The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

The Gothic Missal (Missale Gothicum)

MISSA SANCTORVM FERREOLI ET FERRVCIONIS

363. <PRAEFACIO.> Dominum deum nostrum, fratres karissimi, supplices exoremus, qui sanctis martyribus suis Ferreolo et Ferrucione quaedam tribuit futurorum praemia gaudiorum in inpsa praesencium condicionem certaminum, dum perire extinguibilem sui amoris ardorem intellegunt suauitatem uitae damnis adquirere et mortem moriendo calcare, quibus dum praeteruolans hc dies perurgencium poenarum aceruitate concluditur, aditus aeternae lucis aperitur. Det nobis famulis suis ut sicut ollos nulla tormentorum genera corpore licet deserente fregerunt, ita nos nullae mundi huius inlecebrae a suae praeposito seruitutis perniciosa securitate deflectant, ut uirtutem fidei nostrae diuinus ille suae caritatis accendat et omnia in nobis corporalium uiciorum fundamenta consumat. Per.

364. COLLECCIO. Deus, cuius amoris piissimi confessores et martyris tui Ferreoli et Ferrucionis cruore adserunt et morte confirmant, qui dum tibi tam libenter sumptum a te uitae munus inpendunt, neminem non pro uitae mori testantur, concide ut fidem, quam cordibus nostris proprio inscribtam sanguine reliquerunt, uitae meritis excolamus, et quod in eis admirantur imitemur, quod colimus diligamus, quod laude prosequimur conuersacione sectimur. Per.

365. POST NOMINA. Recensitis nominibus fratrum carorumque nostrorum oremus dominicam misericordiam ut in medio Hierusalem in congregacione sanctorum haec nomina sibi faciat ab angelo sanctificationis in beatitudinem aeterni gaudii recensiri sacrificiumque hoc nostrum sicut in praeformacionem Melchisedech in uirtute sanctificet. Praeces quoque offerencium in hac oblacionem propiciatus exaudiat, commemoracionem beatissimorum martyrum Ferreoli et Ferrucionis omniumque sanctorum, ut eorum praecibus adiuti, non solum uiuentibus praesidia, uerum etiam defunctis caris nostris requiem obtenere mereantur. Per.

366. COLLECCIO AD PACEM. Mirabilis in sanctis suis, domine uirtutum, et peccatoribus nobis beatissimorum martyrum tuorum Ferreoli et Ferrucionis patrocinio largire, illi coronas insignis gemmibus lapidibus praeciosis martyrii uirtute meruerunt, nos eorum suffragiis te donante dilectorum ueniam consequamur, et concede nobis ut coniunccio labiorum cupula effeciatur animarum et ministerium osculi perpetuae proficiat caritati. Per.

367. CONTESTATIO. Dignum et iustum est, uere dignum et iustum est quocienscumque pugna sanctorum recolemus, te laudamus et in quo martyres tuos Ferreoli et Ferrucionis proferimus, tuis uirtutibus adscribamur, quia illorum corona tua est gloria. Qui per unicum filium tuum Iesum Christum dominum ac saluatorem nostrum mortalia corpora docuisti praeciosi palmam portare martyrii. Iuste autem tuis meritis exhibemus, quo fortissimorum martyrum facta ueneramur, qui humanas mentes ad certamen caelestis gloriae amorem tuae pietatis accendis. Tuae namque uirtutis est praemium poena sanctorum. Nam in qua subiacuerunt saeui membra carnificis, tibi seruit martyrum effusus sanguis. Tibi triumphum reportat manus cruenta lictoris, quique gaudio uoluntaria colla subposuit, tibi uicit, quique ungulis flammisque subiacuit, tui palmam nominis reportauit. Habes ergo domine, in quo exultes quocienscumque tantae uirtutes memoriam recolimus. Nec inmeritu singulis quibusque caelestia dona disponis, qui tantum per sanctos tuos undique amorem adquires. Quis non post tanta pietatis tuae magnificencia animum ad martyrii uota conponat? aut quis non prouocitur ad pugnam, cum uideat magno laboris fructum remuneratam martyrium uicturiam? Rogamus ergo, domine, ut in commemoracionem sanctorum tuorum Ferreoli et Ferrucionis illorum praeciosae uirtutis memoriam recolentes partem remuneracionis admittas.Haec praestis, ut familia tua perseuerare cursum coepti laboris expediat, quatenus qui in te credunt et tibi seruiunt et si non in prima uel in secunda remuneracionis sorte locum aput te merenatur obtinere iusticiae, et ideo sum angelis atque archangelis clamant dicentes.


