OCD: Optional Memorial

 

Maria Pilar of St. Francis Borgia (born at Tarazona on Dec. 30, 1877),

Teresa of the Child Jesus and of St. John of the Cross (born at Mochales on

March 5,1990), and Maria Angeles of St. Joseph (born at Getafe on March 6,

1905), Discalced Carmelite nuns of the Monastery of Guadalajara, Spain, were

martyred on July 24, 1936, after having given witness to their faith in

Christ the King and having offered their lives for the Church.  The first

fruits of the countless martyrs of the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39, they

were beatified by John Paul II on March 29, 1987.

 

>From the Common of Martyrs or the Common of Virgins

 

Office of Readings

 

Second Reading

>From the Spiritual Canticle of St. John of the Cross

"We shall weave these garlands flowering in your love and bound with one

hair of mine."

This verse most appropriately refers to Christ and the Church, for in it,

the Church, the Bride of Christ, addresses Him saying:  let us weave

garlands (understanding by garlands, all the holy souls engendered by Christ

in the Church).  Each holy soul is like a garland adorned with the flowers

of virtues and gifts, and all of them together form a garland for the head

of Christ, the Bridegroom.

 

The loving garlands can refer to what we call aureoles; these are also woven

by Christ and the Church and are of three kinds:

 

The first kind is made from the beautiful flowers of all the virgins.  Each

virgin possesses her own aureole of virginity, and all these aureoles

together will be joined into one and placed on the head of Christ, the

Bridegroom.

 

The second aureole contains the resplendent flowers of the holy doctors.

All these aureoles will be entwined into one and set upon the head of Christ

over that of the virgins.

 

The third is fashioned from the crimson carnations of the martyrs.  Every

martyr has an aureole of martyrdom, and these red aureoles woven together

will add the final touch to the aureole of Christ the Bridegroom.

 

So beautiful and fair will Christ the Bridegroom be with these three

garlands when He is seen in heaven.

 

Therefore, we shall weave these garlands, the soul says, flowering in Your

love.

 

The flower of these works and virtues is the grace and power they possess

from the love of God.  Without love these works will not only fail to

flower, but they will all wither and become valueless in God's sight, even

though they may be perfect from a human standpoint.  Yet, because God

bestows His grace and love, they are works that have blossomed in His love.

 

"And bound with one hair of mine."  This hair is her will and the love she

has for the Beloved.  This love assumes the task of the thread in a garland.

As the thread binds the flowers together, so love fastens and sustains the

virtues in the soul.  As St. Paul remarks:  "Charity is the bond of

perfection". (Col 3:14)

 

Responsory

R/.  Even if you should have to suffer for justice' sake, happy will you be.

Do not be afraid and do not stand in awe of them, but adore the Lord Christ

in your hearts * always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you.

V/.  It is better, if God so wills it, to suffer and do good deeds than to

do evil, * always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you.

 

 

Prayer

Father, strength of the humble,

You sustained in martyrdom the virgins

Blessed Maria Pilar, Teresa and Maria Angelus.

As they willingly shed their blood for Christ the King, may we, through

their intercession, be faithful to You and to Your Church until death.

Grant 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 Lord will hear the just when they cry out; from all their afflictions He

will deliver them.

 

Prayer

(see above)

 

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord,

You gave Bl. Maria Pilar, Teresa and Maria Angeles the fulfilment of their

faith in the vision of Your glory.

May the gifts we bring to honor their memory gain Your pardon and peace.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon

We are given over to death for Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be revealed

in our living flesh.

 

Prayer after Communion

Lord,

may this food of heaven

bring us a share in the grace You gave the martyrs:

Maria Pilar, Teresa and Maria Angeles.

>From their bitter sufferings may we learn to become strong

and by patient endurance earn the victory of rejoicing in Your holiness.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

 

First Reading

1 Peter 3: 14-17

But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.

Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ

as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to

account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and

reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused,

those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.   For

it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's will, than

for doing wrong.

 

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.