S. Roberti Bellarmino Episcopi Confessoris et Ecclesiæ Doctoris ~ Duplex

A request: please remember the Holy Father and his intentions today on his patronal feast.

Scriptura: Feria Quarta in Rogationibus, In Vigilia Ascensionis

Wed, 5/13/26:

Today is the feast of St. Robert Bellarmine, B, C & D, under the 1954 (double) rubrics.

Mass: Proper Mass. White. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Credo (1954 only; for feasts of doctors). Preface of Easter. Ite. Commemoration and Last Gospel of the vigil of the Ascension. Commemoration is also made of Rogation Wednesday (collects of the Mass Exaudivit).

At private (low) Masses, the Mass of the vigil of the Ascension may be offered in place of the Mass of today's feast ad libitum. Proper Mass. White. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Preface of Easter. Ite. Commemoration of St. Robert Bellarmine and of Rogation Wednesday.

If the procession for Rogation Wednesday is conducted before Mass today, the Mass that follows must be a sung Mass of Rogation Wednesday (Exuadivit). Violet. Omit Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Omit Credo. Preface of Easter. Benedicamus. Commemoration of St. Robert Bellarmine and of the vigil of the Ascension. Last Gospel of the vigil

(LB236.)

Introitus
Eccli 15:5
In médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os ejus: et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus: stolam glóriæ índuit eum. Allelúja, allelúja.
Ps 91:2
Bonum est confitéri Dómino: et psállere nómini tuo, Altíssime.

V. Glória Patri, ... 

 Collect

℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, Who endowed blessed Robert, Your Bishop and Doctor, with wondrous learning and virtue to repel the deceits of error and to defend the rights of the Apostolic See, grant, by his merits and intercession, that we may ever grow in love of truth and that the hearts of the erring may return to the unity of Your Church.
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 5:13-19
At that time: Jesus said unto his disciples: Ye are the salt of the earth: But if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? And so forth.

A Homily by St. Robert Bellarmine the Bishop
Concio 9, de probitate Doctorum Ecclesiae; ab initio
Just as in God, whom we venerate as one in the Trinity and three in the Unity, there are three things in particular which are especially clear: power, wisdom, and goodness; so also God, beloved listeners, that he might make his special friends and children, our fathers and teachers, very like unto himself and to be esteemed and admired by all nations, wished them to be in the highest degree powerful, wise, excellent, and holy. First, he furnished them with that power, by which they might do many evidently wonderful and extraordinary things, out of the usual course and order of nature, in regard to the elements, trees, brute beasts, and even to mankind. Then, he gave them such wisdom, that they saw not only the past and present, but they even foresaw the future long before, and predicted it. Finally, he enlarged their hearts with very great and burning charity, enabling them not only to enter whole-heartedly on their labours, but also to influence those whom they were about to convert, as well by their example and holy life, as by their preaching and miracles.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May the sacrament we have received, O Lord, our God, enkindle in us the fire of love which flamed so ardently in blessed Robert that he spent himself unceasingly in defense of Your Church.
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.

Ss. Nerei, Achillei et Domitillæ Virg. atque Pancratii Martyrum ~ Semiduplex

Tempora: Feria Tertia in Rogationibus

Tues, 5/12/26:

Today is the feast of Ss. Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla, V, and Pancras, Mm, under the 1954 (semi-double) and 1962 (III class) rubrics.

Mass: Proper Mass. Red. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Omit Credo. Preface of Easter. Ite. Under 1954, commemoration is made of Rogation Tuesday (prayer of the Mass Exaudivit). 3rd prayer Concede nos of Our Lady. No commemorations or additional prayers under 1962.

Under 1954, if the procession precedes Mass, the sung Mass of Rogation Tuesday is to be celebrated. All as on Rogation Monday (Mass Exaudivit, etc.). Station church at St. John Lateran. Commemoration is made of Ss. Nereus et al. 3rd prayer Concede nos.

