Double Feast of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs

RED Vestments

Missa "Me exspectavérunt"

       The holy martyrs Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicitas, who are the Patron Saints of widows and invoked over the death of children, were martyred at Carthage on the northern coast of what is today Libya by the Romans. Though persecution and the slaughter of Christians was terrible in Rome itself, the senseless slaying of Christians was even worse in Africa and Egypt. Though Perpetua's father tried to intercede so that she would not embarrass the family, her faith was more important to her than family and she would not renounce her belief in Jesus Christ as her Savior. Her refusal to adhere to the pagan wishes of her father moved servants under her father to join her in her faith, one of which was Felicitas or Felicity as she has come to be known. The latter had just given birth to a child and then went to her death, while Perpetua had been nursing her own baby. That is why they are invoked over the death of children.

        A covey of wild animals from leopards to bears to wild bulls were unleashed on the helpless Christians in the great arena of Carthage and to the sadistic delight of thousands both Perpetua and Felicitas were gored to death by the bulls. They are commemorated daily in the Canon of the Mass among the mentioned martyrs in the Nobis quoque peccatoribus.

      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


Missa "Me exspectavérunt "

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INTROIT:   Psalm 118: 95, 96
      Me exspectavérunt peccatóres, ut pérderent me: testimónea tua, Dómine, intelléxi: omnis consummatiónis vidi flnem: latum mandátum tuum nimis. (Ps. 118: 1) Beáti immaculáti in via: qui ámbulant in lege Dómini. V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
      Repeat Me exspectavérunt ...
      The wicked have waited for me to destroy me.: I have understood Thy testimonies, O Lord: I have seen an end of all perfection: Thy commandment is exceeding broad. (Ps. 118: 1) Blessed are the undefiled in the way: who walk in the law of the Lord. 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 wicked have waited for me...
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      COLLECT
      Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Oremus. Da nobis, quæsumus, Dómine Deus noster, san­ctárum Mártyrum tuárum, Perpétuæ et Felicitátis palmas incessábili devotióne venerári: ut quas digna mente non póssumus celebráre, humílibus saltem frequentémus obséquiis. 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. Give unto us, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, to reverence with unceasing devotion the glory of Thy holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas; and though it be not ours worthily to honor their triumph, to persevere in offering them the humble tribute of our duty. 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 51: 1-12
      Léctio, libri Sapientiæ. Confitébor tibi Dómine rex, et collodábo te Deum salvatórem nómini tuo: quóniam adjútor et protéctor factus es mihi, et liberásti corpus meum a perditióne, a láqueo linguæ iníquæ et lábiis operántium mendácium, et in conspéctu abstántium factus es mihi adjútor. Et liberásti me secúndum multitúdinem miseri-córdiæ nóminis tui a rugiéntibus, preparátis ad escam, de mánibus quæréntium ánimam meam, et de portis tribulatiónem quæ circumdedérunt me: a pressura flammæ, quae circúmdedit me, et in médio ignis non sum æstuáta: de altitúdine ventris inferi, et a lingua coinquináta, et a verbo mendácii, a rege iníquo, et a lingua injústa: laudábit usque ad mortem ánima mea Dóminum, quóniam éruis sustinéntes te, et líberas eos de mánibus géntium, Dómine, Deus noster.
      Deo Gratias.
      Lesson from the Book of Wisdom. I will give glory to Thee, O Lord my King, and I will praise Thee, O God my Saviour. I will give glory to Thy name: for Thou hast been a helper and protector to me, and hast pre-served my body from destruction, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies; and in the sight of them that stood by, Thou hast been my helper; and Thou hast delivered me according to the multitude of mercy of Thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour. Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions which compasssed me about; from the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt; from the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue. My soul shall praise the Lord even to death; be-cause thou, O Lord our God, deliverest them that wait for Thee, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.
      Thanks be to God.

      GRADUAL:   Psalm 45: 6,5
      Adjuvábit eam Deus vultu suo: Deus in médio ejus, non commovébitur. V. Flúminis ímpetus lætíficat cívitátem Dei: sanctficàvit tabernáculum suum Altíssimus.
      God will help her with His countenance: God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. V. The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful; the Most Hígh hath sanctifìed His own tabernacle.

