Posted by St Jean Vianney, Confessor & Com. St Romanus, Martyr and the Vigil of St Laurence: Missa “Os justi“
It has been said of more than one person, of more than one Saint, that they were the prodigies of their century. This is perhaps true of no one more than of the Curé of Ars. This man, who was so remarkably humble, for about thirty years saw the whole world, as it were, attentive to his virtues, the entire Christian world at his feet. He is certainly a marvel of the pastoral apostolate and sanctity.
Born three years before the French Revolution into a humble and profoundly Christian family, at Dardilly near Lyons, he was at first a little shepherd, occupied also with the cultivation of the land. From his earliest years he was noted for his candour, piety, love for the Blessed Virgin, and charity for the poor. He desired to become a priest and reached the altar through his piety rather than through his talents. Lack of schooling during the Revolution had made Latin grammar virtually inaccessible to his best efforts. The bishop asked, however, whether he was pious; and when he heard that he said his Rosary like an Angel, ordained him.
After a few years of parish work as an Assistant Pastor, in 1817 he was placed in charge of the parish of Ars, a small village considered backward and scarcely half-Christian. On his way there, solitary and in poverty, when he saw in the distance the steeple of the church, he knelt and prayed God to bless his ministry. His first concern was to visit his parishioners, and he soon won them over by his far-from-ordinary virtue. To their indifference to religion, then, a profoundly Christian spirit succeeded, and one saw the Lord’s day observed to perfection; under the influence of a Saint, the parish of Ars became like a religious community. Word of this transformation passed from one person to another and soon, from many surrounding regions people came to hear him, enter humbly into the confessional, and obtain miracles. These he attributed to Saint Philomena, whose tomb had recently been discovered, and whom he called his dear little Saint. He was very attentive to the beauty of the sanctuary, to the preparation of his sermons, and to the orphanage which he founded; no application was excessive where these were concerned. For himself he was unsparing, sleeping in a damp basement and persecuted there incessantly by the devil. The villagers themselves became aware of his terrible combats with the one he called the grappin — literally a sharp-pronged anchor — the fitting name he gave the ancient enemy.
Ten years later, the reputation of this humble country priest had spread over Europe, and from everywhere there came impious scoffers, unbelievers, and libertines, as well as fervent Christians and those in sorrow; the former were converted by the thousands, the latter consoled and strengthened for their combats. He spent ordinarily from sixteen to eighteen hours daily in the confessional, in winter with his feet on an unheated stone floor; and the rest of his time in preaching, prayer, and teaching catechism in the church. He died at the advanced age of 84, despite his unrelenting penance and long-standing rheumatism, and loved by the whole world.
Reflection: Let us pray for holy priests to bring the world on its knees to its Saviour. No intention is more important than this one. The Curé of Ars will pray with us, if we ask him to do so, and protect the sacerdotal race from the unending, unrelenting dangers which threaten it everywhere.
Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l’année, by Abbé L. Jaud (Mame: Tours, 1950); Life of the Curé of Ars, by Msgr. Francis Trochu (translated from the French).
St John Vianney is patron of the Oratory of St John Vianney and model for priestly life and service of the Oratorians who keep their Patronal Feast today. Please remember to pray for the Oratorians who seek to emulate his spirituality and charism in their own pastoral ministry and priestly lives.
Today is also the commemoration of The Vigil of St. Laurence and the feast of St. Romanus, Martyr. The vigil of St. Laurence has been observed in the Church certainly since the Fourth Century. The ancient vigils consisted of a fixed number of scriptural Lessons alternated with responsorial Psalms and episcopal Collects. When day began to break, the Holy Sacrifice was offered and the fast came to an end. St. Romanus was a Roman soldier. He was converted to the Christian faith by the preaching of St. Laurence, and was beheaded the day preceding that of the saint’s martyrdom.
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INTROIT Psalm 36: 30, 31
The mouth of the just man shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak judgment: the law of his God is in his heart. (Ps. 36: 1). Be not emulous of evil-doers; nor envy them that work iniquity. v. Glory be…etc
COLLECT
Almighty and merciful God, Who by pastoral zeal, the yoke of prayer, and the ardour of penance hast made glorious St. John Mary; grant, we beseech Thee, that by his example and intercession we may be enabled to gain for Christ the souls of our brethren and with them attain to everlasting glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.
of the Vigil of St. Lawrence
Attend, O Lord, to Our supplications, and by the intercession of Thy blessed martyr, Lawrence, whose feast we anticipate, graciously bestow upon us Thy everlasting mercy. 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.
of St. Romanus
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that by the intercession of blessed Romanus, Thy martyr, we may be delivered from all adversity in body, and be purified from all evil thoughts in mind. 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.
EPISTLE Ecclus. 45: 1-6
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.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 91: 13, 14
The just shall flourish like the palm-tree; he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus in the house of the Lord. V. (Ps. 91, 3). To show forth Thy mercy in the morning, and Thy truth in the night. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (James 1: 12) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 12: 35-40
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: ” Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands, and you yourselves like to men, who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh, shall find watching. Amen, I say to you, that He will gird Himself, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them. And if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Be ye then also ready; for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 88: 25
My truth and My mercy shall be with him: and in My name shall his horn be exalted.
SECRET
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 Forever and ever.
of the Vigil of St. Lawrence
Mercifully receive, O Lord, the sacrifices which we offer Thee, and by the intercession of blessed Lawrence, Thy martyr, loose the bonds of our sins. 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.
of St. Romanus
We beseech Thee, O Lord, to receive our offerings and prayers; and by Thy Heavenly mysteries cleanse us and mercifully hear us. 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.
PREFACE of the Common
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…
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matthew 24: 46-47
Blessed is the servant, whom when the Lord shall come, He shall find watching: Amen I say to you, He shall set him over all his goods.
POSTCOMMUNION
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 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.
of the Vigil of St. Lawrence
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, that, as in commemorating blessed Lawrence, Thy martyr, we show our joy in a temporal duty, so we may be gladdened by beholding him in eternity. 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.
of St. Romanus
Let us pray. We beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who have partaken of the food of Heaven may, by the intercession of blessed Romanus, Thy martyr, be strengthened by it against all harm. 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.