Justin de Jacobis was born in San Fele in Lucania on the 9th of October 1800. Having entered the Congregation of the Mission in 1818 and ordained a priest in Brindisi on the 12th of June 1824, he worked tirelessly in Naples, where cholera was raging in 1836. Designated by the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide to pioneer the mission in Ethiopia, he went to Africa in 1839, where he worked tirelessly for twenty years. After having appointed Apostolic Administrator and consecrated bishop in Massawa on the 7th of January 1849, he overcame persecution with fortitude and fell asleep in the Lord in the Aligadé valley on the 31st of July 1860. He was beatified on the 25th of June 1939 and was canonized on the 26th of October 1975.
Invitatory Antiphon: Christ is the chief Shepherd, the leader of His flock; come let us adore Him.
Hymn
The saints who toiled from place to place,
Spreading the Gospel of God's grace,
Now in their heavenly homeland dwell
With Christ, whom here they served so well.
Alert at thy command to go,
And everywhere thy word to sow,
They went, O Master, far and wide,
Eager, but yet unsatisfied.
Thine was the task they took in hand,
Thine their good news for every land,
Thine was their power, and thine again
Their passion for the souls of men.
That task of thine, by them begun,
Must now by our weak hands be done:
Strengthen, O Lord, to work for thee
These hands, at home and over sea.
Antiphon 1: God has heard me. He protected me from death to allow me to go to see my dear Ethiopian Christians.
Antiphon 2: Come and see for yourselves. The Holy Spirit has planted in my heart a great love for the Ethiopian Christians.
Antiphon 3: You are my friends, you are my family, you are my sisters, my father my mother.
Scripture Reading
Romans 1:8-12.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
Short Responsory
V. I serve God by announcing the gospel of his Son.
R. I serve God by announcing the gospel of his Son.
V. I thank my God that True Faith is proclaimed throughout the world.
R. I serve God by announcing the gospel of his Son.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. I serve God by announcing the gospel of his Son.
Benedictus Antiphon: God alone matters to me, and the dear Ethiopian Christians.
Intercessions
Christ, splendor of the Father’s glory, illuminates every person with His word of truth. Grant us, in imitation of Saint Justin, to be assiduous collaborators in Your salvation. And so, we pray:
R. May the gospel burn in our hearts.
Lord Jesus, evangelizer of the poor, may our work glorify Your name and contribute to building Your kingdom. R.
Grant us a constant spirit of prayer and deep union with You, as contemplatives in prayer and apostles in action. R.
Support the missionaries of Your Gospel, and extend through their works, the victory of the cross over evil and oppression everywhere in the world. R.
Watch over the priests and ministers of Your Church, and may their lives align with the Gospel they proclaim to their brothers and sisters. R.
Our Father
Concluding Prayer
O God, Who to evangelize the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea
made Saint Justin De Jacobis
capable of becoming all things to all men,
grant us, through his intercession,
to become more zealous in serving our brothers and sisters
and to proclaim Your love through the constant witness of our lives.
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
Who are these like stars appearing,
these before God's throne who stand?
Each a golden crown is wearing;
who are all this glorious band?
Alleluia! Hark, they sing,
praising loud their heav'nly King.
Who are these of dazzling brightness,
these in God's own truth arrayed,
clad in robes of purest whiteness,
robes whose luster ne'er shall fade,
ne'er be touched by time's rude hand?
Whence come all this glorious band?
These are they who have contended
for their Savior's honor long,
wrestling on 'til life was ended,
following not the sinful throng;
these, who well the fight sustained,
triumph thro' the Lamb have gained.
These are they whose hearts were riven,
sore with woe and anguish tried,
who in prayer full oft have striven
with the God they glorified;
now, their painful conflict o'er,
God has bid them weep no more.
These, like priests, have watched and waited,
offering up to Christ their will;
soul and body consecrated,
day and night to serve him still:
now in God's most holy place
blest they stand before his face.
Antiphon 1: I have now opened up my heart to you. I have placed the keys of my heart in your hearts.
Antiphon 2: I shall always do what pleases you. Do you want me to stay in this region? I shall stay here. Do you want me to go away from here? I shall leave.
Antiphon 3: If you are in trouble, I will come to you and in the name of Jesus Christ, I will console you.
Scripture Reading
Romans 1:16-17.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Short Responsory
V. The righteous will proclaim; I am not ashamed of the gospel.
R. The righteous will proclaim; I am not ashamed of the gospel.
V. It is the power of God for salvation.
R. The righteous will proclaim; I am not ashamed of the gospel.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. The righteous will proclaim; I am not ashamed of the gospel.
Magnificat Antiphon: well-done, good and faithful servant, come and join in your Master's joy.
Intercessions
Christ proclaimed the Kingdom of God and has invited us to follow him. We rejoice and pray:
R. May we proclaim your message of truth.
We pray for all missionaries who plant the seeds of the gospel in foreign lands: R. May their zeal for your word bring compassion to the most abandoned.
We pray for those who seek the message of the salvation through Jesus Christ: R. May our works of charity draw them closer to you.
We pray for the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea who are heirs to the faith of Justin: R. May their faith be a light to all.
We pray for greater understanding and union between the Eastern and the Western Traditions of Christian life and worship: R. May all be one, as you, Father, Son and Spirit, are one.
We give thanks for the witness of Justin de Jacobis, who left all for the sake of the
gospel: R. May we be inspired by his life and dedication.
We Pary for all our departed brothers and sisters: R. Mat they enjoy Your beatific vision.
Our Father
Concluding Prayer
O God, Who to evangelize the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea
made Saint Justin De Jacobis
capable of becoming all things to all men,
grant us, through his intercession,
to become more zealous in serving our brothers and sisters
and to proclaim Your love through the constant witness of our lives.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
Copyright © 2007 - 2025. All Rights Reserved