Latest / Vox Liturgica / St. Linus | Pope and Martyr | pre-1955 Missal | Traditional Latin Mass Readings | 9/23/2026

Transcript

St. Linus | Pope and Martyr | pre-1955 Missal | Traditional Latin Mass Readings | 9/23/2026 · Vox Liturgica

• 0:00
  Vox Liturgica: The propers of the day according to the Roman Missal before 1955. The feast of Saint Linus, Pope and Martyr, September 23 in the year of our Lord 2026. In the liturgical year, Dom Prosper Geringer writes the following, the lives of the first vicars of Christ are buried in a mysterious obscurity just as the foundations of a monument built to defy the ravages of time are concealed from view. To be the supporters of the everlasting church is a sufficient glory. Sufficient to justify our confidence in them and to awaken our gratitude.
• 0:57
  Let us leave the learned to discuss certain points in the following short legend. As for ourselves, we will rejoice with the Church on this feast and pay our loving veneration to the humble and gentle pontiff who was the first laid to rest beside Saint Peter in the Vatican Crypts. Pope Linus was born at Volterra in Tuscany and was the first to succeed Saint Peter in the government of the church. His faith and holiness were so great that he not only cast out devils but even raised the dead to life. He wrote the acts of blessed Peter and in particular what he had done against Simon Magus.
• 1:48
  He decreed that no woman should enter a church with her head uncovered. On account of his constancy in confessing the Christian faith, this pontiff was beheaded by command of Saturninus, a wicked and ungrateful ex council whose daughter he had delivered from the tyranny of the devils. He was buried on the Vatican near the sepulchre of the prince of the apostles on the ninth of calendar of October. He governed the church eleven years, two months, and twenty three days. In two ordinations in the month of December, he consecrated 15 bishops and 18 priests.
• 2:36
  Simon Bar Jonah was invested with the sovereign pontificate by our Lord in person and openly before all. Thou, oh, blessed pontiff, did receive in secret, yet nonetheless directly from Jesus, the keys of the kingdom of heaven. In thy person began the reign of pure faith. Henceforth, the bride, though she hears not the man God repeat his injunction to Peter, feed my lambs, nevertheless acknowledges the continuance of his authority in the lawfully appointed representative of her divine spouse. Obtained by thy prayers that the shadows of earth may never cause us to waver in our obedience, and that hereafter we may merit with thee to contemplate our divine head in the light of eternal day.
• 3:38
  While honoring the first successor of Saint Peter, Rome commemorates the proto martyr of the female sex. Together with holy church then, let us unite in the concert of praise unanimously lavished upon Thecla by the fathers of East and West. When the martyr pontiff Methodius gave his banquet of virgins to the church about the end of the third century, it is on the brow of the virgin of Iconium that he placed the fairest of the crowns distributed at the banquet of the spouse. And justly so for had not been trained by Paul who had made her more learned in the gospel than she was before in philosophy and every science? Heroism in her kept pace with knowledge.
• 4:34
  Her magnanimity of purpose was equaled by her courage. While strong in the virginal purity of her soul and body, she triumphed over fire, wild beasts, and sea monsters, and won the glory of a triple martyrdom. A fresh triumph is hers at the mysterious banquet. Wisdom has taken possession of her and like a divine harp makes music in her soul which is echoed on her lips in words of wondrous eloquence and sublime poetry. When the feast is over and the virgins rise to give thanks to the Lord, Thekla leads the chorus singing, For thee, O bridegroom, I keep myself pure, and with burning lamp I come to meet thee.
• 5:33
  I have fled from the bitter pleasures of mortals, and the luxurious delights of life and its love. Under thy life giving arms I desire to be protected, and to gaze forever on thy beauty, o blessed one. For thee, bridegroom, I keep myself pure and with burning lamp I come to meet thee. I have condemned union with mortal man. I have left my golden home for thee, O King.
• 6:09
  I have come in undefiled robes that I may enter with thee into thy happy bridal chamber. For thee, O bridegroom, I keep myself pure, and with burning lamp I come to meet thee. Having escaped the enchanting wiles of the serpent, and triumphed over the flaming fire, and the attacks of wild beasts, I await thee from heaven. For thee, O bridegroom, I keep myself pure, and with burning lamp I come to meet thee. Through love of thee, O word, I have forgotten the land of my birth, I have forgotten the virgins my companions, and even the desire of mother and of kindred.
• 7:03
  For thou, O Christ, art all things to me. For thee, O bridegroom, I keep myself pure, and with burning lamp I come to meet thee. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. The introit.
• 7:34
  The Lord gave him assurance of favor and made a prince of him. The honor of priesthood was to be his forever. Oh, remember David and all his patient endurance. Glory be to the father and to the son and to the holy ghost as it was in the beginning is now and will be through all ages of ages. Amen.
