| DIES | 12 Sun | 13 Mon | 14 Tue | 15 Wed | 16 Thu | 17 Fri | 18 Sat | 19 Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officium | S. Joannis Gualberti Abbatis | S. Anacleti Papæ et Martyris | S. Bonaventuræ Episcopi Confessoris et Ecclesiæ Doctoris | S. Henrici Imperatoris Confessoris | Beatæ Mariæ Virginis de Monte Carmelo | S. Alexii Confessoris | S. Camilli de Lellis Confessoris | S. Vincentii a Paulo Confessoris |
| Classis | Duplex | Semiduplex | Duplex | Semiduplex | Duplex majus | Semiduplex | Duplex | Duplex |
| Color | Albus | Rubeum | Albus | Albus | Albus | Albus | Albus | Albus |
| Missa | OS justi | Sacerdótes Dei | In médio | Os justi | Gaudeamus | Os justi | Majórem hac | Justus ut |
| Orationes | 2a. Dominica VII Post Pentecosten 3a. Ss. Naboris et Felicis Martyrum | 2a. Ad poscenda suffragia Sanctorum 3a. de S. Maria (vel ad libitum) | NA | 2a. Ad poscenda suffragia Sanctorum 3a. de S. Maria (vel ad libitum) | NA | 2a. Ad poscenda suffragia Sanctorum 3a. Pro papa (vel ad libitum) | 2a.Ss. Symphorosæ et Septem Filiorum Mm | 2a. Dominica VIII Post Pentecosten |
| Notae | Gl. Cr. Pref. de sanctissima Trinitate | Gl. Pref. de Communis | Gl. Cr. Pref. de Communis | Gl. Pref. de Communis | Gl. Cr. Pref. de BMV | Gl. Pref. de Communis | Gl. Pref. de Communis | Gl. Cr. Pref. de sanctissima Trinitate |
| Votiva | Votiva non permittuntur | Votiva permittuntur | Votiva non permittuntur | UK: S. Swithuni Episcopi Confessoris | Votiva non permittuntur | Votiva permittuntur | Votiva non permittuntur | Votiva non permittuntur |
| Nota Bene | ||||||||
* Color: Albus = White; Rubeum = Red; Viridis = Green; Purpura = Purple; Niger = Black
Nota Bene The feast of the Precious Blood was traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday in July
Sunday, 12 July St John Gualbert, Abbot
Duplex — White — Missa “Os justi”
St John Gualbert’s conversion began with an act of forgiveness. Having encountered the man who had murdered his brother, John prepared to avenge the crime; but when the defenceless man begged mercy for the sake of Christ crucified, John sheathed his sword and forgave him. From that victory over vengeance came his monastic vocation and, eventually, his foundation of the Vallombrosan congregation. He became a vigorous defender of ecclesiastical reform, opposing simony and corruption while insisting that reform must begin with the holiness of those who undertake it. The Mass Os justi praises the righteous man whose mouth speaks wisdom because the law of God governs his heart.
The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated, preserving its prayer within the saint’s Mass, as are the martyrs Nabor and Felix. The feast therefore unites monastic repentance, forgiveness and ecclesiastical reform with the Sunday warning that men are known by their fruits. The Gloria and Creed are sung, the Preface is of the Most Holy Trinity, and votive Masses are not permitted.
Monday, 13 July — Saint Anacletus, Pope and Martyr
Saint Anacletus belongs to the first generation of Roman pontiffs who governed the Church while the memory of the Apostles was still living and persecution remained an ever-present danger. Ancient tradition numbers him among the earliest successors of Saint Peter and venerates him as a martyr. His feast reminds the faithful that the Roman primacy was established not amid worldly splendour, but in poverty, danger and the shedding of blood. The authority of Peter’s successors is therefore inseparable from their duty to preserve the Apostolic Faith and to strengthen the brethren in it. The red vestments proclaim that the Church was planted and watered by martyrdom, while the Mass Sacerdotes Dei celebrates the priestly fidelity of those who preferred death to betrayal of Christ. The customary suffrages of the saints and an additional collect of Our Lady, or another collect ad libitum, are added.