Under 1962, provided the local ordinary has not transferred the observance of the Rogation Days within the diocese to a different set of three consecutive days, the Mass of Rogation Tuesday may be offered as a II class votive Mass provided it is preceded by the procession. All as on Rogation Monday (Mass Exaudivit, etc.) Commemoration of Ss. Nereus et al. at low Mass only. No 3rd prayer. Under 1962, the prayers at the foot of the altar are omitted entirely following the procession at both sung and low Mass. (LB236)

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May the holy feast of Your Martyrs, Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla and Pancras, ever comfort us, we beseech You, O Lord, and make us worthy to serve You.
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.

Let us pray.
de S. Maria
Grant us, Your servants, O Lord God, we beseech You, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body; and by the intercession of glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness.

for the Church
Mercifully hear the prayers of thy Church, we beseech thee, O Lord, that all adversities and errors being overcome, she may serve thee in security and feedom.
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.

From the Holy Gospel according to John
John 4:46-53
At that time There was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. And so on.

Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great.
28th Sermon, viz. that preached on the Birth-day and in the Church of these Holy Martyrs.
Wherefore was it that when this nobleman besought the Lord to come down where his child died, the Lord (albeit He healed him) would not come, and yet, when the Centurion prayed Him to heal his servant, albeit not asked to come down, He went with them He deemed not that the nobleman's son was worthy of His bodily presence, but He refused not to go to help the Centurion's servant. What is this but a rebuke to earthly pride, which maketh us to respect in men their honours and riches rather than that Divine image wherein they are created It was not so with our Redeemer, who would not go to the son of the nobleman, but was ready to come down for the Centurion's servant, to show that to Him the things which are great among men are but of little moment, and the things which are little esteemed among men are not beneath His notice.

Nereus and Achilles were brethren, eunuchs belonging to Flavia Domitilla, who were baptized by blessed Peter, along with her and her mother Plautilla. They had advised Domitilla to consecrate her virginity to God, and on this account Aurelian, to whom she was betrothed, accused them of being Christians. They nobly confessed the faith, and were banished to the island of Ponza. Then they were again put to the torture, and after being scourged, were taken to Terracina. At Terracina, Minutius Rufus tormented them with the rack and with fire, but as they constantly affirmed that having once been baptized by the blessed Apostle Peter, no torture could ever make them sacrifice to idols, they were beheaded. Auspicius, their own disciple and the tutor of Domitilla, took their bodies to Rome, where they were buried on the road to Ardea. (Breviarium Romanum)

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O Lord, we beseech You, that the holy sacrament we have received may, by the pleadings of Your blessed Martyrs, Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla and Pancras, grant us always more of Your forgiveness.
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.

Let us pray.
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Grant, O Lord, that we, who had partaken of the aids of salvation, may be everywhere protected by the patronage of blessed Mary ever Virgin, in whose honor we have offered these gifts of thy majesty.

for the Church
We beseech thee, O Lord, our God, that thou permit not those, to whom thou hast given a participation of divine things to be subjected to human dangers.
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.

Feria Secunda in Rogationibus

  ~ Feria major

Mon, 5/11/26:

Today is a Pashcaltide feria under the 1954 rubrics, as well as Rogation Monday (non-privileged major feria).

Mass: Of Rogation Monday. Station church at St. Mary Major. Violet. Omit Gloria. Paschaltide Alleluia. Omit Credo. Preface of Easter. Benedicamus. 2nd prayer Concede nos of Our Lady. 3rd prayer either Ecclesiae tuae for the Church or Deus omnium for the pope.

At conventual Mass today (sung after None) and other sung Masses, the Litany of the Saints is chanted before the procession, with celebrant vested in violet cope and deacon/subdeacon vested in folded violet chasubles. After the Litany is chanted, the procession takes place under the usual norms. When the ministers return to the sanctuary, the celebrant dons his chasuble and maniple, while deacon and subdeacon put on their maniples. The Mass of Rogation Monday is then sung as above.

It is not permitted, if the procession precedes Mass, for any other Mass formulary to be used other than that of the Rogation Days (cf. Matters Liturgical 1938 ed., nos. 620-630 for a full summary of all the rubrics regarding the Rogation Days).

(LB236)

Introitus
Ps 17:7.
Exaudívit de templo sancto suo vocem meam, allelúja: et clamor meus in conspectu ejus, introívit in aures ejus, allelúja, allelúja.
Ps 17:2-3
Díligam te, Dómine, virtus mea: Dóminus firmaméntum meum et refúgium meum et liberátor meus.
V. Glória Patri, ...

Collect
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who in our tribulation are yet of good cheer because of thy loving-kindness, may find thee mighty to save from all dangers.
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.


Let us pray.
de S. Maria
Grant us, Your servants, O Lord God, we beseech You, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body; and by the intercession of glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness.

for the Pope
O God, the shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, graciously look upon thy servant Leo, who thou hast willed to be chief pastor of thy Church; grant him we beseech thee, by word and example to profit those over whom he rules, that together with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain to life everlasting.
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.

Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 11:5-13
At that time Jesus said unto His disciples Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him Friend, lend me three loaves. And so on.

Homily by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.
Book vii. on Luke xi.
We gather from this commandment, among other things, that we ought to pray, not only by day, but also by night. Thou seest how that he which arose at midnight to ask three loaves of his friend, and endured in supplication, was not disappointed of that which he sought. Of what are these three loaves a figure, but of that our Mysterious Bread Which cometh down from heaven Thou seest that if thou lovest the Lord thy God, thou mayest win His bounty, not only for thyself, but for others likewise. And who can deserve more to be called our “Friend” than He Which gave His Own Body for us

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Mercifully grant our prayers, we beseech thee, O Lord, that while we receive thy gifts in tribulation, we may be conforted, and so increase in thy love.
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.


Let us pray.
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Grant, O Lord, that we, who had partaken of the aids of salvation, may be everywhere protected by the patronage of blessed Mary ever Virgin, in whose honor we have offered these gifts of thy majesty.

for the Pope
Let the reception of this divine Sacrament protect us, O Lord, we beseech theee: and may thy servant Leo, whom thou has chosen as the chief pastor of thy Church, along with the flock committed to him derive always from it protection and help.
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.

Dominica V Post Pascha ~ Semiduplex Dominica minor

Commemoratio: S. Antonini Episcopi et Confessoris

Sun, 5/25/25:

Today is the 5th Sunday after Easter under the 1954 (semi-double Sunday) and 1962 (II class Sunday) rubrics. 

Mass: Proper Mass. White. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Credo. Preface of Easter. Ite. Under 1954, commemoration of S. Antonini Episcopi et Confessoris . No commemorations under 1962.

Office: Sunday office. White. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1954)/1 nocturn of 3 lessons (1962; lesson II = II & III of the old Breviary combined, III = lesson VII of the old Breviary). Te Deum. Psalms of Sunday with Paschaltide antiphon. All else from the proper. Proper Benedictus antiphon at Lauds. Under 1954, commemoration of S. Antonini Episcopi et Confessoris and Ss Gordian and Epimachus at Lauds. No commemorations at Lauds under 1962. Omit suffrage (1954 only).

Introitus
Isa 48:20
Vocem jucunditátis annuntiáte, et audiátur, allelúja: annuntiáte usque ad extrémum terræ: liberávit Dóminus pópulum suum, allelúja, allelúja.
Ps 65:1-2
Jubiláte Deo, omnis terra, psalmum dícite nómini ejus: date glóriam laudi ejus.
℣. Glória Patri, 

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, from Whom all good things do come, grant to us thy humble servants that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same.
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.

Let us pray.
Commemoration St. Antoninus, Bishop and Confessor
O Lord, may the merits of St. Antoninus, Your Confessor and Bishop, help us; and just as we praise You for the wonders You have wrought in him, so may we glory in Your mercy toward us.
Commemoration Sts. Gordian and Epimachus, Martyrs
Grant, almighty God, we beseech You, that we who keep the feast of Your blessed Martyrs Gordian and Epimachus, may be helped by their intercession with You.
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.

From the Holy Gospel according to John
John 16:23-30
At that time, Jesus said unto His disciples: Amen, Amen, I say unto you: Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you. And so on.

Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
102nd Tract on John.
We have now to consider these words of the Lord “Amen, Amen, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you.” It hath already been said in the earlier part of this discourse of the Lord, for the sake of some who ask the Father in Christ's Name and receive not, that whatsoever is asked, which tendeth not to salvation, is not asked in the Name of the Saviour. By the words “In My Name” we must not understand the vocalization of letters and syllables, but the meaning of what is said, the honest and true meaning.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Grant us, O Lord, fed with the virtue of a heavenly table, to desire what is right, and to gain what we desire.
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.

Let us pray.
Commemoration Sts. Gordian and Epimachus, Martyrs
We who have eaten of the heavenly food beseech You, almighty God, that it may protect us from all harm by the intercession of Your holy Martyrs, Gordian and Epimachus.

of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Grant, O Lord, that we, who had partaken of the aids of salvation, may be everywhere protected by the patronage of blessed Mary ever Virgin, in whose honor we have offered these gifts of thy majesty.
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.

S. Gregorii Nazianzeni Episcopi Confessoris et Ecclesiæ Doctoris ~ Duplex

Commemoratio: De III die infra Octavam S. Joseph

Sat, 5/9/26:

Introitus
Eccli 15:5
In médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os ejus: et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus: stolam glóriæ índuit eum. Allelúja, allelúja.
Ps 91:2
Bonum est confitéri Dómino: et psállere nómini tuo, Altíssime.
V. Glória Patri, 

Collect

℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, who didst give blessed Gregory to be thy people’s minister in eternal salvation; grant, we pray, that we who have him for teacher of life here on earth, may also deserve now that he is in heaven, to have him for an advocate.
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.

Let us pray.
Commemoration Die III infra Octavam Patrocinii St Joseph
God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be holpen by the succour of his prayers to thee on our behalf;
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
℟. Amen

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 5:13-19
At that time: Jesus said unto his disciples: Ye are the salt of the earth: But if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? And so on, and that which followeth.

A Homily by St. Augustine the Bishop
Lib. 1 de Sermóne Dómini in monte, cap. 6
The Lord would have us understand how that men do lose their power of savouring others with righteousness when they are willing to place their eternal welfare in jeopardy for the sake of any témporal advantage, like as attainment of ease or luxury, or escape from suffering or toil. For that which is eternal, unlike things of this world, can neither be bestowed by men, nor by them taken away. Hence, when he asketh: If the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? he would have us understand the question to be: If ye, by whom mankind is preserved from corruption, be willing to lose the kingdom of heaven so as to escape trials or persecutions in this world, who is there to preserve you from corruption, seeing ye are they that God hath chosen to preserve all others from corruption?

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May blessed Gregory thy Bishop and illustrious Doctor intercede for us, O Lord, that this thy sacrifice may obtain for us salvation.
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.

In Apparitione S. Michaëlis Archangeli ~ Duplex majus

Tempora: Feria Sexta infra Hebdomadam IV post Octavam Paschæ

Fri, 5/8/26:

Ps 102:20
Benedícite Dóminum, omnes Angeli ejus: poténtes virtúte, qui tácitis verbum ejus, ad audiéndam vocem sermónum ejus, allelúja, allelúja.
Ps 102:1
Bénedic, ánima mea, Dómino: et ómnia, quæ intra me sunt, nómini sancto ejus.
V. Glória Patri, 

Collect

℣. The Lord be with you.

℟. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O God, Who hast ordained and constituted the services of angels and men in a wonderful order, mercifully grant that as thy holy angels alway do thee service in heaven, so, by thy appointment, they may succour and defend us on earth.

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 18:1-10
At that time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And so on.

Homily by St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers.
Com. on Matth. xviii.
Unless ye become as little children,” saith the Lord, “ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven,” that is, unless by the uprooting of bodily and mental depravity, we bring our souls to the innocency of childhood. But He giveth the name of children to all such as believe by the hearing of faith. Children follow their father, love their mother, know not how to wish evil to their neighbours, are not careful for earthly riches they insult not, they hate not, they lie not, they believe what they are told, and take for truth what they hear. Us then it behoveth to return to the simpleness of little children, for when we are well rooted therein, we shall so far bear about in ourselves an image of the sublime simpleness of the Lord Jesus.

