Commemoration of St. Felicitas, Martyr

    Pope Saint Clement I, who was styled by St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians (iv, 3) as his fellow laborer," succeeded St. Cletus as Pope in the year 90. He is named third in the Canon of the Mass, after the apostles. There is no serious reason for doubting his martyrdom, although the account of it is apocryphal. That the Clement mentioned by St. Paul is the same as the pope and martyr, commemorated today, is denied by many. His church in Rome is an example of the Roman basilica of an early time. His Acts state that he was buried at Chersonesus in Crimea, When the Apostles of the Slavs, Cyril and Methodius, went to Rome to give an account of their mission to Pope Adrian I they brought with them as a gift to the Pope the relics of St. Clement discovered by them at Chersonesus.

    There is a commemoration today of St. Felicitas, the mother of the Seven Holy Martyrs, who was martyred shortly after they died. Like her sons, when called to give her life for Christ, she went forth confidently that what awatied her was everlasting life. She was beheaded, November 23, 150. Her remains rested in the Cemetery of Maximus with those of Silanus, the youngest of her sons. Subsequently the bones of this saint were placed in the title of Susanna where they still repose.

We want to thank the Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for expediting these resources of the Propers. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945

Dícit Dóminus: Sermónes mei, quos dedi in os tuum, non defícient de ore tuo: et múnera tua accépta erunt super altáre meum. (Ps. 111: 1) Beátus vir, qui timet Dóminum; in mandátis ejus cupit nimis. V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. RepeatDícit Dóminus... Lord saith, My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth: and thy gifts shall be accepted upon My altar. (Ps. 111: 1) Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he delighteth exceedingly in His commandments. 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. RepeatLord saith... Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS COLLECT Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus. Gregem tuum, Pastor ætérne, placátus inténde: et per beátum Clementem Mártyrem tuum atque Summum Pontíficem, perpétua protectióne custódi; quem totíus Ecclésia: præstitísti esse pastórem. Per Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen. Commemoration of St. Felicitas, Martyr Oremus. Præsta, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut beátæ Felicitátis Mártyris tuæ solémnia recenséntes méritis ipsius protegámur, et précibus. 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. Eternal Shepherd, do Thou look favorably upon Thy flock, which we beseech Thee to guard and keep for evermore through the blessed Clement, Thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, whom Thou didst choose to be the chief shepherd of the whole 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. Commemoration of St. Felicitas, Martyr Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that, observing the festival of blessed Felicitas, Thy Martyr, we may be protected by her merits and prayers. 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:   Philippiians 3: 17-21; 4: 1-3 Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Philippénses. Fratres, Imitatóres mei estóte, et observáte eos, qui ita ámbulant, sicut habétis formam nostram. Multi enim ámbulant, quos sæpe dicébam vobis (nunc autem et flens dico) inimícos crucis Christi: quorum finis intéritus: quorum deus venter est: et gláória in confusióne ipsórum, qui terréna sápiunt. Nostra autem conversátio in caelis est unde etiam Salvatórem exspectámus Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, qui reformábit corpus humilitátis nostræ, configurátum córpori claritátis suæ, secúndum operatiónem, qua étiam possit subjícere sibi ómnia. Itaque, fratres mei charíssimi et desideratíssimi, gáudium meum et coróna mea: sic state in Dómino, caráíssimi. Evódiam rogo, et Syntichen deprécor idípsum sápere in Dómino. Etiam rogo et te, germáne compar, ádjuva illas, quæ mecum laboravérunt in Evangélio, cum Cleménte, et céteris adjutóribus meis, quorum nómina sunt in libro vitæ. Deo Gratias. Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Philippiians. Brethren, Be followers of me, and observe them who walk so as you have our model. For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping) that they are enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things. But our conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of His glory, according to the operation whereby also He is able to subdue all things unto Himself. Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved, and most desired, my joy and my crown: so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beg of Evodia, and I beseech Syntyche to be of one mind with the Lord: and I entreat thee also, my sincere companion, help those women who have labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement and the rest of my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life. Thanks be to God. GRADUAL:  Psalm 106: 32, 31 Exáltent eum in Ecclésia plebis: et in cáthedra seniórum laudent eum. V. Confiteántur Dómino misericórdiæ ejus; et mirabília. ejus fíliis hóminum. Allelúja, allelúja. V. (Matth. 