SAINT MARIE HERMINE AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS
(M. of Peace, M. Chiara, M. Adolphine, M. Amandine,
M. of St. Just, M. of St. Nathalie)
 Liturgical memory: 8th July with Sts. Gregory Grassi, Hermine, Virgin and companions,
Martyrs
 Beatified on 24th November 1946 by H.H. Pius XII with a group of 30 Franciscan
martyrs
 Canonised on 1st October 2000 by H.H. John Paul II with a group of 120 Chinese
martyrs
 Decree of Canonisation: see Acta Apostolicae Sedis of 5th August 2002
 Liturgy: Optional memory: Mass and Office of the Common of Martyrs with a Proper
Prayer (see Annex). We do not have the approval of the Prayer, for this belongs to the
Order of Friars Minor.
9th July
SAINTS MARIE HERMINE OF JESUS AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Feast, from the Common of Martyrs or Virgins:
MORNING PRAYER
Hymn: from the Common of martyrs or virgins with the psalms of the day
Antiphon of the Canticle of Zachariah:. Victims in the silence, humility and simplicity of the
hidden and active life, they strove to obtain peace between heaven and earth.
PRAYER
O Lord, strength of martyrs, grant us through the intercession of Saint Marie Hermine and her
sister martyrs, that wherever human dignity and freedom to believe are trampled underfoot,
there may never lack courageous Christians to be witnesses of Truth and Love. Through Our
Lord.
EVENING PRAYER
Hymn: from the Common of Martyrs or Virgins with the Psalms of the day
Antiphon of the Canticle of the Blessed Virgin: They believed in the Word and in Love: There
is no greater love than to give one’s life for those one loves” (cf. Jn 15:13).
Or: They have accomplished their mission, now it is for us to accomplish ours: “to give our
lives for those we love” (cf. Jn 15:13).
Prayer as at Morning Prayer
EUICHARISTIC CELEBRATION
Communion in Christ’s cross is the mark of the disciple. Christ’s sending is always actual and
active to continue, as He did, to proclaim the Father’s love, presence and strength of the
Passion and Resurrection. Awake, O my soul, be aware of the urgency of the Lord, the call to
be a messenger of the Good and the Beautiful, of Peace and of the New Humanity, being
consumed in the total gift of self without reserve in Love.
ENTRANCE: “Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of
heaven” (Mt 5:10)
Or:
“If they use the green wood like this, what will happen when it is dry?” (Lk 23:31)
OPENING PRAYER
O Lord, strength of martyrs, grant us through the intercession of Saint Marie Hermine and her
sister martyrs, that wherever human dignity and freedom to believe are trampled underfoot,
there may never lack courageous Christians to be witnesses of Truth and Love. Through Our
Lord.
1st READING (Is 6:5c-8)
A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah
‘My eyes have looked at the King: Yahweh Sabaoth.’
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from
the altar with a pair of tongs; with this he touched my mouth and said:
‘See now, this has touched your lips;
your sin is taken away,
your iniquity is purged’
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:
Whom shall I send? Who will be my messenger?
I answered: ‘Here I am, send me.’
The is the Word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM from Ps 45 (44)
R. Here I am Lord, I come to do your will
My heart is stirred by a noble theme;
I address my poem to the king;
My tongue as ready as the pen of a busy scribe.
Of all men you are the most handsome,
your lips are moist with grace,
for God has blessed you for ever.
Your throne, O God, shall last for ever and ever,
Your royal sceptre is a sceptre of integrity,
Virtue you love as much as you hate wickedness.
This is why God, you God, has anointed you
With the oil of gladness, above all your rivals.
Dressed in brocades, the king’s daughter
Is led in to the king with bridesmaids in her train.
Her ladies-in-waiting follow
And enter the king’s palace to general rejoicing.
ALTERNATIVE READING (Rm 12:10-13)
A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans
Love each other as much as brothers (sisters) should, and have a profound respect for each
other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have
hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of
the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your
special care.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (from the ‘Te Deum’)
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious choir of apostles, the army of martyrs sing your glory.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL (Jn 15:13-17)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
A man can have no greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends,
if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know
his master’s business,.
I call you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything I have heard from my Father.
You did not choose me,
no, I chose you;
and I commanded you to go out and bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you
is to love one another.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Prayer over the gifts
Lord, accept the sacrifice of praise we offer in memory of the seven martyrs Franciscan
Missionaries of Mary, and grant us to deepen the demands of the gift of ourselves to our
brothers and sisters in love and faith, concretising it in daily life in the footsteps of our Lord
whom we celebrate and adore. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion antiphon (cf. Rm 8:38-39)
“Neither death nor life, nor any created thing can ever come between us and the love of
Christ”
Prayer after Communion
Lord, we have shared in your mystery in which you have made yourself presence and food.
May this food that you give us make us strong in faith and love, so that we may also
accomplish our mission of offering and gift. Through our Lord …