That the blessed Archangel Michael hath oftentimes been seen of men is attested on the authority of the Holy Bible, and also by the ancient traditions of the Saints. For this reason such visions are held in remembrance in many places. As of old time did the Synagogue of the Jews, so now doth the Church of God venerate Michael as her watcher and defender. But during the papacy of Gelasius I. the summit of Mount Gargano in Apulia, at whose foot lieth the town of Siponto, was the scene of an extraordinary appearance of this same Archangel Michael.

And it came to pass on this wise. A certain man had a bull grazing with the flock upon Mount Gargano, and it strayed. And when they had sought it for a long while they found it jammed in the mouth of a cavern. Then one that stood there shot an arrow at it to slay it, but the arrow turned round and came back against him that had shot it. They therefore that saw it, and all those that heard it, were sore afraid because of that which had come to pass, so that no man dared any more to draw near to the cavern. But when they had sought counsel of the Bishop of Siponto, he answered, that it behoved to seek the interpretation from God, and proclaimed three days of fasting and prayer.

After three days the Archangel Michael gave warning to the Bishop that that place was under his protection, and that he had thus pointed out by a sign that he wished that worship should be offered to God there, with remembrance of himself and of the Angels. Then the Bishop and the citizens made haste and came to the cavern and when they found that the form thereof was somewhat after the fashion of a Church, they began to perform the public worship of God therein which sanctuary hath been glorified with many miracles. It was not long after these things that Pope Boniface IV. hallowed the Church of St. Michael on Hadrian's Mole at Rome, on the 29th day of September, on the which day the Church also holdeth in remembrance All Angels. But this present day is hallowed in remembrance of the manifestation of the Archangel Michael.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Relaying on the intercession of blessed Michael the archangel, we humbly entreat thee, O Lord, that the service we pray with our lips, we may lay hold of with our minds.
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.

S. Stanislai Episcopi et Martyris

 Scriptura: Feria Quinta infra Hebdomadam IV post Octavam Paschæ

Thurs, 5/7/26:

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

Mass: Protexisti of one martyr in Paschaltide with proper collect. Red. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Omit Credo. Preface of Easter. Ite. No commemorations or additional prayers. (LB236)

Introitus
Ps 63:3
Protexísti me, Deus, a convéntu malignántium, allelúja: a multitúdine operántium iniquitátem, allelúja, allelúja.
Ps. 63:2
Exáudi, Deus, oratiónem meam cum déprecor: a timóre inimíci éripe ánimam meam.
V. Glória Patri,  ...

Collect
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, in defense of Whose honor Stanislaus, the glorious Bishop, died by the swords of wicked men, grant, we beseech You, that all who seek his help may obtain salvation as a result of his prayers.
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.

From the holy Gospel according to John
John 15:1-7
In that time Jesus said to his disciples: I an the true vine; and my Father is the husbandman. And so on.

Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
Tract 80 on John
Dearly beloved brethren, this passage of the Gospel, wherein the Lord saith that He is the vine, and that His disciples are the branches, is to be taken in that sense wherein it is also said, that He is the Head of the Church, Eph. v. 23, and that we are the members of Him 30 Who is the Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. ii. 5. The vine and his branches are of one and the same nature. Therefore, seeing that He was God, of which nature we are not, He was made man, to the end that He might have in Himself this vine, that is, the manhood, whereof we men can be made branches.

This Stanislaw was a Pole. He was born of a noble family, on the 26th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1030, at (Szcrepanow, in the diocese of) Cracow. His godly parents, who had been childless for thirty years, obtained him from God by prayer, and from his earliest years he gave token of the holiness of life which afterwards marked him. When he was a young man he applied himself heartily to all useful learning, and was deeply read in the sacred teaching of the Canons and of Theological science. After the death of his parents he inherited great possessions, but he sold them, and distributed the price to the poor, purposing himself to become a monk. However, by the Providence of God, Lampert, Bishop of Cracow, named him Canon of the Cathedral Church of that diocese, and Preacher in the same and afterwards, in 1072, he was elected, against his own will, to succeed to Lampert's place. In this office he was a bright and shining light of all virtues that become a shepherd of souls, especially of tenderness toward the poor.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us of sin, and through the intercession of blessed Stanislaus, Your Martyr and Bishop, may it make us sharers of heavenly healing.
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.