Today, we pay homage to the Daughters of Charity, who were part of the House of Arras and are known as the martyrs of Arras. During the French Revolution, they crowned their service to the poor with martyrdom in this city on the 26th of June, 1794. They are:
· Marie Madeleine Fontaine was born on the 22nd of April 1723 in Etrepagny and entered the Daughters of Charity on the 9th of July 1748.
· Marie Francios Lanel was born on the 24th of August 1745 in the town of Eu and entered the Company of the Daughters of Charity on the 10th of April 1764.
· Therese Madeleine Fantou was born on the 29th of July 1747 in Miniac-Morvan, and entered the seminary of the Daughters of Charity in Paris on the 28th of November 1771.
· Jeanne Gerard was born in Cumières on the 23rd of October 1752 and entered the Daughters of Charity on the 17th of September 1776.
· Margherite Rutan was born in Metz on the 23rd of April 1736 and entered the Daughters of Charity on the 23rd of April 1757.
All were beatified together on the 13th of June 1920, except Sister Rutan who was beatified on the 19th of June 2011.
Invitatory Antiphon: The Lord is the King of martyrs; come let us adore Him.
Hymn
The martyrs living now with Christ
In suffering were tried,
Their anguish overcome by love
When on his cross he died.
Across the centuries they come,
In constancy unmoved,
Their loving hearts make no complaint,
In silence they are proved.
No man has ever measured love,
Or weighed it in his hand,
But God who knows the inmost heart
Gives them the promised land.
Praise Father, Son and Spirit blest,
Who guides us through the night
In ways that reach beyond the stars
To everlasting light.
Antiphon 1: May our lips speak your praise, for your love is better than life.
Antiphon 2: The martyrs of Arras girded themselves with God's strength. The light they kindled will never be extinguished.
Antiphon 3: Marie Madeleine and her companions served you with courage and unwavering faith.
Scripture Reading
1 Peter 4:12-14.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
Short Responsory
V. Our God is a stronghold for the oppressed, a strength in times of trouble.
R. Our God is a stronghold for the oppressed, a strength in times of trouble.
V. Those who know your name put their trust in you.
R. Our God is a stronghold for the oppressed, a strength in times of trouble.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. Our God is a stronghold for the oppressed, a strength in times of trouble.
Benedictus Antiphon: You shall love your God above all things.
Intercessions
May the Lord Jesus, who rewarded the charity of our blessed Martyrs with the crown of martyrdom, grant us too generosity and serene constancy in His service:
R. Make us strong in Your love, Lord.
Bless this new day, filled with works of fraternal charity, touching those we encounter with Your love. R.
Accompany us with Your presence and blessing as we serve the poor. R.
Help us build fraternal communities, a sign of new life brought by the Gospel. R.
May our actions reflect the virtues characteristic of our vocation. R.
Our Father
Concluding Prayer
O God, Who in blessed Marie Madeleine and in her Companions
crowned with martyrdom their love towards the poor,
grant us, through their intercession,
that no adversity may separate us from You
and may all things work together to make us persevere in Your love.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
Hymn
Our Lord the path of suff’ring trod
And since His blood for man hath flowed,
’Tis meet that man should yield to God
The life he owed. Alleluia, Alleluia.
No shame to own the Crucified—
Nay, ’tis our immortality
That we confess our God who died,
And for Him die.Alleluia, Alleluia.
Filled with this thought, with patient smile
All threats the martyr doth withstand,
Fights, Lord, Thy cause, and leans the while
Upon Thine hand. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Beholding his predestined crown,
Into death’s arms he willing goes;
Dying, he conquers death; o’erthrown,
O’erthrows his foes. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Lord, make us Thine own soldiers true
Grant us brave faith, a spirit pure
That for Thy name, Thy cross in view,
We may endure. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Eternal Father of the Word,
Eternal Word, we Thee adore,
Eternal Spirit, God and Lord,
For evermore. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Antiphon 1: These are the saints who surrendered themselves to God.
Antiphon 2: The fullness of God's love is their reward.
Antiphon 3: The bodies of God's saints lie buried in peace; they live with God forever.
Scripture Reading
Romans 6:8-11.
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So, you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Short Responsory
V. O God, listen to my cry; all my trust is in your promise.
R. O God, listen to my cry; all my trust is in your promise.
V. I delight in your love and saving grace.
R. O God, listen to my cry; all my trust is in your promise.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. O God, listen to my cry; all my trust is in your promise.
Magnificat Antiphon: With God on our side, who can be against us?
Intercessions
As we joyfully celebrate the martyrdom of our sisters, may their love for the common vocation of service to their brothers and sisters in charity continue to inspire us. Guide us, Lord, in faithfulness to Your call:
R. Lord, remember your eternal alliance with Your people.
Remind us of the great works of Your love. R.
Amid life’s struggles and trials, may we participate in Your passion, sharing the strength of Your redemption. R.
Collaborate with us to transform the world through Your love, progressing in justice, brotherhood, and peace. R.
Help us bring goodness and joy to the poor and suffering, experiencing their poverty in our lives. R.
May our departed find joy with Mary and all the Saints in the paradise of eternal bliss. R.
Our Father
Concluding Prayer
O God, Who in blessed Marie Madeleine and in her Companions
crowned with martyrdom their love towards the poor,
grant us, through their intercession,
that no adversity may separate us from You
and may all things work together to make us persevere in Your love.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
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