In Octava S. Stephani Protomartyris ~ Simplex

Scriptura: Ad Romános, cap. 5

Sat, 1/2/26:

Today is the octave day of St. John, Ap & Ev, under the 1954 (simple) rubrics.

Mass: As on the December 27 feast of St. John. White. Gloria. Gradual/Alleluia. Omit Credo. Preface of the Apostles. Celebrant bows his head at mention of St. John in the Canon. Ite. 2nd prayer Deus qui salutis of Our Lady. 3rd prayer either Ecclesiae tuae for the Church or Deus omnium for the pope.

Private (low) non-privileged votive Masses/Requiem Masses are prohibited today under the 1954 rubrics.

Office: Ordinary office. White. Matins of 1 nocturn of 3 lessons (I & II = occurring Scripture from the Epistle to the Romans with accompanying responsories, III = proper for the octave day). Te Deum. Psalms and antiphons of the feria. All else from the proper. Collect of the feast of St. John. No commemorations at Lauds. Omit suffrage. At Prime, announce at the beginning of the martyrology Festum sanctissimi Nominis Jesu. (LB236 on Twitter/X.)

Introitus
Ps 118:23; 118:86; 118:23
Sedérunt príncipes, et advérsum me loquebántur: et iníqui persecúti sunt me: ádjuva me, Dómine, Deus meus, quia servus tuus exercebátur in tuis justificatiónibus.
Ps 118:1
Beati immaculáti in via, qui ámbulant in lege Dómini,
℣. Glória Patri, …

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui primítias Mártyrum in beati Levítæ Stephani sánguine dedicásti: tríbue, quǽsumus; ut pro nobis intercéssor exsístat, qui pro suis étiam persecutóribus exorávit Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum:
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
℟. Amen

Continuation ✠ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 23:34-39
At that time, Jesus said to the Scribes and Pharisees, Therefore, behold, I send you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them you will put to death and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from town to town; that upon you may come all the just blood that has been shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the just unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. Amen I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem! you who kill the prophets, and stone those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you would not! Behold, your house is left to you desolate. For I say to you, you shall not see Me henceforth until you shall say, Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!

From the Sermons of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
2nd on St. Stephen.
Christ, the Captain of the Martyrs, hath first suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow His steps, i Pet. ii. 21. And truly, Blessed Stephen followed them, when, having confessed Christ, he was stoned to death by the Jews, and obtained the crown which his name had foreshown. For the meaning of the Greek name Stephanos is a crown. Already he had a crown for his name, a foreshadowing of the martyr's palm which he beareth in heaven. Then they stoned him he did not rejoice at the thought that God would take vengeance on his persecutors. On the contrary, he prayed that they might be forgiven.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May the sacrament we have received aid us, O Lord; and by the intercession of blessed Stephen, Your Martyr, may it sustain us under Your everlasting protection.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.