Pope St Martin I, Martyr – Biography

Take advantage of our resources for priests for formulating your homily. We offer a breakdown of the theological themes, useful meditations, material from great saints, popes and church fathers.

Vestments: Red (when not surpassed by the Season)

Antiphons:

1. Dixerunt discipuli ad beatum Martinum: Cur nos, pater, deseris, aut cui nos desolatos relinquis? Invadent enim gregem tuum lupi rapaces. [His disciples said unto Blessed Martin: Father, why wilt thou go away from us? or with whom wilt thou leave us orphans? For ravening wolves will break in upon thy flock.]
2. Domine si adhuc populo tuo sum necessarius, non recuso laborem: fiat oluntas tua. [Lord, if I be still needful to thy people, I refuse not to work; Thy will be done.]
3. O virum ineffabilem, nec labore victum, nec morte cinvendum, qui nec mori timuit nec vivere recusavit! [Not to be told is this man’s glory; whom work did not and death could not conquer; who neither feared to die, nor refused to live.]
4. Oculis ac manibus in caelum semper inentus, invictum ab oratione spiritum non relaxabat, alleluia. [With eyes and hands lifted up to heaven, he never let his mighty spirit slacken in prayer, alleluia.]
5. Martinus Abrahae sin laetus excipitur: Martinus, hic pauper et modicus, caelum dives ingreditur, hymnis caelestibus honoratur. [Martin is called joyfully into Abraham’s bosom.  Martin, who was poor here and of small estimation, enters rich into heaven, and the songs of heaven are raised in his honour.]

• Ben: O beatum virum, cuius anima paradisum possidet! Unde exsultant Angeli, laetantur Archangeli, chorus Sanctorum proclamat, turba Virginum invitat: Mane nobiscum in aeternum. [O how blessed a man is he! His soul has entered into possession in Paradise.  There the Angels cry aloud for joy, there the Archangels make glad, there the whole company of the Saints do shout, there the army of the Virgins do call others to follow saying: Make thine everlasting abode with us.]
• Mag: O beatum Pontificem, qui totis visceribus diligebat Christum Regem, et non formidabat imperii principatum! o sanctissima anima, quam etsi gladius persecutoris non abstulit, palmam tamen martyrii non amisit! [O how blessed a Bishop he was! All his bowels yearned on the King Christ, and he had no dread for the power of the Empire! O how holy a soul was his, which passed not away by the sword of the persecutor, and yet lost not the palm of martyrdom.]

Introit: (John 21:15-17; Ps 29:2) Si diligis me, Simon Petre, pasce agnos meos, pasce oves meas. PS Exaltabo te Domine, quoniam suscepisti me, nec delectasti inimicos meos super me. Gloria Patri… [If thou lovest me, Simon Peter, feed My lambs; feed My sheep. Ps. I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. Glory be to the Father…

Collect: Eternal Shepherd, do Thou look favourably upon Thy flock, which we beseech Thee to guard and keep for evermore through the Blessed Martin, Thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, whom Thou didst choose to be the chief shepherd of the whole Church.  Through our Lord. [indulgence]

Epistle: 1 Peter 5:1-4; 10-11

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19