Today is the glorious feast of the Franciscan Protomartyrs, the main patrons of this page. An introduction to their beautiful life and martyrdom has been given here as well as the first part of the account of their martyrdom. The other parts will be posted throughout the week.
Below is given the Proper of the Mass of these illustrious saints.
Introit
Multæ tribulationes justorum et de his omnibus liberavit eos Dominus: Dominus custodit omnia ossa eorum unum ex his non conteretur.Ps. Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore: semper laus ejus in ore meo. V. Gloria Patri... (The just suffer many tribulations, but the Lord shall free them from all. The Lord shall keep all of their bones; not one of them shall be broken. Ps. I will praise the Lord in all times: His praise shall always be in my lips. Glory be...)
Collect
Deus, qui sanctorum Martyrum tuorum Berardi, Petri, Accursii, Adjuti atque Othonis glorioso certamine ordinis Minorum initia consecrasti: concede nobis famulis tuis ; ut quorum lætamur triumphis, eorum virtutes imitemur. Per Dominum... (God, who has consecrated the beginnings of the Order of Friars Minor with the glorious struggle of your holy Martyrs Berard, Peter, Accursius, Adjutus, and Otho; make us, your servants, imitate the virtues of those in whose triumph we rejoice. Through Our Lord...)
Epistle
Lectio Epistolæ beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios. Fratres: Puto enim quod Deus nos Apostolos novissimos ostendit, tamquam morti destinatos : quia spectaculum facti sumus mundo, et angelis, et hominibus. Nos stulti propter Christum, vos autem prudentes in Christo : nos infirmi, vos autem fortes : vos nobiles, nos autem ignobiles. Usque in hanc horam et esurimus, et sitimus, et nudi sumus, et colaphis cædimur, et instabiles sumus, et laboramus operantes manibus nostris : maledicimur, et benedicimus : persecutionem patimur, et sustinemus : blasphemamur, et obsecramus : tamquam purgamenta hujus mundi facti sumus, omnium peripsema usque adhuc. Non ut confundam vos, hæc scribo, sed ut filios meos carissimos moneo. (I Cor.4, 9-14 - Brethren: For I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death: we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honourable, but we without honour. Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode; And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it. We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all even until now. I write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children.)
Gradual
Vindica, Domine, sanguinem Sanctorum tuorum qui effusus est.V. Posuerunt morticina servorum tuorum, Domine, escas volatilibus cæli: carnes Sanctorum tuorum bestiis terræ. (Vindicate, O Lord, the spilled blood of your Saints. V. The bodies of your servants were given as food to the birds of the skies; the flesh of your Saints to the beasts of the earth.)
Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Hæc est vera fraternitas, quæ vincit mundi crimina: Christum secuta est, inclyta tenens regna cælestia. Alleluia. (Alleluia, Alleluia. V. This is true brotherliness that overcame the wickedness of the world: it followed Christ, holding fast to the glorious kingdom of Heaven. Alleluia.)
Gospel
Sequentia Sancti Evangelii Secundum Matthæum. In Illo tempore: Dixit Iesus discipulis suis: Ecce ego mitto vos sicut oves in medio luporum. Estote ergo prudentes sicut serpentes, et simplices sicut columbæ. Cavete autem ab hominibus. Tradent enim vos in conciliis, et in synagogis suis flagellabunt vos : et ad præsides, et ad reges ducemini propter me in testimonium illis, et gentibus. Cum autem tradent vos, nolite cogitare quomodo, aut quid loquamini : dabitur enim vobis in illa hora, quid loquamini : non enim vos estis qui loquimini, sed Spiritus Patris vestri, qui loquitur in vobis. Tradet autem frater fratrem in mortem, et pater filium : et insurgent filii in parentes, et morte eos afficient : et eritis odio omnibus propter nomen meum : qui autem perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit. (Matthew, 10, 16-22: At that time Jesus said to His disciples: Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men. For they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before governors, and before kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles: But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what to speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak. For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. The brother also shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the son: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and shall put them to death. And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.)
Offertory
Justorum animæ in manu Dei sunt, et non tanget illos tormentum malitiæ: visi sunt oculis insipientium mori,illi autem sunt in pace, Alleluia. (The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them: In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, but they are in peace.)
Secret
Pro pretiosa, Domine, tuorum morte Sanctorum sacrificium istud offerimus: quo opem tuam nostris temporibus clementer impendas, et gratiam nobis veræ devotionis exhibeas. Per Dominum... (We offer this Sacrifice, o Lord, for the precious death of your Saints: that you may mercifully give your aid to our time, and that you may show us the grace of true devotion. Through Our Lord...)
Communion
Dico autem vobis amicis meis: ne terreamini ab his, qui vos persequuntur. (But I tell you, my friends: fear not those who persecute you)
Postcommunion
Cælestia, Domine, dona quæ sumpsimus, vitam nobis tribuant sempiternam; quam cum beatorum Martyrum tuorum Berardi,Petri, Accursii, Adjuti atque Othonis gloriosis meritis imploramus. Per Dominum... (Lord, may the heavenly gifts which we have consumed bring us everlasting life; this we implore by the glorious merits of your blessed Martyrs Berard, Peter, Accursius, Adjutus, and Otho. Through Our Lord...)
