The Roman Missal: Proper of Saints, March and April (English) 4

1[March 7. St Thomas of Aquin, Confessor and Doctor of the Church.—Double.]

2Introit. Ecclus. xv. In the midst of the Church the Lord opened his mouth: and filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding: he clothed him with a robe of glory. Ps. It is good to give praise to the Lord; and to sing to thy name, O most High. Glory, &c.

3Prayer. Deus qui Ecclesiam. O God, who dost enlighten thy Church with the wonderful erudition of blessed Thomas, thy confessor, and dost render it fruitful by his holy works, grant us, we beseech thee, to behold with our understanding what he taught, and to accomplish by imitation what he did. Through our Lord, &c.

4[After a Commemoration of the Feria, the following of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas, MM.]

5Prayer. Da nobis. Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, to venerate with continual devotion the triumphs of thy holy martyrs, Perpetua and Felicitas; that what we cannot celebrate with worthy minds, we may at least attend with humble service. Through our Lord, &c.

6Lesson. Wisdom vii. 7—14. I wished, and understanding was given me; and I called, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me; and I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her. Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone, for all gold in comparison of her is as a little sand, and silver in respect to her shall be counted as clay. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light, for her light cannot be put out. Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable riches through her hands. And I rejoiced in them all; for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all: which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not; for she is an infinite treasure to men, which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline.

7[The rest of the Mass as in the Common of Doctors, page xxxiii. with Credo, and the following Commemorations of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas, MM.]

8Secret. Look down, we beseech thee, O Lord, upon the offerings set forth upon thy altar on the festival of the holy martyrs, Perpetua and Felicitas; that as by these sacred mysteries, thou didst confer glory upon them, so thou wouldst grant pardon to us. Through our Lord, &c.

9Postcom. Præsta nobis. Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord, by the intercession of thy holy martyrs, Perpetua and Felicitas, that what we receive with our mouths, we may take with pure minds. Through our Lord, &c.