placates intende. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      Sanctify, O Lord, the offerings devoted to Thee, and appeased by the intercession of blessed Polycarp Thy martyr and bishop, and likewise by this sacrifice, look favorably upon us. 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...

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      COMMUNION:   Psalm 20: 4
      Posuisti, Domine, in capite ejus coronam de lapide pretioso.
      Thou has set on his head, O Lord, a crown of precious stones.

      POSTCOMMUNION
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Oremus.
      Postcommunion: Refecti participatione muneris sacri, quaesumus, Domine Deus noster : ut, cujus exsequimur cultum, intercedente beato Polycarpis Martyre tuo atque Pontifice, sentiamus effectum. 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.
      Refreshed by the participation in the holy gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that by the intercession of blessed Polycarp Thy martyr and bishop, we may experience the effect of that which we celebrate. 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.

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      Feast of St. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr