The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

The Gothic Missal (Missale Gothicum)

MISSA IN NATALE BEATISSIMI SINFVRIANI MARTYRIS

414. <PRAEFATIO.> Sacratam misteriis caelestibus diem ad officium deuotionis nostrae sollempnitatis ingressi, fratres dilectissimi, laudemus dominum in sanctis suis, cumque in beatissimi Sinfuriani martyris honore ueneremur, agentes ei gratias pro triumphis eius et groriam, quam aduersus corporis infirmitatem paenarumque saeuitiam spiritus fortitudinem demigantem spei uiribus roborauit, muro credulitatis inclusit successuque uicturiae ad praemia inmortalitatis inuexit. Oremus quoque ut nos in hoc saeculo etsi non pari agone certantibus similis fortitudo non desinat, et sicut illum exhortatio pie matris extulit ad peragendam certaminis huius uicturiam, ita nos catholicae fides aeclesiae inrepraehensibiliter custodita perducat ad ueniam, prouehat ad coronam. Per dominum nostrum Iesum Christum.

415. COLLECTIO SEQVITVR. Sanctorum omnium gloriosa protectio, deus, qui beato martyri tuo Sinfuriano auxilium non negasti et per iniqua mortis ludibria ad hanc gloriam uocare dignatus es, praesta ut similes nos fides martyrio copulet, quos tempus passionis in stadio non reliquit, ac sicut illum iter durum et scupolosum per erumnas passionum paradyso conlocauit, ita nos praesentium uoluptatum contemptus. Per dominum nostrum.

416. COLLECTIO SEQVITVR. Recitatis nominibus offerentum, fratres karissimi, omnipotentis dei misericordiam dipraecemur ut plebi, quae in honore beati Sinfuriani martyris uota reddit altaribus, diuinae credulitatis infundatur affectus, ut eius administratione firmentur, qui martyris meritis non iunguntur, ac sicut ille post carceris septa, post paenarum ligamina postque famis inaediam aeternitatis gaudia infinita perfruitur, ita defunctorum animae laxatis inferni praessuris Abrahae patris gremio conlocentur. Quod ipse prastare dignentur, qui.

417. COLLECTIO AD PACEM. Largitor bonorum omnium, deus, qui inter illas martyrum splendentium niueis fide cateruas tot orbe terrarum gratia coruscante diffusas praeciosum peculiaremque nobis beatum Sinfurianum martyrem indulsisti, largire cotidianis supplecum tuorum uotis, ut in cuius festa deuoto exultamus trepudio, eius in posterum consortio coniungamur, hominum osculis corporalibus, spiritalibus alligari mereamur affectibus. Per.

418. IMMOLATIO MISSAE. Dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare est nos tibi in honore beati martyris tui Sinfuriani laudem hostias immolare, domine deus aeterne, in cuius nos sollempnitate confortat uel ratio manifesta rerum uel eruditio perfecta uirtutum, qui splendere meruit non solum terrenorum claritate natalium, uerum etiam sublimitate caelestium uirtutum, et fausti fulgidus genere, fausto martyrii leuatur in culmine, qui beatos patres Andochium Benignumque secutur per martyrii glagrantiam electus peruenit ad palmam. Qui dum adflictionem sequitur praesentium, instructionem effecit posterorum et materno conloquio pietate transfertur ad praemium. Cum ei insinuatur non debere mortem metuere, quia martyribus uita non tollitur, sed mutatur. O admiranda gratiarum fides, qui de beato filio uitam glorioso xultat affectu et quae lugere credebatur, gaudere cognoscitur, secura de regni tui praemiis, filium exhortatur cum ingenti laetitia, scientes morientes in Christo uiuere et amissam uitam eo restaurante recipere. Digne ergo hic honoratur in nomine tuo, qui te horauit in sanguine suo, qui pro te afflictus est in supplicio, per te glorificatus est in sepulchro, qui te honorauit in gladio, tecum regnat in caelo, qui per angustiam praesentium tribulationum peruenire meruit ad amplitudinem caelestium gaudiorum. Per Christum dominum nostrum, per quem.


