14 January 2015 - Saint Hilary, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church

Double - White

Saint Hilary, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church, is also called the Hammer of the Arians or the Athanasius of the West. He was unanimously elected Bishop of Poitiers around 353.

INTROIT Ecclus. 15.5.

IN the midst of the Church he opened his mouth: and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and under-standing. Ps. 91.2. It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to thy Name, O Most High. V.: Glory be.

COLLECT

O GOD, who didst give blessed Hilary as a minister of eternal salvation to thy people: grant, we beseech thee, that we, who have had him for our teacher on earth, may deserve to have him for our advocate in heaven. Through.

COMMEMORATION: Of St. Felix.

GRANT, we beseech thee, O almighty God, that the examples of thy Saints may stir us to a better life, so that we may also imitate the good deeds of those whose festivals we celebrate. Through.

EPISTLE II Tim. 4.1-8.

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, labour 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 Ps. 36.30-31.

The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgement. V.: The law of his God is in his heart: and his steps shall not be supplanted.

Alleluia, alleluia. V. Ecclus. 45.9. The Lord hath loved him and adorned him: He hath clothed him with a robe of glory. Alleluia.

+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (5.13-19)

AT that time, Jesus said to his disciples: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savor, 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 there-fore 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 king-dom of heaven.

¶ The Creed is said in all masses of Doctors of the Church.

OFFERTORY Ps. 91.13.

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

SECRET

MAY the holy prayer of Saint Hilary, thy Bishop and Doctor, fail us not, O Lord: may it render our offerings accetable and ever obtain for us thy pardon. Through.

COMMEMORATION: Of St. Felix.

O LORD, graciously accept the offerings consecrated unto thee, through the merits of thy blessed Martyr Felix: and grant that they may be to us an abiding source of help. Through.

COMMUNION Luke 12.42.

The faithful and wise servant, whom his lord setteth over his family: to give them their meas-ure of wheat in due season.

POSTCOMMUNION

WE beseech thee, O Lord, that blessed Hilary, thy Bishop and illustrious Doctor, may approach to pray for us, that these thy sacrifices may bring us salvation. Through.

COMMEMORATION: Of St. Felix.

WE beseech thee, O Lord, that we, who have been fed with these Mysteries of our salvation, may be aided by the prayers of blessed Felix thy Martyr, whose festival we celebrate. Through.