• 8:05
  The Lord gave him assurance of favor and made a prince of him. The honor of priesthood was to be his forever. The Collect. Let us pray. Graciously hearken, we beseech thee, oh, Lord, to the prayers which we offer unto thee in the solemnity of blessed Linus, thy confessor and pontiff, and by the interceding merits of him who attained worthily to serve thee, absolve us from all sins.
• 8:42
  A commemoration of Saint Thecla. Grant we beseech thee, almighty God, that we who celebrate the festival of blessed Thekla, thy virgin and martyr, may rejoice in her annual solemnity and make progress by the example of such great faith through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen. A lesson from the wisdom of Sirach. Here was a great priest whose life was acceptable to God and proved ever faithful to him.
• 9:30
  When the day of retribution came he made amends for all. Where shall we find another to keep the law of the most high as he kept it? So it was the Lord took an oath that he should be the father of his chosen people. The Lord gave him the blessing which should extend to all nations, renewing the covenant in his person, ratified the blessings he uttered, and singled him out for favor. Such grace he found in the eyes of the Lord.
• 10:07
  The Lord made him great in the sight of kings and crowned him with glory. He made a covenant with him forever entrusting him with the great office of the priesthood and enriching him with high honor. He was to serve the Lord as his priest, privileged to act in his name and to offer incense to him acceptable in its fragrance. The gradual. Here was a great priest whose life was acceptable to God.
• 10:46
  Where shall we find another to keep the law of the most high as he kept it? Alleluia. Alleluia. Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Alleluia.
• 11:05
  A continuation of the holy gospel according to Matthew. At that time, Jesus told this parable to his disciples. A man who was going on his travels called his trusted servants to him and committed his money to their charge. He gave 5 talents to one, two to another, and one to another according to their several abilities. And with that he set out on his journey.
• 11:38
  The man who had received 5 talents went and traded with them until he had made a profit of 5 talents more. And in the same way he who had received two made a profit of 2. Whereas he who had received but one went off and made a hole in the ground, and there hid his master's money. Long afterwards the master of those servants came back and entered into a reckoning with them. And so the man who had received 5 talents came forward and brought 5 talents more.
• 12:24
  Lord, he said, it was 5 talents thou gavest me. See how I have made a profit of 5 talents besides. And his master said to him, well done, my good and faithful servant, Since thou hast been faithful over little things, I have great things to commit to thy charge. Come and share the joy of thy Lord. Then came the man who had received the 2 talents.
• 12:59
  Lord, he said, it was 2 talents thou gavest me. See how I have made a profit of 2 talents besides. And his master said to him, well done, my good and faithful servant. Since thou hast been faithful over little things, I have great things to commit to thy charge. Come and share the joy of thy Lord.
• 13:30
  The Offeratory The man I have found is my servant David. On him my consecrating oil has been poured. My hand shall strengthen him. My arm shall give him courage. The secret.
• 13:51
  May thy saints we beseech thee, oh lord. Everywhere rejoice us that while we recall their merits we may feel their patronage. A commemoration of Saint Thecla. Receive, o Lord, the offerings which we bring on the festival of blessed Thecla, thy virgin and martyr, by whose intercession we hope to be delivered through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen.
• 14:37
  The common preface. Just it is indeed and fitting right in for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, o Holy Lord, Father Almighty, everlasting God, through whom the angels praise thy majesty, the dominions worship it, The power stand in awe. The heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed Seraphim joyfully do magnify. We entreat thee that thou command it be permitted us to join with them in confessing thee while we say with lowly praise. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, The heavens and the earth are full of thy glory.
• 15:34
  Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The communion. He was a faithful and wise servant whom the Lord setteth over his family to give them their measure of wheat in due season.
• 16:02
  The post communion. Let us pray. Grant we beseech the Almighty God that by showing gratitude for the gifts which we have received by the intercession of blessed Linus, thy confessor and bishop, we may obtain still greater blessings. A commemoration of Saint Thecla. May we be helped, O Lord, by the mysteries we have received and through the intercession of blessed Thecla, thy virgin and martyr, may they give us protection and joy forevermore through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages.
• 16:56
  Amen. In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Saint Linus, pray for us. Saint Thecla, pray for us.