September 10, 2020 Calendar Highlight

THE MARTYRS OF JAPAN
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THE 26 MARTYRS OF JAPAN

These first martyrs of Japan were arrested and then forced to march
the 600 miles from Kyoto to Nagasaki. 

It is said that they sung the Te Deum the entire way,
​and witness accounts report them also singing it immediately before their crucifixion.

Te Deum is a hymn of praise, thought to have been written in the 4th century:​
​

​THE TE DEUM
​

Latin:

Te Deum laudamus:
te Dominum confitemur.
​Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi caeli et universae Potestates;
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,
Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,
Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.
Te per orbem terrarum sancta
​confitetur Ecclesia,
Patrem immensae maiestatis:
Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.
Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem,
non horruisti Virginis uterum.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo,
​aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes,
in gloria Patris.
Iudex crederis esse venturus.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in
​gloria numerari.
V.  Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.
R.  Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.
V.  Per singulos dies benedicimus te.
R.  Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.
V.  Dignare, Domine,
​die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
R.  Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.
V.  Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.
R.  In te, Domine, speravi:
​non confundar in aeternum.

English:

O God, we praise Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be the supreme Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the earth worships Thee.
All the Angels, the heavens and all angelic powers,
All the Cherubim and Seraphim, continuously cry to Thee:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
The wonderful company of Prophets,
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Holy Church throughout the world
​acknowledges Thee:
The Father of infinite Majesty;
Thy adorable, true and only Son;

Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

​O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When Thou tookest it upon Thyself to deliver man,
Thou didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
Having overcome the sting of death, Thou
opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all   believers.
Thou sitest at the right hand of God
​in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou willst come to be our Judge. We, therefore, beg Thee to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Let them be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.
V.  Save Thy people, O Lord,
​and bless Thy inheritance!
R.  Govern them, and raise them up forever.

​V.  Every day we thank Thee.
R.  And we praise Thy Name forever,
yes, forever and ever.
V.  O Lord,
​deign to keep us from sin this day.
R.  Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
V.  Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us,
​for we have hoped in Thee.

​R.  O Lord, in Thee I have put my trust;
​let me never be put to shame.

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