      TRACT:  
      Veni, sponsa Christi, áccipe corónam, quam tibi Dóminus præparávit in ætérnum: pro cujus amóre sánguinem tuum fudísti. V. (Ps. 44: 8, 5) Dilexisti justítiam, et odísti in­iquitátem: proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo láetítiæ præ, consórtibus tuis. V. Spécie tua, et pulchritúdine tua inténde, próspere procéde, et regna.
      Come, spouse of Christ, receive the crown, which the Lord hath prepared for thee forever: for the love of Whom thou didst shed thy blood. V. (Ps. 44: 8, 5) Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. V. With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign.

      GOSPEL:   Matthew 13: 44-52
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum.
      R.Gloria tibi, Domine

      In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis suis parábolam hanc: "Símile est regnum Cœlórum thesáuro abscóndito in agro: quem qui invénit homo, abscóndit, et præ gáudio illíus vadit, et vendit univérsa, quæ habet, et emit agrum illum. Iterum símile est regnum cœlórum hómini negotiatóri, quærénti bonas margarítas. Invénta autem una pretiósa margaríta, abiit, et véndidit ómnia quæ hábuit, et emit eam. Iterum símile est regnum Cœlórum sagénæ missæ in mare, et ex omni génere píscium congregánti. Quam, cum impléta esset, educéntes, et secus littus sedéntes, elegérunt bonos in vasa, malos autem foras misérunt. Sic erit in consummatióne sæculi: exíbunt Angeli, et separábunt malos de médio justórum, et mittent eos in camínum ignis: ibi erit fletus, et stridor déntium. Intellexístis hæc ómnia?" Dicunt ei: "Etiam." Ait illis: "Ideo omnis scriba doctus in regno Cœlórum símilis, est hómini patrifamilias, qui profert de thesáuro suo nova et vétera."
      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 spoke this parable to His disciples: "The kingdom of Heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field; which a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kinds of fishes; which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth. So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have ye understood all these things?" They say to Him, "Yes." He said unto them,"Therefore, every scribe instructed in the kingdom of Heaven, is like to a man who is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old."
      Praise be to Christ

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      OFFERTORY:   Psalm 44: 3
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Orémus. Diffúsa est gratia in lábiis tuis: proptérea benedíxit te Deus in ætérnum, et in sæculum sæculi.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.

      Let us pray. Grace is poured abroad in thy lips: therefore hath God blessed thee forever, and for ages of ages.
      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE OFFERTORY
      SECRET
      Inténde quæsumus Dómine múnera altáribus tuis pro sanctárum Mártyrum tuárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis festìvitáte propósita: ut sicut per hæc beáta mystéria illis glóriam contulísti, ita nobis indulgéntiam largiáris. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      Favorably look down we beseech Thee, O Lord, upon the gifts laid upon Thine altars for the feastday of Thy holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas, and as by these Sacred Mysteries, Thou didst raise Thy Saints to glory everlasting, so through them vouchsafe to us Thy forgiveness. 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   FOR LENT
      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 semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater Omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui corporali jejunio vitia comprimis, mentem elevas, virtutem largiris et praemia : per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli, caelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti jubeas deprecamur, 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: Who by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards; 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 these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
      HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

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      COMMUNION:   Psalm 118: 121, 122, 128
      Feci judícium et justítiam, Dómine, non calumniéntur mihi supérbi: ad ómnia mandata tua dirigébar, omnem viam fniquitátis ódio habui.
      I have done judgment and justice, O Lord; let not the proud calumniate me: I was directed to all Thy commandments; I have hated all wicked ways.

      POSTCOMMUNION
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Oremus.
      Mysticis, Dómine, repléti sumus votis et gáudiis: præsta, quæsumus; ut intercessiónibus sanctárum Mártyrum tuárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis, quæ temporáliter ágimus, spirituáliter consequámur. 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.
      Thou hast filled us, O Lord, with mystic graces and joys: grant, we beseech Thee, that through the prayers of Thy holy Martyrs, Perpetua and Felicitas, may profit eternally from having in this our time ministered to Thee. 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



      Feast of Sts. Perpetua and Felicitas