Double Feast of Saint William of Vercelli, Abbot

WHITE Vestments

Missa "Os justi"

        Saint William was born of noble parents in the year 1085 in Vercelli, Italy. But as an infant he was orphaned and raised by relatives. At 14 years old, he made a pilgrimage to Compostela, in Galicia Spain, a pilgrimage he made barefoot. He was at Mefi in 1106 and spent two years as a hermit on Monte Solicoli. After abandoning a pilgrimage to Jerusalem when he was attacked by robbers, he decided to become a hermit on Monte Virgiliano (Vergine).

        One source notes that, shortly after his decision, he healed a blind man, a miracle that brought him instant notoriety. Because of his humility, he did not want to accept the people's praise and admiration so he decided that he would he would live as a hermit on this high mountain. Even there, however, people gathered around him and so he decided to organize them into a community and build a monastery dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. People gave the mountain a new name - Monte Vergine - or mount of the Virgin. It was in the year 1119 that the group became know as the Hermits of Monte Vergine.

        Objections soon arose against the strictness of his rule. It is unclear if the objections were internal or external to his community but he and his good friend, St. John of Matera, founded another community on Monte Laceno in Apulia. The hermitages were destroyed by fire so they moved to Monte Cognato in Basilicata. Some time later, he founded monasteries at Conza, Guglietto and Salerno opposite the palace of King Roger I of Naples.

        While at this location, St. William became advisor to King Roger. Some were upset by his good standing with the king so they tried to create an negative image of him as an evil man hiding behind a holy habit. They sent a woman to tempt him to sin but as soon as he realized what kind of woman she was he supposedly worked a miracle and the woman ran away frightened.

        While some of these stories may well be legendary, it can be confirmed that he founded several monasteries in Italy, the most famous being the first on Mount Virgiliano. The mountain was later named Monte Vergine after his monastery of cenobites that he established under the rule of St. Benedict. It was at Guglietto where St. William died on this date in 1142.

      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


Missa "Os justi"

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INTROIT:   Psalm 36: 30, 31
      Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius (Ps. 36: 30-31 ) Noli aemulari in malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem. V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
      RepeatOs justi...
      The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment: the law of his God is in his heart.. (Ps. 36: 30-31) Be not emulous of evildoers: nor envy them that work iniquity. 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.
      RepeatThe mouth of the just...
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      COLLECT
      Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Oremus. Deus, qui infirmitáti nostrae, ad teréndam salútis viam in Sanctis tuis exémplum et praesídium collocátsi: da nobis, ita beáti Guliélimi Abbátis mérita ven­erári: ut ejúsdem excipiámus suffrágia, et vestígia prose­quimur. Per Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      Commemoration of Within the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
      Oremus. Deus, qui præséntem diem honorábilem nobis in beáti Joánnis nativitáte fecísti: da pópulis tuis spirituálium grátiam gaudiórum; et ómnium fidélium mentes dírige in viam salútis ætérnæ. 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 hast set for us in Thy saints an example and a help to our weakness, to assist us to tread the path of salvation, grant us so to venerate the virtues of the blessed abbot William, that we may share in his prayers and follow in his footsteps. 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.

      Commemoration Within the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
      Let us pray. O God, Who hast made this day honorable to us on account of the birth of blessed John, grant Thy people the grace of spiritual joys, and direct the minds of all the faithful in the way of everlasting salvation. 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:   Ecclesiasticus 45: 1-6
      Léctio líbri Sapiéntiæ. Diléctus Deo et homínibus, cujus memória in benedictióne est. Símilem illum fecit in glória sanctórum, et magnificávit eum in timóre inimicórum, et in verbis suis monstra placávit. Glorificávit illum in conspéctu regum, et jussit illi coram pópulo suo, et osténdit illi glóriam suam. In fide, et lenitáte ipsíus, sanctum fecit illum et elégit eum ex omni carne. Audívit cum enim eum, et vocem ipsíus et indúxit illum in nubem. Et dedit illi coram præcépta, et legem vitæ et disciplínæ.
      Deo Gratias.
      Lesson from the Book of Wisdom. He was beloved of God and men, whose memory is in benediction; He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies; and with his words he made prodigies to cease; He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments in the sight of his people, and showed him his glory; He sanctified him in his faith and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh; for He heard him and his voice, and brought him into a cloud; and He gave him commandments before his face, and a law of life and instruction.
      Thanks be to God.