Tuesday, 14 July — Saint Bonaventure, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church
The Seraphic Doctor, Saint Bonaventure, united profound theological learning with the simplicity and ardour of a Franciscan. As Minister General of the Friars Minor, Cardinal-Bishop of Albano and a principal figure at the Second Council of Lyons, he placed intellectual brilliance entirely at the service of the Church. For Bonaventure, theology was not an exercise in speculation detached from prayer: all true knowledge proceeds from God and must lead the soul back to Him through Christ crucified. His writings show that the theologian must first become holy, since divine truth is perceived most clearly by a purified and loving heart. The Mass In medio Ecclesiæ presents him as a Doctor raised up to teach within the Church, not above her or apart from her. Gloria and Creed are said, and the white vestments signify the purity and heavenly wisdom of the confessor.
Wednesday, 15 July — Saint Henry, Emperor and Confessor
Saint Henry II demonstrates that temporal authority can become an instrument of sanctification when it recognises its dependence upon the kingship of Christ. As Holy Roman Emperor, he worked for ecclesiastical reform, supported monastic foundations and defended the freedom and order of the Church. Together with his wife, Saint Cunegunda, he sought to govern not for personal glory but for the welfare of Christendom and the salvation of souls. His feast offers a necessary corrective to both political absolutism and secular liberalism: rulers are neither masters of the moral law nor merely managers of competing interests, but servants accountable before God for the exercise of their office. The Mass Os justi praises the wisdom and justice of the man whose rule is founded upon divine law. In England, the day also permits the celebration of Saint Swithun, the holy ninth-century Bishop of Winchester, remembered for his humility and pastoral care.
Thursday, 16 July — Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel honours the Blessed Virgin as the patroness and mother of the Carmelite family and as the model of the contemplative life. Mount Carmel recalls the Prophet Elias, whose zeal for the worship of the true God foreshadowed the Carmelite vocation of prayer, penance and undivided devotion. Christian tradition sees in the small cloud rising from the sea an image of Mary, who brought forth Christ, the saving rain descending upon a world parched by sin. The brown scapular expresses consecration to Our Lady and the desire to live beneath her maternal protection, clothed in humility, purity and perseverance. It is not a charm or substitute for conversion, but a sign that its wearer belongs to Mary and seeks to imitate her fidelity. The festive Mass Gaudeamus is celebrated with Gloria, Creed and the Preface of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Friday, 17 July — Saint Alexius, Confessor
According to ancient tradition, Saint Alexius was born into a wealthy Roman household but abandoned privilege and worldly expectation in order to live in poverty for Christ. After years as an unknown pilgrim and beggar, he returned to his father’s house, where he lived unrecognised beneath the stairs and endured neglect until his death. Only afterwards was his identity discovered. His life represents the radical hiddenness of Christian holiness: he surrendered not only possessions and comfort, but reputation, recognition and the natural desire to be understood. The world considers such self-abasement wasted, yet the Gospel teaches that the life hidden with Christ in God possesses an eternal value beyond human estimation. The Mass Os justi honours the wisdom of the confessor whose apparent foolishness concealed heroic detachment. The suffrages of the saints and a collect for the Pope, or another prayer ad libitum, are added.
Saturday, 18 July — Saint Camillus de Lellis, Confessor
Saint Camillus de Lellis passed from the disorder of a soldier’s life to heroic service of Christ in the sick and dying. After his conversion, his own chronic illness taught him to recognise the humiliation and vulnerability experienced by hospital patients. He founded the Ministers of the Sick, whose members bound themselves by a special vow to serve the infirm, even in times of plague and at risk to their own lives. Camillus insisted that the sick should be treated with the tenderness a mother shows towards her only child, because in every suffering person the religious serves Christ Himself. The Mass Majorem hac recalls the Lord’s words that no man has greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. Saints Symphorosa and her seven sons, who according to tradition suffered martyrdom together at Tivoli, are commemorated, placing sacrificial charity and martyrdom side by side.
Sunday, 19 July — Saint Vincent de Paul, Confessor
Saint Vincent de Paul transformed Catholic charity by uniting supernatural love, disciplined organisation and direct service of the poor. His work among abandoned children, prisoners, galley slaves, the rural poor and the neglected sick arose not from philanthropy alone, but from his recognition of Jesus Christ in those whom society preferred not to see. He founded the Congregation of the Mission and, with Saint Louise de Marillac, established the Daughters of Charity, teaching generations of Catholics that practical service must flow from prayer, doctrine and the sacramental life. The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated, and its Gospel of the prudent steward gives particular force to Vincent’s example: wealth, influence and ability are entrusted to men so that they may be used for eternity. The Mass Justus ut is celebrated with Gloria, Creed and the Preface of the Most Holy Trinity.
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