OCD:  Optional Memorial

 

Fr. John Baptist Duverneuil (born 1737 at Limoges) in religous life Fr.

Leonard, Fr. Michael Aloysius Brulard (born 1758 at Chartres), Fr. James

Gagnot (born 1753 at Frolois) in religious life Fr. Hubert of St. Claude,

were among a group of 64 Martyrs, beatified October 1, 1995, victims of the

French Revolution who came from 14 French dioceses and from various

religious Orders.

 

In their loyalty to God, the Church and the Pope, they refused to take the

oath of the Civil Constitution for the Clergy imposed by the Constituent

Assembly of the Revolution.  As a result they were imprisoned, massed like

animals, on a slave-trader anchored in Rochefort Bay awaiting in vain to be

deported into slavery.  During 1794, the first two Carmelites died on board

ship:  Fr. John Baptist on July 1, and Fr.

Michael Aloysius on July 25, and both were buried on the island of Aix.

After plague broke out on the ship, those remaining disembarked on the

island of Madame where Fr. James died and was buried on September 10. Noted

for their loving ministry to their fellow prisoners and their patience in

accepting every type of outrage, privation and cruelty not to mention the

vicissitudes of weather, hunger and sickness, our three Discalced Carmelite

priest martyrs and their companions in martyrdom gave unsurpassable

Christian witness to their faith and love.

 

Office of Readings

 

Second Reading

>From Resolutions Drawn Up by the Priests Imprisoned

on the Ship Les Deux Associes

 

They bore in silence the cross that was placed on them.

They will never give themselves up to useless worries about being set free.

Instead they will make every effort to profit from the time of their

detention by meditating on their past years, by making holy resolutions for

the future so that they can find, in the captivity of their bodies, freedom

for their souls. .

 

If God permits them to recover totally or in part this liberty that nature

longs for, they will avoid giving themselves up to an immoderate joy when

they receive the news. By keeping their souls tranquil, they will show they

support without murmur the cross placed on them, and that they are disposed

to bear it even longer with courage and as true Christians who never let

themselves be beaten by adversity.

 

If there is question of receiving back their personal effects, they will

show no eagerness in asking for them; rather, they will make the declaration

that may be required of them with modesty and strict truth. They will

receive without lament what is given to them, accustoming themselves, as is

their duty, to despise the things of the earth and to be content with little

after the example of the apostles.

 

They are not to satisfy curious people they might come across; they will not

reply to superficial questions about what happened to them; they will let

people glimpse that they have patiently supported their sufferings, without

descending into detail, and without showing any resentment against those who

have authored and been instrumental in their suffering. ...

 

They will sentence themselves to the severest and most absolute silence

about the faults of their brothers and the weaknesses into which they

happened to fall due to their unfortunate situation, their bad health, and

the length of their punishment. They will preserve the same charity toward

those whose religious opinion is different from their own. They will avoid

all bitter feeling or animosity, being content to feel sorry for them

interiorly and making the effort to stay on the way of truth by their

gentleness and moderation.

They will not show grief over the loss of their goods, no haste to recover

them, no resentment against those who possess them. .

 

>From now on they will form but one heart and one soul, without

showing distinction of persons, and without leaving any of their brothers

out, under any pretext. They will never get mixed up in the new politics,

being content to pray for the welfare of their country and prepare

themselves for a new life, if God permits them to return to their homes.

There they will become subjects of edification and models of virtue for the

people by their detachment from the world, their assiduousness in prayer,

and their love for recollection and piety.

 

Responsory

R/.  God and His angels look down upon us; Christ, too, looks on as we do

battle in the contest of faith. * What great dignity and glory are ours,

what happiness to struggle in the presence of God, and to be crowned by

Christ our judge.

V/.Let us be armed with great determination and, pure in heart, sound in

faith, and full of courage, be prepared to face the combat. *  What great

dignity and glory are ours, what happiness to struggle in the presence of

God, and to be crowned by Christ our judge.

 

 

(I do not have the antiphons for the canticles.)

 

 

Prayer

Lord God

to the martyrs Bl. John Baptist, Michael Aloysius, James and their

companions, You gave the grace to remain faithful and to pardon while

suffering dismaying hardship.

Through their intercession

grant also to us, to be always willing

to remain faithful to Your Church

and to be reconciled with one another.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns

with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

****************

for Mass

 

Entrance Antiphon

The saints are happy in heaven because they followed Christ.  They rejoice

with Him for ever because they shed their blood for love of Him.

 

Prayer

(same as above)

 

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord,

at this celebration of the Eucharist

we honor the suffering and death

of Your martyrs Bl. John Baptist, Michael Aloysius, James and their

companions.

In offering this sacrifice

may we proclaim the death of Your Son

Who gave these martyrs courage

not only by His wounds

but also by the example of His own passion, for He is Lord for ever and

ever.

 

Communion Antiphon

Whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel, says the Lord, will save

it.

 

Prayer after Communion

Lord,

may we who eat at Your holy table

be inspired by the example

of Bl. John Baptist, Michael Aloysius, James and their companions.

May we keep before us the loving sacrifice of Your Son, and come to the

unending peace of Your kingdom.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 

First Reading

Romans 5: 1-5

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through

our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have obtained access to this grace in

which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

More

than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces

endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our

hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

 

Responsorial Psalm

R/.  Our help is in the name of the Lord.

 

If the Lord had not been on my side

when men rose against us,

then would they have swallowed us alive

when their anger was kindled.  R/.

 

Then would the waters have engulfed us,

the torrent gone over us;

over our head would have swept

the raging waters.  R/.

 

Indeed the snare has been broken

and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the lord,

who made heaven and earth.  R/.

 

Gospel

John 12: 24-26

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and

dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  He who loves

his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for

eternal life.

If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my

servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.