'Mass for Saint Ferreolus and Saint Ferrucio

343. [Preface]. Most beloved brothers, let us humbly pray to the Lord our God, who gave to his holy martyrs Ferreolus and Ferrucio certain rewards of future joys in the strife of the present life, while through the inexistinguishable glow of their love they understood that through loss they would acquire the sweetness of life and by dying they would trample upon death. And for them this fleeting day was concluded with the bitterness of urging pains [and] access to eternal light was opened up. May he grant to us his servants that, as not a single kind of torment broke them even though their bodies deserted them, so no burdens of this world through a pernicious certainty may deflect us from the intention to serve him, and that this divine [glow] of his love ignites the strength of our faith and consumes in us all seeds of bodily vice. Through [...]

364. Collect. God, whose love your most pious confessors and martyrs Ferreolus and Ferrucio confessed through their blood and confirmed through their death, who, while they so gladly spent for you the gift of life obtained from you, testified that all die in order to live: grant that, through the merits of our life, we honour the faith that they left in our hearts, written with their own blood, and that what we admire in them we may imitate, what we venerate we may love, what we honour with praise we may pursue in our way of life. Through.

365. After the names. Now that the names of our brothers and beloved have been enumerated, let us pray for the mercy of the Lord, that he will bring about that in the middle of Jerusalem, in the congregation of the saints, these names will be enumerated to him by the angel of sanctification, to the beatitude of eternal joy, and that through his power he will sanctify this offering of ours after the prefiguration of Melchisedek. And that he will also mercifully grant the prayers of those who offer this oblation, that through the commemoration of the blessed martyrs Ferreolus and Ferrucio and all the saints, and assisted by their prayers, they are deemed worthy to obtain not only protection for the living but also rest for our beloved deceased. Through.

366. Prayer at the kiss of peace. Wondrous among your saints (Ps. 68, 35), O Lord of hosts, give to us sinners through the patronage of your blessed martyrs Ferreolus and Ferrucio, [that as] they merited through their virtue the crowns of martyrdom, decorated with pearls [and] precious stones, we by their help obtain forgiveness of sins through your grace. And grant us that the union of lips brings about the bond of souls and that the service of the kiss of peace contributes to perpetual love. Through.

367. Prayer of sacrifice. It is worthy and just, indeed truly worthy and just [that we praise you.] Whenever we commemorate the combat of the saints we praise you, and we ascribe to your virtues that through which we proclaim your martyrs Ferreolus and Ferrucio, for their crown is your glory. For through your only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour you taught that mortal bodies bear the palm of precious martyrdom. But we rightly proclaim your merits when we venerated the deeds of such very strong martyrs, you who through the love of your goodness ignite the hearts of the people to the combat of heavenly glory. For the reward is of your strength: the torments of the saints. For while their bodies were subjected to the cruel executioner the blood shed by the martyrs served you. The blooded hand of the magistrate's attendant brings triumph to you, and whoever voluntarily subjected the necks to the sword triumphed for you, and whoever is subjected to the claws and flames has carried away the palm of your name. Therefore you, O Lord, have something to rejoice in whenever we honour the commemoration of such great strength. And rightly you grant heavenly gifts to each individually, you who near and far acquire such great love through your saints. After such great generosity of your love, who would not prepare his soul for the desire of martyrdom? Or who would not be roused to combat when he sees the victory of the martyrs rewarded with the great fruit of their labour? We therefore ask, O Lord, that you admit us to share in the reward, we who celebrate the memory of their precious virtue in the commemoration of your saints Ferreolus and Ferrucio. May you grant this, so that your servants prepare to persevere in the course of the work begun, so that they who believe in you and serve you not only are deemed worthy to gain a place of righteousness with you, even if not in first or second place of the reward, but also cry out with angels and archangels, saying: [Holy, holy, holy...]'


Text: Rose 2005, 488-91.
Translation: Rose 2017, 256-9.

Service for the saint
Eucharist associated with cult
Liturgical invocation
Chant and religious singing
Other liturgical acts and ceremonies

Saint’s feast

Prayer/supplication/invocation
Transmission, copying and reading saint-related texts

Torturers/Executioners
Officials
Angels

Source

Discussion

Bibliography