My LORD’s BibleThe Roman Missal: Common of Saints, Apostles to Many Martyrs (English) 8
1[Common of many Martyrs.]
2Introit. Ps. lxxviii. Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee, O Lord; render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom; revenge the blood of thy saints which hath been shed. Ps. O God, the heathens are come into thy inheritance; they have defiled thy holy temple; they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit. Glory, &c.
3[For many Martyrs, Bishops.]
4Prayer. Beatorum martyrum. We beseech thee, O Lord, that the festivals of the blessed martyrs and bishops N. and N. may preserve us, and their venerable prayers commend us to thee. Through our Lord, &c.
5[For Martyrs only.]
6Prayer. Deus, qui nos concedis. O God, who permittest us to keep the festivals of thy holy martyrs N. and N. grant us to rejoice in their society in eternal happiness. Through our Lord, &c.
7[Another.]
8Prayer. Deus qui nos annua. O God, who givest us joy by the annual solemnity of thy holy martyrs N. and N. mercifully grant that we may be animated by the examples of those in whose merits we rejoice. Through our Lord, &c.
9Lesson. Wisdom iii. 1—8. The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, and their departure was taken for misery; and their going away from us for utter destruction: but they are in peace. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them. The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.
10Gradual. God is glorious in his saints: wonderful in majesty, doing wonders.—Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength: thy right hand hath broken the enemies. Alleluia, alleluia.—The bodies of the saints are buried in peace: and their names live unto generation and generation. Alleluia.
11[After Septuagesima, instead of the Alleluia and Verse, the following is said:]
12Tract. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.—Going they went and wept, casting their seeds. But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.
13Gospel. St Luke xxi. 9—19. At that time, Jesus said to his disciples, When you shall hear of wars and seditions, be not terrified: these things must first come to pass, but the end is not yet presently. Then he said to them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be great earthquakes in divers places, and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from heaven, and there shall be great signs. But before all these things they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for my name's sake. And it shall happen unto you for a testimony. Lay it up therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay. And you shall be betrayed by your parents, and brethren, and kinsmen, and friends, and some of you they will put to death. And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake; but a hair of your head shall not perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls.
14Offertory. God is wonderful in his saints: the God of Israel is he who will give power and strength to his people: blessed be God. Alleluia.
15[For many Martyrs, Bishops.]
16Secret. Attend, O Lord, to our supplications, which we offer in commemoration of thy saints; that, having no confidence in our own justice, we may be assisted by the merits of those who have been pleasing to thee. Through our Lord, &c.
17[For Martyrs only.]
18Secret. We offer to thee, O Lord, the gifts of our devotion; and may they be pleasing to thee in honour of thy just ones, and be made salutary to us by thy mercy. Through our Lord, &c.
19[Another.]
20Secret. Be appeased, we beseech thee, O Lord, by the gifts we offer; and by the intercession of thy holy martyrs N. and N. defend us from all dangers. Through our Lord, &c.
21Communion. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, God hath tried them: as gold in the furnace he hath proved them, and as holocausts he hath received them.
22[For many Martyrs, Bishops.]
23Postcommunion. Quæsumus Domine. Replenished with the holy mysteries, we beseech thee, O Lord, that we may be helped by their prayers, whose solemnity we celebrate. Through our Lord, &c.
24[For Martyrs only.]
25Postcommunion. Præsta nobis. Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord, by the intercession of thy holy martyrs N. and N. that what we touch with our lips, we may receive with pure minds. Through, &c.
26[Another.]
27Postcommunion. Hæc nos communio. May this communion, O Lord, purify us from crime; and by the intercession of thy holy martyrs N. and N. make us partakers of a heavenly remedy. Through our Lord, &c.