S. Agathæ Virginis et Martyris ~ Duplex

Tempora: Feria V infra Hebdomadam Septuagesimæ

Thurs, 2/5/25:

Today is the feast of St. Agatha, V & M, under the 1954 (double) and 1962 (III class) rubrics.

Mass: Proper Mass. Red. Gloria. Gradual/Tract. Omit Credo. Common Preface. Ite. No commemorations or additional prayers.

Office: Under 1954, proper office. Red. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1st nocturn = proper lessons and responsories). Te Deum. Proper psalms and antiphons at Matins. At Lauds, psalms of Sunday with proper antiphons. All else from the proper (proper chapter and Benedictus antiphon). Collect Deus qui inter cetera of a virgin martyr. No commemorations at Lauds. Omit suffrage. At Prime and the hours, psalms and antiphons of the feria. All else from the proper.

Introitus
Gaudeámus omnes in Dómino, diem festum celebrántes sub honóre beátæ Agathæ Vírginis et Martyris: de cujus passióne gaudent Angeli et colláudant Fílium Dei.
Ps 44:2
Eructávit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego ópera mea Regi.
V. Glória Patri, ...

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, Who among other wonders of Your power have given the victory of martyrdom even to the gentler sex, graciously grant that we who commemorate the anniversary of the death of blessed Agatha, Your Virgin and Martyr, may come to You by following her example.
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.

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 19:3-12
In that time, there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, and saying: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And so on.

Homily by St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople.
63th on Matthew.
Seeing that directly to exhort them unto virginity was well-nigh more than they could bear, our Lord seeketh to draw them to the desire thereof, taking occasion by the needfulness of a law against divorce. Then He showeth that virginity is possible, saying There are some eunuchs which were so born from their mother's womb; and there are some eunuchs which were made eunuchs of men; and there be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. In these words He persuadeth them indirectly to choose virginity, while He teacheth them that such a gift is not so good as to be impossible.

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 Agatha, Your Virgin and Martyr, may it keep us forevermore 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.
R. Amen.