Readings
for the Feast of
Saints Cyril and Methodius
Monk and Bishop
February 14
MASS
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Ezekiel 34:11,23-24
These are holy men who became friends of God,
glorious heralds of divine truth.
COLLECT
O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples
through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius,
grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching,
and perfect us as a people of one accord
in true faith and right confession.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READING Acts 13:46-49
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.'"
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region.
REPONSORIAL PSALM 117:1bc,2
R. Go out to all the world and tell the good news.
Praise the Lord, all you nations;
glorifiy him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the good news.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the good news.
ALLELUIA Luke 4:18
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
GOSPEL Luke 10:1-9
The Lord Jesus appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to come. And He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Look, O Lord, upon the offerings
which we bring before your majesty
in commemoration of Saints Cyril and Methodius,
and grant that these gifts may become the sign of a new humanity,
reconciled to you in loving charity.
Through Christ our Lord.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON See Mark 16:20
The disciples went forth and preached the Gospel,
while the Lord worked with them,
confirming the word through accompanying signs.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
O God, Father of all nations,
who make us sharers in the one Bread and the one Spirit
and heirs of the eternal banquet,
grant in your kindness
on this feast day of Saints Cyril and Methodius,
that the multitude of your children,
persevering in the same faith,
may be united in building up
the Kingdom of justice and peace.
Through Christ our Lord.
Liturgy of the Hours
Sts. Cyril and Methodius
From the Common of Pastors, except the following:
Morning Prayer
BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah)
Antiphon: Holy and righteous in his sight, they served the Lord all the days of their lives
COLLECT
O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples
through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius,
grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching,
and perfect us as a people of one accord
in true faith and right confession.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Evening Prayer
MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: Because these holy men proclaimed his truth, God made them glorious and gave them his friendship.
COLLECT
O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples
through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius,
grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching,
and perfect us as a people of one accord
in true faith and right confession.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Office of Readings
From an old Slavonic life of Constantine
(Cap. 18: Denkschriften der kaiserl. Akademie der Wissenschaften 19, Viena 1870, p. 246)
Build up your Church and gather all into unity
Constantine, already burdened by many hardships, became ill. At one point during his extended illness, he experienced a vision of God and began to sing this verse: “My spirit rejoiced and my heart exulted because they told me we shall go into the house of the Lord.”
Afterward he remained dressed in the vestments that were to be venerated later, and rejoiced for an entire day saying: “From now on, I am not the servant of the emperor or any man on earth, but of almighty God alone. Before, I was dead, now I am alive and I shall live for ever. Amen.”
The following day, he assumed the monastic habit and took the religious name Cyril. He lived the life of a monk for fifty days.
When the time came for him to set out from this world to the peace of his heavenly homeland, he prayed to God with his hands outstretched and his eyes filled with tears: “O Lord, my God, you have created the choirs of angels and spiritual powers; you have stretched forth the heavens and established the earth, creating all that exists from nothing. You hear those who obey your will and keep your commands in holy fear. Hear my prayer and protect your faithful people, for you have established me as their unsuitable and unworthy servant.
“Keep them free from harm and the worldly cunning of those who blaspheme you. Build up your Church and gather all into unity. Make your people known for the unity and profession of their faith. Inspire the hearts of your people with your word and your teaching. You called us to preach the Gospel of your Christ and to encourage them to lives and works pleasing to you.
“I now return to you, your people, your gift to me. Direct them with your powerful right hand, and protect them under the shadow of your wings. May all praise and glorify your name, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Once he had exchanged the gift of peace with everyone, he said: “Blessed be God, who did not hand us over to our invisible enemy, but freed us from his snare and delivered us from perdition.” He then fell asleep in the Lord at the age of forty-two.
The Patriarch commanded all those in Rome, both the Greeks and Romans, to gather for his funeral. They were to celebrate his funeral as if he had been a pope. This they did.
RESPONSORY