16: 18) Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram ædificábo Ecclésiam meam. Allelúja. Let them exalt him in the Church of the people: and praise him in the chair of the ancients. V. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him and his wonderful works to the children of men. Alleluia, alleluia. GOSPEL:   Matthew 16: 13-19 Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum. R.Gloria tibi, Domine In illo témpore: Venit Jesus in partes Cæsaréæ Philíppi, et interrogá bat discípulos suos, dicens: Quem dicunt hómines esse Fílium hóminis? At illi dixérunt: Alii Joánnem Baptistam, á lii autem Elíam, á lii vero Jeremíam ant unum ex prophétis. Dicit illis Jesus: "Vos autem quem me esse dícitis?" Respóndens Simon Petrus, dixit: Tu es Christus, Fílius Dei vivi.g Respóndens autem Jesus, dìxit ei: "Beátus es, Simon Bar Jona: quia caro et sanguis non revelá vit tibi, sed Pater meus, qui in cælis est. Et ego dico tibí, quia tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram ædificá bo Ecclésiam meam, et portæ ínferi non prævalébunt advérsus eam. Et tibi dabo claves regni Cælórum. Et quodcúmque ligáveris super terram, erit ligá tum et in Cælis: et quodcúmque sólveris super terram, erit solútum et in Cælis." 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 came into the quarters of Cæsarea Philippi, and He asked His disciples, saying, "Whom do men say that the Son of man is?" But they said, Some, John the Baptist, and other some, Elias, and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them, "But whom do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him, "Blessed art thou, Simon BarJona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but My Father Who is in Heaven: and I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven." Praise be to Christ OFFERTORY:    Jeremias 1: 9,10 Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Ecce dedi verba mea in ore tuo: ecce constítui te super gentes et super regna, ut evéllas et déstruas, et ædífices et plantes. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Behold, I have given My words in thy mouth: lo, I have set thee this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to waste and to destroy, and to build and to plant. Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE OFFERTORY SECRET Oblátis munéribus, quæsumus Dómine, Ecclésiam tuam benígnus illúmina: ut, et gregis tui profíciat ubíque succéssus, et grati fiant nómine tuo, te gubernánte, pastóres. 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 St. Felicitas, Martyr Propitiátus inténde: et, cujus nos tribuis solémnia celebráre, fac gaudére suffrágiis. 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. In Thy loving kindness, we beseech Thee, O Lord, be moved by the offering of our gifts and enlighten Thy Church: that Thy flock may prosper everywhere and the shepherds, under Thy guidance, may be rendered acceptable to Thee. Through 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. Commemoration of St. Felicitas, Martyr Be merciful, O Lord, and look with favor upon the prayers of Thy people, and make us to rejoice in the patronage of her whose solemnity we celebrate. 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   Preface of the Apostles 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, æqum et salutáre, Te Dómine supplicíter exoráre, ut gregem tuum pastor ætérne, non déseras: sed per beátos Apóstolos tuos contínua protectióne custódias. Ut iísdem rectóribus gubernétur, quos óperis tui vicários eídem contulísti præésse pastóres. Et ídeo cum Angelis et Archángelis, cum Thronis et Dóminatiónibus, cumque omni milítia coeléstis exércitus, hymnum glóriæ tuæ cánimus sine fine dicéntes: 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, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd; but, through Thy blessed apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dóminations and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY... Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE CANON OF THE MASS COMMUNION:   Matthew 16: 18 Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram adificábo Ecclésiam Meam. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. POSTCOMMUNION Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus. Refectióne sancta enutrítam gubérna, quæsumus Dómine, tuam placátus Ecclésiam: ut poténti moderatióne dirécta, et increménta libertátis accípiat et in religiónis integritáte persístat. 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 St. Felicitas, Martyr Orémus. Súpplices te rogámus, omnípotens Deus: ut, intercedéntibus Sanctis tuis, et tua in nobis dona multíplices, et témpora nostra dispónas. 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. Since Thy Church has been nourished by the sacred repast, govern her in Thy clemency, we beseech Thee, O Lord, so that under the guidance of Thy mighty rule she may enjoy greater freedom and abiding integrity of religion. 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. Commemoration of St. Felicitas, Martyr Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, that we, who in this life joyfully assist in the commemoration of Thy saints, may hereafter rejoice in beholding them forever in Heaven. 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 Pope St. Clement I