Feast days of the week 20-26 January, A.D. 2007 (1962 liturgical calendar).

SECOND PART OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR: THE EASTER CYCLE (MYSTERY OF THE REDEMPTION).[i]

I. LENT (SEASON AFTER SEPTUAGISIMA)

Sunday, 20 January, 2008
SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY (II)
"The three Sundays preceding Ash Wednesday are called Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima, which mean, respectively, the seventieth, sixtieth, and fiftieth day, that is, before Easter. They are mere names to correspond with the name of Lent (Quadragesima in Latin: fortieth); obviously they do not actually correspond with the period they indicate.
Man, victim of the sin of Adam and of his own sins, is justly afflicted, groans and sorrows encompass him.
On these Sundays the Gloria in excelsis and Alleluia are omitted, except when the Mass of a feast is said, and the purple vestments are used in preparation for Lent."

Collect: Graciously hear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayers of Thy people, that we, who are justly afflicted for our sins, may for the glory of Thy Name be mercifully delivered. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From the First Letter of Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, 9:24-27; 10:1-5.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 20:1-16.

ST. FABIAN, Pope, and ST. SEBASTIAN, Martyrs (III)
“St. Fabian, Supreme Pontiff, suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Decius, A.D. 250.
St. Sebastian, an officer in the imperial cohort, was pierced with arrows in the persecution of Diocletian; but he recovered, and the emperor condemned him to be flogged to death. A.D. 284.”

Collect: O almighty God, have regard to our weakness: and since the weight of our own evil deeds is oppressive, may the glorious intercession of Thy blessed Martyrs, Fabian and Sebastian, protect us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews, 11:33-39.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke 6:17-23.

Monday, 21 January 2008
ST. AGNES, Virgin, Martyr (III)
“This noble Roman Virgin suffered martyrdom at the age of thirteen rather than lose the treasure of her virginity; she was beheaded A.D. 304. Her name is in the Canon of the Mass.”

Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, who dost choose the weak things of the world to confound the strong: mercifully grant, that those who keep the solemn feast of blessed Agnes, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may experience her advocacy with Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Book of Ecclesiasticus, 51:1-8,12.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 25:1-13.

Tuesday, 22 January, 2008
SS. VINCENT and ANASTASIUS, Martyrs (III)
“St. Vincent, deacon of Saragossa in Spain, suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Diocletian A.D. 304.
St. Anastasius, a monk of Persia, was put to death with seventy other Christians under Chosroes A.D. 628.”

Collect: O Lord, listen to our supplications: that we who acknowledge the guilt of our sins, may be delivered through the intercession of Thy blessed Martyrs Vincent and Anastasius. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Book of Wisdom 3:1-8.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke 21:9-19.

Wednesday, 23 January, 2008
ST. RAYMOND of PENNAFORT, Confessor (III)
"St. Raymond, eminent minister of the sacrament of Penance, was a priest of the order of St. Dominic, celebrated for his virtues, his miracles, and his writings on Canon Law. He died A.D. 1275.”

Collect: O God, Who didst choose blessed Raymond to be eminent as a minister of the sacrament of penance and didst lead him in wondrous wise upon the waves of the sea: grant that by his intercession we may be able to bring forth worthy fruits of penance, and to reach the port of everlasting salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Book of Ecclesiasticus, 31:8-11.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke, 12:35-40.

St. Emerentiana, Virgin and Martyr (Comm.)
“St. Emerentiana, Virgin and Martyr, foster-sister of St. Agnes, was stoned to death at the tomb of her friend. A.D. 304.”

Collect: May the blessed Emerentiana, Thy Virgin and Martyr, we beseech Thee, O Lord, obtain pardon for us: for she merited Thy constant good pleasure by her life of chastity attributed to her by Thy power. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Book of Ecclesiasticus, 51:13-17.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthw, 13:44-52.

Thursday, 24 January, 2008
ST. TIMOTHY, Bishop, Martyr (III)
"St. Timothy, who is the best-known disciple of St. Paul, was Bishop of Ephesus in Asia Minor. He was stoned to death by pagans A.D. 97.”

Collect: Look down upon our weakness, almighty God; and since the weight of our own deeds bears us down, may the glorious intercession of Blessed timothy, Thy Bishop and Martyr, protect us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From the First Letter of Bl. Paul the Apostle to Timothy, 6:11-16.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke, 14:26-33.

Friday, 25 January, 2008
THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL (III)
"Saul of Tarsus was full of hatred for Jesus and His Disciples. From a bitter persecutor he became an ardent apostle and the irresistible preacher of the Gospel."

Collect: O God, who hast taught the whole world by the preaching of blessed Paul the Apostle: grant, we beseech Thee, that we who this day celebrate his Conversion, may through his example draw nearer to Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Lesson: From the Acts of the Apostles, 9:1-22.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 19:27-29.

Saturday, 26 January, 2008
ST. POLYCARP, Bishop, Martyr (III)
“St. Polycarp, a disciple of St. John the Apostle, was Bishop of Smyrna for seventy years, and was martyred under Marcus Aurelius A.D. 169.”

Collect: O God, who dost gladden us by the annual feast of blessed Polycarp, Thy Maryr and Bishop: mercifully grant that we, who celebrate his heavenly birthday, may also rejoice in his protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: From the First Letter of Bl. John the Apostle, 3:10-16.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, 10:26-32.

[i] Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962
(Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)