      GRADUAL:   Psalm 20: 4,5
      Dómine, prævenísti eum in benedictiónibus dulcédinis: posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de Iápide pretióso. V. Vitam pétiit a te, et tribuísti ei longitúdinem diérum in sæculum sæculi. Allelúja, allelúja. V. (Ps. 91: 13) Justus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur. Allelúja.
      O Lord, Thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness; Thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones. V. He asked life of Thee, and Thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 91: 13) The just shall flourish like the palm-tree; he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus. Alleluia.

      GOSPEL:   Matthew 19: 27-29
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum.
      R.Gloria tibi, Domine

      In illo tempore: Dixit Petrus ad Jesum: "Ecce nos relíquimus ómnia, et secúti sumus te: quid ergo erit nobis?" Jesus autem dixit illis: "Amen dico vobis, quod vos, qui secúti estis me, in regeneratióne, cum séderit Fílius hóminis in sede majestátis suæ, sedébitis et vos super sedes duódecim, judicántes duódecim. tribus Israël. Et omnis, qui relíquerit domum, vel fratres, aut soróres, aut patrem, aut matrem, aut uxórem, aut fílios, aut agros, propter nomen meum, céntuplum accípiet, et vitam ætérnam possidébit."
      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, Peter said to Jesus, Behold we have left all things, and have followed Thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them, "Amen I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of His majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall possess life everlasting."
      Praise be to Christ


      OFFERTORY:   Psalm 20: 3-4
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Desiderium animae ejus tribuisti ei, Domine, et voluntate labiorum ejus non fraudasti eum: posuisti in capite ejus coronam de lapide pertioso.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.

      Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, O Lord, and hast not withholden from him the willof his lips: Thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones.
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      SECRET
      Laudis tibi, Dómine, hóstias immolámus in tuórum commemoratióne sanctórum: quibus nos et præséntibus éxui malis confídimus et futúris. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      Commemoration of Within the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
      Tua, Dómine, munéribus altária cumulámus: illíus nativitátem honóre débito celebrántes qui Salvatórem mundi et cécinit adfutúrum, et adésse monstrávit, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      We offer Thee, O Lord, sacrifices of praise in commemoration of Thy saints, by whom we trust to be delivered from evils both present and future. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
      world without end.
      R.Amen.

      Commemoration Within the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
      We heap Thine altars with gifts, O Lord, celebrating with fitting honor the nativity of him who heralded the coming of the Saviour, and pointed Him out when He had come, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
      world without end.
      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:    Luke 12: 42
      Fidélis servus et prudens, quem constítuit dóminus super famíliam suam: ut det illis in témpore trítici mensúram.
      A faithful and wise steward, whom the Lord hath set over His family; to give them their measure of wheat in due season.

      POSTCOMMUNION
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Oremus.
      Refécti cibo, potúque cœlésti, Deus noster, te súpplices exorámus: ut, in cujus hæc commemoratióne percépimus, ejus muniámur et précibus. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      Commemoration Within the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
      Orémus. Sumat Ecclésia tua, Deus, beáti Joánnis Baptístæ generatióne lætitiam: per quem suæ regeneratiónis cognóvit auctórem, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fiiium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Let us pray.
      We, Thy suppliants, who are refreshed with heavenly food and drink, beseech Thee, O our God, that we may be fortified by the prayers of him in whose commemoration we have partaken of these gifts. Through our 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.

      Commemoration Within the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
      Let us pray. May Thy Church, O God, be joyful at the birth of blessed John the Baptist, through whom she knew the Author of her regeneration, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Through our 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