St. Nazarius was baptized by Pope Linus at Rome; in his turn he baptized the youthful St. Celsus. They were both beheaded at Milan about the year 368. Their bodies, buried in a garden outside the city, were found by St. Ambrose in 395. The body of St. Nazarius appeared as if it had just been beheaded. It was placed by St. Ambrose in the Basilica Romana. The body of the boy St. Celsus was found in another part of the garden, but was not removed. However, a basilica was later built in his honor.

    Pope St. Victor, the thirteenth in order from St. Peter, is famous in the history of the Church of the first three centuries for his encyclicals addressed to all the churches, in which he appointed synods with a view to coming to an agreement concerning the date of the celebration of Easter. Even the bishops of the most remote dioceses of Asia Minor obeyed the Pope's order and sent their votes to Rome, but as these were not in accordance with the Roman view, it very nearly caused a schism. He succeeded in settling the controversy about the date of Easter, and is said to have decided that in case of necessity Baptism might be given with natural water. He was the first ecclesiastical writer to write in Latin.

    St. Innocent I, Pope, Confessor (402-417), took a vigorous part in the defence of St. John Chrysostom; upheld the rights of the Holy See and wrote a letter on liturgical questions which remains a notable document to this day.

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Intret in conspectu tuo, Dominie; gemitus compeditorum: redde vicinis nostris septuplum in sinueorum: vindica sanguinem sanctorum tuorum, qui effsus est. (Ps. 78: 1 ) Deus venerunt gentes in haereditatem tuam: polluerunt templum sanctum tuum: postuerunt Jerusalem in pomorum custodiam. V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. RepeatIntret in conspectus...		Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before Thee, O Lord; render to our neighbors sevenfold in their bosom; revenge the blood of Thy saints, which hath been shed. (Ps. 78: 1) O God, the heathens are come into Thy inheritance: they have defiled Thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit. 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. RepeatLet the sighing of the prisoners...

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COLLECT

Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus. Sanctórum tuórum nos, Dómine, Nazárii, Celsi, Victóris et Innocéntii conféssio beáta commúniat: et fragilitáti nostræ subsídium dignánter exóret. 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. May the confession of Thy saints, Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent, fortify us, O Lord, and may it, for the sake of their merits, obtain help for our frailty. 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.

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EPISTLE:   Wisdom 10: 17-20

Léctio libri Sapiéntiæ. Réddidit Deus justis mercédem labórum suórum, et dedúxit illos in via mirábili: et fuit íllis in velaménto diéi, et in luce stellárum per noctem: tránstulit illos per Mare Rubrum, et transvéxit illos per aquam nímiam. Inimícos autem illórum demérsit in mare, et ab altitúdine inferórum edúxit illos. Ideo justi tulérunt spólia impiórum, et decantavérunt, Dómine, nomen sanctum tuum, et victrícem manum tuam laudavérunt páriter, Dómine Deus noster. Deo Gratias.		Lesson from the Book of Wisdom. God rendered to the just the wages of their labors, and conducted them in a wonderful way; and He was to them for a covert by day, and for the light of stars by night; and He brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over through a great water. But their enemies He drowned in the sea, and from the depth of hell He brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the wicked. And they sung to Thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with one accord Thy victorious hand, O Lord, our God. Thanks be to God.

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GRADUAL:  Exodus 15: 11-6

Gloriosus Deus in Sanctis suis, mirabilis in majestate, Dextera tua, Domine, glorificata est in virtute: dextera , manus tua confregit inimicos. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 144: 10,11) Corpora sanctorum in pace sepulta sunt, et nomina eorum vivent generationem et generationem. Alleluia.		God is glorious in His Saints, wonderful in majesty, doing wonders. V. Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Thy right hand hath broken the enemies. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 144: 10,11 ) Thy Saints shall bless Thee, O Lord; they shall speak of athe glory of Thy Kingdom. Alleluia.

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GOSPEL:   Luke 2: 9-19

Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. R.Gloria tibi, Domine In illo tempore: Dixit Jesus discipulis suis: 'Cum audieritis praelia, et seditions, nolite terreri: Oportet Primum haec fieri, sed nondum statim finis. Tunc dicebat illis : Suerget gens contra gentem, et regnum adversus regnum. Et terraemotus magni erunt per loca, et pestilentiae, et fames, terroresque de Caelo, et signa magna erunt. Sed ante haec omnia injicient vobis manus suas, et presequentur tradentes in synagogas et custodias, trahentes ad reges et praesides propter nomen meum.: contingent autem vobis in testimonium. Ponite ergo in cordibus vestries non praemeditari quemadmodum respondeatis. Ego enim dabo vobis os, et sapientiam, cui non poterunt resistere, et contradicere omnes adversarii vestri. Trademini autem a parentibus, et fratribus, et cognates et amicis, et morte afficient ex vobis: et eritis odio omnibus propter nomen meum : et capillus de capite vestro non peribit. In Patientia vestra possidebitis animas vestras.' Laus tibi Christe.		The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Luke. R. Glory to Thee, O Lord At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: 'When you shall hear of wars and seditions, be not terrified: these things must first come to pass, but the end is not yet presently. Then He said to them: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be great earthquakes in divers places, and pestilences, and famines and terrors from Heaven, and there shall be great signs. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for My name's sake; and it shall happen unto you for a testimony. Lay it up therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay. And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brethren and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death : and you shall be hated by all men for My name's sake; but a hair of your head shall not perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls.' Praise be to Christ

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OFFERTORY:    Psalm 67: 36

Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis: Deus Israel, ipse dabit virtutem; et fortitudinem plebi : benedictus Deus, alleluia.		The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. God is wonderful in His saints: the God of Israel is He Who will give power and strength to His people : blessed be God, alleluia.

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SECRET

Concéde nobis, omnípotens Deus: ut his munéribus quæ in sanctórum tuórum Nazárii, Celsi, Victóris et Innocéntii honóre deférimus, et te placemus exhíbitis, et nos vivificémur accéptis. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.		Grant us, O almighty God, that we may both please Thee with the offering and be vivified by the receiving of these gifts which we bring fn honor of Thy saints, Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent. 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.

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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:   Wisdom: 3: 4-6

Et si coram hominibus tormenta passi eos: tamguam aurum in furnace probavit eos, et quasi holocausta accepit eos.		And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, God hath tried them: as gold in the furnace He hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust He hath received them.

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POSTCOMMUNION

Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus. Sanctórum Nazárii, Celsi, Victóris et Innocéntii, Dómine, intercessióne placátus: præsta, quæsumus; ut, quod temporáli celebrámus actióne, perpétua salvatióne capiámus. 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. Being appeased by the intercession of Sts. Nazarius, Celsus, Victor, and Innocent, grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that what we celebrate by a temporal service we may receive for our eternal 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.

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Feast of the holy Martyrs Sts. Nazarius, Celsus, and Pope Victor; and Pope St. Innocent I