Readings for the Feast of St. Justin Martyr

Readings for the Feast of St. Justin
Martyr
June 1

Entrance Song
The wicked tempted me with their fables against your law, but I proclaimed your decrees before kings without fear or shame. - See Ps 118:85,46

Opening Prayer:

Father,
through the folly of the cross
you taught Saint Justin the sublime wisdom of Jesus Christ.
May we too reject falsehood
and remain loyal to the faith.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

First Reading
1 Corinthians 1:18-25

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Psalm Response:
Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. -Psalm 116:15

Gospel Reading
Matthew 5:13-19

"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

Lord,
help us to worship you as we should
when we celebrate these mysteries
which Saint Justin vigorously defended.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Communion Antiphon:
I resolved that while I was with you I would think of nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Cor 2:2)

Prayer after Communion

Lord,
hear the prayer of those you renew with spiritual food.
By following the teaching of St. Justin
may we offer constant thanks for the gift we receive.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Hours
Justin Martyr

From the Common of One Martyr, except the following:

Morning Prayer

BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah)
Antiphon: In every sacrifice, let us praise the creator of all things through his Son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit (alleluia)

Evening Prayer

MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: Suddenly, my soul caught fire and I became filled with love for the prophets and those who are friends of Christ (alleluia).

The Office of Readings

The Account of the Martyrdom of St. Justin
(An anonymous eyewitness)

I have accepted the true doctrine of the Christians

The saints were seized and brought before the prefect of Rome, whose name was Rusticus. As they stood before the judgement seat, Rusticus the prefect said to Justin: "Above all, have faith in the gods and obey the emperors." Justin said: "We cannot be accused or condemned for obeying the commands of our Saviour, Jesus Christ."

Rusticus said: "What system of teaching do you profess?" Justin said: "I have tried to learn about every system, but I have accepted the true doctrines of the Christians, though these are not approved by those who are held fast by error."

The prefect Rusticus said: "Are those doctrines approved by you, wretch that you are?" Justin said: "Yes, for I follow them with their correct teaching."

The prefect Rusticus said: "What sort of teaching is that?" Justin said: "Worship the God of the Christians. We hold him to be from the beginning the one creator and maker of the whole creation, of things seen and things unseen. We worship also the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was foretold by the prophets as the future herald of salvation for the human race and the teacher of distinguished disciples. For myself, since I am a human being, I consider that what I say is insignificant in comparison with his infinite godhead. I acknowledge the existence of a prophetic power, for the one I have just spoken of as the Son of God was the subject of prophecy. I know that the prophets were inspired from above when they spoke of his coming among men."

Rusticus said: "You are a Christian, then?" Justin said: "Yes, I am a Christian."

The prefect said to Justin: "You are called a learned man and think that you know what is true teaching. Listen: if you were scourged and beheaded, are you convinced that you would go up to heaven?" Justin said: "I hope that I shall enter God’s house if I suffer that way. For I know that God’s favour is stored up until the end of the whole world for all who have lived good lives."

The prefect Rusticus said: "Do you have an idea that you will go up to heaven to receive some suitable rewards?" Justin said: "It is not an idea that I have; it is something I know well and hold to be most certain."

The prefect Rusticus said: "Now let us come to the point at issue, which is necessary and urgent. Gather round then and with one accord offer sacrifice to the gods." Justin said: "No one who is right thinking stoops from true worship to false worship."

The prefect Rusticus said: "If you do not do as you are commanded you will be tortured without mercy." Justin said: "We hope to suffer torment for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, and so be saved. For this will bring us salvation and confidence as we stand before the more terrible and universal judgement-seat of our Lord and Saviour."

In the same way the other martyrs also said: "Do what you will. We are Christians; we do not offer sacrifice to idols."

The prefect Rusticus pronounced sentence, saying: "Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and to obey the command of the emperor be scourged and led away to suffer capital punishment according to the ruling of the laws." Glorifying God, the holy martyrs went out to the accustomed place. They were beheaded, and so fulfilled their witness of martyrdom in confessing their faith in their Saviour.

RESPONSORY Acts 20:21, 24; Romans 1:16
I have preached faith in our Lord Jesus Christ
and now I fear no danger.
- I do not count my life more precious than my work,
which is to finish my course,
the task of preaching and proclaiming the good news of God's grace.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel,
for it is God's power at work,
bringing salvation to all who believe in it,
Jew first and then Greek.
- I do not count my life more precious than my work,
which is to finish my course,
the task of preaching and proclaiming the good news of God's grace.

PRAYER
Father,
through the folly of the cross
you taught Saint Justin the sublime wisdom of Jesus Christ.
May we too reject falsehood
and remain loyal to the faith.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

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