MASS for the feast of St GENGULPHUS

How shall I speak of the crowds gathered at the threshold of the temple or how describe their innumerable devotions? [Hroswitha]

Texts for the celebration of mass in honour of St Gengulphus can be found in local missals throughout the area in which his cultus became established. The texts vary from diocese to diocese, as does also the degree of importance which is attributed to the feast. The date is generally 11th May, the date upon which his name appears in the Martyrologium Romanum; but where this date is already occupied by some other observance, the celebration of St Gengulphus may be found removed to some nearby and generally subsequent date.

The following text, which is given by way of example, is taken from a missal of the diocese of Besançon dating from about 1770.^a

Die XI Maii IN FESTO S. GENGULPHI, Martyris. SEMIDUPLEX

Introitus.^b

Justus perit, et non est qui recogitet in corde suo: et viri misericordiæ colliguntur, quia non est qui intelligat; a facie enim malitiæ collectus est justus. Alleluia, alleluia.
Psalmus.^c Lætati sumus, Domine, pro diebus, quibus nos humiliasti, * Annis quibus vidimus mala. V. Gloria. Justus.

Oratio.^d

Præsta nobis, quæsumus, Domine, eam animi fortitudinem, quæ beatum Gengulphum reddidit in tribulationibus fidelem, et in perferenda morte constantem; Per Dominum.

Lectio Epistolæ beati Jacobi Apostoli.^e

Patientes estote, Fratres, usque ad adventum Domini. Ecce agricola expectat pretiosum fructum terræ, patienter ferens donec accipiat temporaneum, et serotinum. Patientes igitur estote et vos, et confirmate corda vestra, quoniam adventus Domini appropinquavit. Nolite ingemiscere, Fratres, in alterutrum, ut non judicemini. Ecce judex ante januam assistit. Exemplum accipite, Fratres, exitus mali, laboris, et patientiæ, prophetas qui locuti sunt in nomine Domini. Ecce beatificamus eos, qui sustinuerunt. Sufferentiam Job audistis, et finem Domini vidistis, quoniam misericors Dominus est, et miserator.

Alleluia. V. Exultabitis lætitia inenarrabili et glorificata, reportantes finem fidei vestræ, salutem animarum.^f

Alleluia, alleluia. V. Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter justitiam; quoniam ipsorum est regnum Cœlorum. Alleluia.^g

Lectio sancti Evangelii, secundum Lucam.^h

Dixit Jesus discipulis suis: Oportet Filium hominis multa pati, et reprobari a senioribus, et principibus sacerdotum, et scribis; et occidi, et tertia die resurgere. Dicebat autem ad omnes: Si quis vult post me venire, abnegat semetipsum, et tollat crucem suam quotidie, et sequatur me. Qui enim voluerit animam suam salvam facere, perdet illam: nam qui perdiderit animam suam propter me, salvam faciet illam. Quid enim proficit homo, si lucretur universum mundum, se autem ipsum perdat. et detrimentum sui faciat? Nam qui me eruberit, et meos sermones, hunc Filius hominis erubescet, cum venerit in majestate sua, et Patris, et sanctorum Angelorum.

Offertorium.^j

Deus tentavit eos, et invenit illos dignos se, et quasi holocausti hostiam accepit illos. Alleluia.

Secreta.^k

Suscipe munera, Domine quæ in beati Gengulphi Martyris tui festivate deferimus; et præsta, ut ipsius interventu, mereamur adversa tolerare, et ad cœlestia regna ferventi devotione properare; Per Dominum.

Communio.^l

Tu es patienta mea, Domine; Domine, spes mea a juventute mea: in te cantatio mea semper. Alleluia.

Postcommunio.^m

Sumptis muneribus, quæsumus, Domine Deus noster, ut intercedente beato Gengulpho Martyre tuo, mereamur mandatis tuis perseveranter intendere, et incursis persequentium constanter tolerare; Per Dominum.

NOTES:

a. The missal is lacking its title page, and cannot be dated more precisely. I am most grateful to the Maire of Chassey lès Montbozon for making the text available.

b. Is 57.1. The just perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, and men of mercy are taken away, because there is none that understandeth; for the just man is taken away from before the face of evil.

c. Ps 89/90.15. We have rejoiced for the days in which thou hast humbled us: for the years in which we have seen evils.

d. Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that strength of mind, which has rendered Blessed Gengulph faithful in tribulation and steadfast in enduring death. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

e. James 5.7-11.

f. 1 Pet 1.8-9. You shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified; Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

g. Matt 5.10. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

h. Luke 9.22-26.

j. Wisd 3.5-6. God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself, and as a victim of a holocaust, he hath received them.

k. Receive the gifts, O Lord, which we bring in the festivity of blessed Gengulph, your martyr; and grant, that by his intervention, we may deserve to endure adversities, and hasten to the heavenly kingdom with fervent devotion; Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

l. Ps 79.5-6. For thou art my patience, O Lord: my hope, O Lord, from my youth: of thee I shall continually sing.

m. Having received the gifts, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that, through the intercession of the blessed martyr Gengulphus, we may earnestly attend to thy commandments, and endure constantly the incursion of our persecutors; Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.


© Paul Trenchard
all rights reserved
Page last revised 12.09.08 / 22.05.22: translations d, k, m by editor