The Roman Missal: Proper of Saints, October (English) 10

1[October 9. SS. Dionysius, Rusticus, and Eleutherius, MM.—Semidouble.]

2[Mass.—Sapientiam, for Martyrs, page XXI. except—]

3Prayer. Deus qui. O God, who on this day didst strengthen blessed Dionysius, thy martyr and bishop, with the virtue of constancy in suffering; and who didst vouchsafe to associate with him Rusticus and Eleutherius to preach thy glory to the Gentiles: grant us, we beseech thee, in imitation of them, to despise worldly prosperity for the love of thee, and not to fear any of its adversity. Through our Lord, &c.

4Lesson. Acts xvii. 22—34. In those days, Paul standing in the midst of Areopagus, said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. For passing by and seeing your idols, I found an altar also on which was written, To the unknown God. What therefore you worship without knowing it, that I preach to you. God who made the world and all things therein, he being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither is he served with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing it is he who giveth to all, life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one all mankind to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, determining appointed times, and the limits of their habitation, that they should seek God, if happily they may feel after him, or find him; although he be not far from every one of us, for in him we live and move and be: as some also of your own poets said, For we are also his offspring. Being therefore the offspring of God, we must not suppose the Divinity to be like unto gold, or silver, or stone, the graving of art and device of man. And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now declareth to men, that all should every where do penance, because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in equity, by the man whom he hath appointed, giving faith to all, by raising him up from the dead. And when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked; but others said, We will hear thee again concerning this matter. So Paul went out from among them. But certain men adhered to him, and believed; among whom was also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

5[Gospel.—St Luke xii. 1—8. Beware ye of the leaven, as on June 26, page 612.]

6Secret. We beseech thee, O Lord, propitiously to receive the gifts offered to thee by thy people in honour of thy saints; and sanctify us by their intercession. Through our Lord, &c.

7Postcom. Sumptis. Having received the holy mysteries, we beseech thee, O Lord, that, by the intercession of thy blessed martyrs Dionysius, Rusticus and Eleutherius, we may profit to the increase of eternal redemption. Through our Lord, &c.