Saint Dominic’s Church, in Youngstown, Ohio, will have a Solemn High Mass in The Dominican Rite, followed by a Procession, on The Feast of The Sacred Heart, Friday, 23 June, starting at 7 p.m. The Church is located at 77 E. Lucius Avenue.
Brothers by birth, Mark and Marcellianus were brothers especially because they generously shed their blood for the sake of Christ (Alleluia). Persecuted for their Faith, like The Prophets and The Apostles (Gospel), they were arrested under the Emperor Diocletian and were nailed by the feet to a post, where they remained hanging.
The Holy Ghost, Who filled their hearts with The Holy Love of God and the hope of an eternal reward, sustained them in their torments (Epistle) and protected them in their tribulations (Introit). "Never", they exclaimed, "have we enjoyed such delights as those we feel in suffering for Jesus Christ."
After a day and night of suffering, they were pierced with arrows, in 286 A.D., and their Souls "delivered like the sparrow from the bird-catcher's net" (Offertory) entered for ever "into the Kingdom which had been prepared for them from the beginning of the World" (Communion).
On this day, the Anniversary of the Heavenly Birth of these two Holy Martyrs, let us ask God, through their intercession, to deliver us from all the ills that threaten us (Collect).
Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal, unless otherwise stated.
Saint Ephrem. Deacon. Confessor. Doctor of The Church. Feast Day 18 June.
Double.
White Vestments.
English: Roumanian Icon of Saint Ephrem-the-Syrian.
Français: Photo d'une icône roumaine de St Ephrem le Syrien (diacre et docteur de l'Eglise
dit "La Harpe de l'Esprit" ou encore "La cithare de Marie"), icône écrite par une sœur orthodoxe près d'Oradea en avril 2005, prise de vue par Geoffroy Blanc (le propriétaire de l'icône).
Source: Own work assumed (based on Copyright claims).
Author: Garzo assumed (based on Copyright claims).
(Wikimedia Commons)
Saint Ephrem was born in Nisibis, Mesopotamia, and was one of the Lights of The Church (Gospel). His father, a pagan priest, cast him out of his home. He then went as a Hermit in the desert and was Ordained Deacon of Edessa (Communion).
Led by The Holy Ghost to Caesarea, in Cappadocia, he there met Saint Basil. In order to refute the numerous errors which were being spread by the prayers and canticles of the Heretics, he wrote poems and Christian Hymns, celebrating the Mysteries of The Lives of Christ, The Blessed Virgin Mary, and The Saints. That is why he is called "The Harp of The Holy Ghost". He always had a great devotion to Our Lady.
He died at Edessa in 375 A.D., under the Emperor Valens. Pope Benedict XV proclaimed him a Doctor of The Universal Church (Collect).
Let us ask God, through the intercession of Saint Ephrem, to defend His Church against the snares of error and wickedness (Collect).
Mass:In médio. Commemoration of Saint Mark and Saint Marcellianus. Martyrs.