'Mass for the Feast of the Most Blessed Martyr Symphorianus

414. (Preface). Now that we have begun the service of our devotion to the solemn ceremony on the day sanctified by the heavenly mysteries, most beloved brothers, let us praise the Lord in his sanctuary (cf. Ps. 150, 1), while we also venerate him with the honour of the most blessed martyr Symphorianus, bringing thanks to him for the victory and glory of him whom he strengthened against the weakness of his body when the force of his spirit yielded, and against the cruelty of the punishment through the vigour of hope, and whom he surrounded as with a wall of faith, and through the approach of victory, carried to the reward of immortality. Let us also pray that the same strength will not abandon us in this world, even if we do not fight in the same combat. And as the exhortation of his devout mother raised him up to gain glory in this battle, so let the faith of the catholic Church, guarded impeccably, guide us to forgiveness and carry us to the crown. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.

415. Collect follows. God, glorious protection of all the saints, who did not deny help to your blessed martyr Symphorianus and deigned to call him to this glory through the wicked mockery of death, grant that a similar faith may join us to martyrdom, whom the time of martyrdom did not allow to remain in the stride. And as the hard and dangerous path placed him in paradise through the tribulation of martyrdom, so [let] the contempt for the pleasures of this world [place] us [in paradise]. Through our Lord.

416. Collect follows. Now that the names of those who offer have been recited, let us pray for the mercy of almighty God, most beloved brothers, that the desire for faith is poured into the people who pay their vows (Ps. 61, 8) on the altar in honour of the blessed martyr Symphorianus, so that those who are not bound to the merits of martyrdom are strengthened by his guidance. And as he, after the imprisonment of the dungeon, after the bands of the punishments and after the hunger of fasting, has full enjoyment of the endless joys of eternity, so also the souls of the deceased, after liberation from the oppressions of hell, rest in the bosom of father Abraham (Luc. 16, 23). And may he deign to grant this, who [...]

417. Collect at the kiss of peace. God, generous Giver of all good things, who amid the company of martyrs, resplendent in snow-white faith, spread throughout all the world, gave us through your bright grace the precious and singular martyr Symphorianus, generously grant to the daily prayers of your supplicants that in the life hereafter we are joined to the company of him over whose feast we exult with devoted joy, [and] that we are deemed worthy, through the bodily kisses of the people, to be bound to spiritual love. Through.

418. Prayer of sacrifice. It is worthy and just, fair and salutary that we offer you sacrifices of praise (Hebr. 13, 15) in honour of your blessed martyr Symphorianus, O Lord, eternal God, through whose solemn ceremony both the manifested reason of things and the perfect wisdom of virtues fortify us, who has deserved to shine, not through the splendour of his earthly birth but also through the sublimity of his heavenly virtues. Resplendent through a favourable descent, he is raised up to the eminence of favourable martyrdom, who followed the blessed fathers Andochius and Benignus, elected to reach the palm through the glow of martyrdom. While he followed the torment of the present things, he completed instruction in future things, and, through the devout conversation with his mother, he was transferred to the reward. For she impressed on him that he should not fear death, since for martyrs life is not taken away but changed. O admirable grace of the faith! She exults with zeal in the life of her blessed and glorious son. She rejoices while it was thought that she mourned; certain as she was of the rewards of your kingdom, she urged her son with immense joy because she knew that those who die in Christ live, and that the life they have lost is given back to them because he restores it. He is therefore rightly honoured in your name, who has honoured you with his blood, who was tormented for you in suffering, glorified through you in the grave, who has honoured you with the sword, who reigns with you in heaven, who deserved to come through the anxiety of the present tribulation to the fullness of heavenly joys. Through Christ our Lord, through whom [...]'


Text: Rose 2005, 507-9.
Translation: Rose 2017, 273-5.

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

Saint’s feast

Altar

Relatives of the saint
Family
Women

Source

Discussion

Bibliography