In those places where this Memorial is observed as a Solemnity or Feast, please use the texts found in the Common of Several Martyrs with the proper texts below.
INTRODUCTION
God, + come to my assistance.
— Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Come, friends, praise noble deeds, valiant and resolute,
and all those wondrous joys merited by the Saints,
for our hearts fill with zeal, striving to celebrate
peerless victors of great renown.
These were feared by the world, though they were held in chains,
for they spurned all its pomp, fruitless and arid waste;
ardent in their resolve, they followed after you,
Christ, good King of the heav’nly court.
For your sake, they endured rage and brutality;
no murmur or complaint uttered in suffering,
but their heart was at peace born of a quiet mind,
they were patient and persevered.
Whose tongue could ever say, who has the voice to tell
what things you have prepared, gifts for your Martyr Saints?
Their blood shed for your name, crimson in flowing tides,
brought them bright and unfading crowns.
O Godhead, Three in One, hear us, we beg of you,
cleanse all sin from our hearts, save us from hidden snares;
bless your servants with peace; let us with all the saints
sing your glory from age to age. Amen.
Tune: CHORIAMBUS, 12 12 12 8
Music: ICEL, 2021
or Mode II, melody 37; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Sanctorum meritis inclita gaudia, attributed to Rabanus Maurus, O.S.B., ca. 780-856, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Day after day I will bless you, Lord; I will tell of your marvelous deeds.
Psalm 145
Praise of God’s majesty
Lord, you are the Just One, who was and who is (Revelation 16:5).
I
I will give you glory, O God my King, *
I will bless your name for ever.
I will bless you day after day *
and praise your name for ever.
The Lord is great, highly to be praised,*
his greatness cannot be measured.
Age to age shall proclaim your works, *
shall declare your mighty deeds,
shall speak of your splendor and glory, *
tell the tale of your wonderful works.
They will speak of your terrible deeds, *
recount your greatness and might.
They will recall your abundant goodness; *
age to age shall ring out your justice.
The Lord is kind and full of compassion, *
slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all, *
compassionate to all his creatures.
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, *
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign *
and declare your might, O God,
to make known to men your mighty deeds *
and the glorious splendor of your reign.
Yours is an everlasting kingdom; *
your rule lasts from age to age.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Day after day I will bless you, Lord; I will tell of your marvelous deeds.
Ant. 2 To you alone, Lord, we look with confidence; you are ever close to those who call upon you.
II
The Lord is faithful in all his words *
and loving in all his deeds.
The Lord supports all who fall *
and raises all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all creatures look to you *
and you give them their food in due time.
You open wide your hand, *
grant the desires of all who live.
The Lord is just in all his ways *
and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him, *
who call on him from their hearts.
He grants the desires of those who fear him, *
he hears their cry and he saves them.
The Lord protects all who love him; *
the wicked he will utterly destroy.
Let me speak the praise of the Lord, †
let all mankind bless his holy name *
for ever, for ages unending.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Lord, be near to all who call upon you in truth and increase the dedication of those who revere you. Hear their prayers and save them that they may always love you and praise your holy name.
Ant. To you alone, Lord, we look with confidence; you are ever close to those who call upon you.
Ant. 3 King of all the ages, your ways are perfect and true.
Canticle: Revelation 15:3-4
Hymn of adoration
Mighty and wonderful are your works, *
Lord God Almighty!
Righteous and true are your ways, *
O King of the nations!
Who would dare refuse you honor, *
or the glory due your name, O Lord?
Since you alone are holy, *
all nations shall come
and worship in your presence. *
Your mighty deeds are clearly seen.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. King of all the ages, your ways are perfect and true.
READING
1 Peter 4:13-14
Rejoice, beloved, in the measure that you share Christ’s sufferings. When his glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly. Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God’s Spirit in its glory has come to rest on you.
RESPONSORY
Let the just rejoice and sing for joy in the Lord.
— Let the just rejoice and sing for joy in the Lord.
Delight in his love, you pure of heart,
— and sing for joy in the Lord.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Let the just rejoice and sing for joy in the Lord.
The antiphon for the Gospel Canticle and the Intercessions may be taken from the Daily Office.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. The holy friends of Christ rejoice in heaven; they followed in his footsteps to the end. They have shed their blood for love of him and will reign with him for ever.
Canticle of Mary
Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord
My + soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, †
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: †
the Almighty has done great things for me, *
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. The holy friends of Christ rejoice in heaven; they followed in his footsteps to the end. They have shed their blood for love of him and will reign with him for ever.
INTERCESSIONS
This is the hour when the King of martyrs offered his life in the upper room and laid it down on the cross. Let us thank him and say:
We praise you, O Lord.
We praise you, O Lord, our Savior, inspiration and example for every martyr, for loving us to the end:
We praise you, O Lord.
For calling all repentant sinners to the rewards of life:
We praise you, O Lord.
For entrusting to your Church the blood of the new and everlasting covenant poured out for the remission of sin:
We praise you, O Lord.
For our perseverance in your grace today:
We praise you, O Lord.
For incorporating our dead brothers and sisters into your own death today:
We praise you, O Lord.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
God our Father,
source of strength for all your saints,
you led Paul Miki and his companions
through the suffering of the cross
to the joy of eternal life.
May their prayers give us the courage
to be loyal until death in professing our faith.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, strength of all the Saints,
who through the Cross were pleased to call
the martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life,
grant, we pray, that by their intercession
we may hold with courage even until death
to the faith we profess.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
DISMISSAL
If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people:
The Lord be with you.
— And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
— Amen.
Another form of the blessing may be used, as at Mass.
Then he adds:
Go in peace.
— Thanks be to God.
In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Evening Prayer concludes:
May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
— Amen.
******