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 The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
Psalm 27
God stands by us in dangers
God now truly dwells with men (Revelation 21:3).
I
The Lord is my light and my help; *
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; *
before whom shall I shrink?
When evil-doers draw near *
to devour my flesh,
it is they, my enemies and foes, *
who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me *
my heart would not fear.
Though war break out against me *
even then would I trust.
There is one thing I ask of the Lord, *
for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord, *
all the days of my life,
to savor the sweetness of the Lord, *
to behold his temple.
For there he keeps me safe in his tent *
in the day of evil.
He hides me in the shelter of his tent, *
on a rock he sets me safe.
And now my head shall be raised *
above my foes who surround me,
and I shall offer within his tent *
a sacrifice of joy.
I will sing and make music for the Lord.
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 Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
Ant. 2 I long to look on you, O Lord; do not turn your face from me.
II
Some rose to present lies and false evidence against Jesus (Mark 14:57).
O Lord, hear my voice when I call; *
have mercy and answer.
Of you my heart has spoken: *
“Seek his face.”
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; *
hide not your face.
Dismiss not your servant in anger; *
you have been my help.
Do not abandon or forsake me, *
O God my help!
Though father and mother forsake me, *
the Lord will receive me.
Instruct me, Lord, in your way; *
on an even path lead me.
When they lie in ambush, protect me *
from my enemy’s greed.
False witnesses rise against me, *
breathing out fury.
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness *
in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. *
Hope in the Lord!
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
Father, you protect and strengthen those who hope in you; you heard the cry of your Son and kept him safe in your tent in the day of evil. Grant that your servants who seek your face in time of trouble may see your goodness in the land of the living.
Ant. I long to look on you, O Lord; do not turn your face from me.
Ant. 3 He is the first-born of all creation; in every way the primacy is his.
Canticle: Colossians 1:12-20
Christ the first-born of all creation and the first-born from the dead
Let us give thanks to the Father *
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints *
in light.
He rescued us *
from the power of darkness
and brought us *
into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption, *
the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, *
the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created, *
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him; *
all were created for him.
He is before all else that is. *
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the church! *
he who is the beginning,
the first-born of the dead, *
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him *
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens, *
making peace through the blood of his cross.
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. He is the first-born of all creation; in every way the primacy is his.
During the Easter Season
READING
Revelation 7:14b-17
These are the ones who have survived the great period of trial; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
It was this that brought them before God’s throne:
day and night they minister to him in the temple;
he who sits on the throne will give them shelter.
Never again shall they know hunger or thirst,
nor shall the sun or its heat beat down on them,
for the Lamb on the throne will shepherd them.
He will lead them to springs of life-giving water,
and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
RESPONSORY
The splendor of the just will shine before God, alleluia, alleluia.
— The splendor of the just will shine before God, alleluia, alleluia.
The upright of heart will rejoice,
— alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— The splendor of the just will shine before God, alleluia, alleluia.
Outside the Easter Season
span class="capolettera_piccolo">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. [P. T.] Rejoice, all you saints, before the Lamb; for the kingdom has been prepared for you from the beginning of the world, alleluia.
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. [P. T.] Rejoice, all you saints, before the Lamb; for the kingdom has been prepared for you from the beginning of the world, alleluia.
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 eaerth 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
Father,
you have made the blood of the martyrs the seed of Christians.
May the witness of Saint Charles and his companions
and their loyalty to Christ in the face of torture
inspire countless men and women
to live the Christian 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, who have made the blood of Martyrs
the seed of Christians,
mercifully grant that the field which is your Church,
watered by the blood
shed by Saints Charles Lwanga and his companions,
may be fertile and always yield you an abundant harvest.
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.
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