Posted by Octave Day of St Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr; Comm. Vigil of the Epiphany & S. Telesphorus, Pope & Martyr: Missa “Gaudeámus omnes”
Saint Thomas a Becket, son of an English nobleman, Gilbert Becket, was born on the day consecrated to the memory of Saint Thomas the Apostle, December 21, 1117, in Southwark, England. The martyred Archbishop was canonized by Pope Alexander III on Ash Wednesday, 1173, not yet three years after his death on December 29, 1170, to the edification of the entire Church.
St. Telesophorus was the 8th Successor of Peter, St. Telesophorus was a Greek who composed the ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo’ and instituted the seven week fast before Easter (Lent) He decreed that each priest should celebrate three Masses on Christmas night and he inserted new prayers into the Mass. He undertook numerous labours to confess the divinity of Christ, and suffered a glorious martyrdom at Rome on this day in 138.
INTROIT Psalm 138: 17
Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival-day in honor of the blessed martyr Thomas: at whose martyrdom the angels rejoice, and give praise to the Son of God. (Ps. 32: 1) Rejoice in the Lord, ye just; praise becometh the upright. 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. Repeat Let us all rejoice…
COLLECT
God, for Whose Church the glorious Bishop Thomas fell by the swords of wicked men, grant, we beseech Thee, that all who implore his help may obtain the effect of their petition leading to salvation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.
Commemoration of the Vigil of the Epiphany
O almighty and everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure; that in the Name of Thy beloved Son we may deserve to abound in good works.
Commemoration of St. Telesphorus
O God, who givest us joy by the annual solemnity of blessed Telesphorus Thy martyr and bishop, mercifully grant that we may rejoie in the protection of him whose birthday we celebrate. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.
EPISTLE Hebrews 5: 1-6
Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews. Brethren, every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err, because he himself also is compassed with infirmity; and therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was. So Christ also did not glorify Himself that He might be made a high priest; but He that said unto Him, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee. As He saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedech.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Ecclus. 44: 16
Behold a great priest, who in his days pleased God. V. There was not found the like to him, who kept the law of the Most High. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (John 10: 14) I am the good shepherd: and I know My sheep, and Mine know Me. Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 10: 11-16
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and flieth; and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep: and the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling, and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know Mine, and Mine know Me. As the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for My sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 20: 4-5
Thou hast set on his head, O Lord, a crown of precious stones: he asked life of thee, and thou hast given it to him. Alleluia.
SECRET
Sanctify, O Lord, the offerings dedicated to Thee, and, by the intercession of blessed Thomas, Thy martyr and bishop, look upon us with mercy for the sake of them. 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 the Vigil of the Epiphany
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the offering made in the sight of Thy Majesty may obtain for us the grace of loving devotion, and the reward of a blessed eternity.
Commemoration of Saint Telesphorus
Sanctify, O Lord, the offerings devoted to Thee, and by the intercession of blessed Telesphorus Thy martyr and bishop, do Thou look upon us, appeased by this sacrifice. 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.
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 John 10: 14
I am the good shepherd, and I know My sheep, and Mine know Me.
POSTCOMMUNION
May this communion, O Lord, cleanse us from guilt and, by the intercession of blessed Thomas, Thy martyr and bishop, make us the companions of Him Who is our heavenly healing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.
Commemoration of the Vigil of the Epiphany
By the working of this Mystery, O Lord, may our vices be cleansed, and our just desires fulfilled.
Commemoration of Pope Saint Telesphorus
Refreshed by participation in this holy gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that by the intercession of blessed Telesphorus Thy martyr and bishop, we may experience the effect of the worship which we perform. 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.
PROPER LAST GOSPEL Matt 2: 19-23.
But when Herod was dead, behold; An angel of the Lord appeared in Joseph to Egypt, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child. Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee. Nazareth: That it was able to be fulfilled which was said by prophets: That he shall be called Nazarene.