December 4 - St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, Confessor & Doctor - St. Barbara, Virgin & Martyr

Introit: Ecclesiasticus xv. 5

    In the midst of the Church the Lord opened his mouth: and He filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding: He clothed him with a robe of glory. Ps. It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing Thy name, O most High. ℣. Glory be to the Father.

Collect

    O God, who didst elect the blessed and illustrious doctor Peter Chrysologus, by a divine direction, to govern and instruct Thy Church;grant, we beseech Thee, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in heaven, whom we have had as our teacher of the supernatural life on earth. Through our Lord.

Commemoration of the Feria:

Collect

    Stir up Thy power, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come: that from the threatening dangers of our sins, by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued, and be saved by Thy deliverance: Who livest.

Commemoration of St. Barbara:

Collect

    O God, who among the wonders of Thy power hast granted even to the weaker sex the triumph of martyrdom: mercifully grant that we who celebrate the heavenly birthday of blessed Barbara Thy virgin and martyr may, through her example, advance nearer to Thee. Through our Lord.

Epistle: 2 Timothy iv. 1-8

    Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to Timothy. Dearly beloved, I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead, by his coming, and his kingdom: preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine. For there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned unto fables. But be thou vigilant, labor in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. Be sober. For I am even now ready to be sacrificed, and the time of my dissolution is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just Judge will render to me in that day: and not only to me, but to them also that love his coming.

Gradual: Ecclesiasticus xliv. 16, 20

    Behold the great priest, who in his days pleased God. ℣. There was not found the like to him, who kept the law of the Most High.

Alleluia: Psalms cix. 4

    Alleluia, alleluia. ℣. Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech. Alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew v. 13-19

    + Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Offertory: Psalm cxi. 13

    The just shall flourish like the palm-tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.

Secret

    May the holy prayer of blessed Peter Thy bishop, confessor and doctor never fail us, O Lord; may it render our offerings acceptable, and ever obtain for us Thy pardon, Through our Lord.

Commemoration of the Feria:

Secret

    May these holy Mysteries, O Lord, cleanse us by their powerful efficacy, and enable us to come with greater purity to Him who is their foundation. Through our Lord.

Commemoration of Barbara:

Secret

    Receive, O Lord, the gifts which we bring on the solemnity of blessed Barbara Thy virgin and martyr, through whose intercession we hope for deliverance. Through our Lord.

Communion: Matthew xxv. 20, 21

    O Lord, Thou gavest me five talents, and behold I have gained five more. Well done, thou good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

Postcommunion

    May blessed Peter Thy bishop, confessor and illustrious doctor intercede for us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that these Thy sacrifices may obtain for us salvation. Through our Lord.

Commemoration of the Feria:

Postcommunion

    May we receive Thy mercy, O Lord, in the midst of Thy temple: that we may with becoming honor prepare for the approaching solemnities of our redemption. Through our Lord.

Commemoration of Barbara:

Postcommunion

    May the mysteries which we have received be a help unto us, O Lord, and through the intercession of blessed Barbara Thy virgin and martyr, may they cause us to rejoice in Thine everlasting protection. Through our Lord.

+ Taken from St. Andrew Daily Missal, by Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, O.S.B., Imprimi Potest 11-18-1945 P. Joannes Delacroix, O.S.B., Imprimatur 11-22-1945 Joseph Van Der Meersch