At low Masses a commemoration of Nicomedes, Martyr
Introit • John 19, 25
There stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother, and His mother’s sister Mary of Cleophas, and Salome, and Mary Magdalen. Women, behold thy son, said Jesus; to the disciple, however, Behold thy mother. Glory be …
Collect (Prayer)
O God, in Whose passion a sword of sorrow pierced the most dear soul of the glorious Virgin-Mother, Mary, as foretold by Simeon, mercifully grant that we who reverently commemorate her sorrow, may obtain the happy effect of Thy passion. Who livest.
Epistle • Judith 13, 22-25; 15, 10
Lesson from the Book of Judith.
The Lord hath blessed thee by his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies to nought. And Ozias the prince of the people of Israel, said to her: Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth. Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and earth, who hath directed thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies. Because he hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our God. And when she was come out to him, they all blessed her with one voice, saying: Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honor of our people.
Gradual •
Sorrowful and tearful art thou, O Virgin Mary, standing by the cross of the Lord Jesus, thy Son and Redeemer. Virgin Mother of God, He Whom the whole earth containeth not, the Author of life, made man, beareth this anguish of the cross.
Alleluia, alleluia. Holy Mary, queen of heaven and mistress of the world, stood by the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, sorrowing. Alleluia.
Gospel • John 19, 25-27
Continuation of the Holy Gospel According to St. John.
[The continuation of the history of the Passion of Christ.]
At that time, there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.
Offertory
Remember, O Virgin Mother of God, when thou standest in the presence of the Lord, that thou speak good things for us and turn His wrath from us.
Secret
We offer Thee prayers and sacrifices, O Lord Jesus Christ, humbly entreating that we, who commemorate in our prayers the piercing of the most dear soul of blessed Mary, Thy Mother, may, through the multiplied intercession of her and of her holy companions under the cross by the merits of Thy death, receive our portion with the blessed. Who livest.
Communion
Happy the senses of the blessed Virgin Mary, which without death earned the palm of martyrdom beneath the cross of our Lord.
Postcommunion
May the sacrifices of which we have partaken, O Lord Jesus Christ, devoutly celebrating the piercing of Thy Virgin Mother’s soul, obtain for us with Thy clemency the effect of every salutary benefit. Who livest.