St. Pladius and his Companions

 

St. Pladius and his Companions

"Placidus, my beloved son, why should I weep for you? You are taken from me, only that you may belong to all men. I will give thanks for this sacrifice of the fruit of my heart, offered to Almighty God." Thus, on hearing of this day's triumph, spoke St. Benedict, his spiritual father, mingling tears with his joy. He did not survive St. Placidus long; yet long enough to complete, of his own accord, the sacrifice of separations, by sending into far-off France the companion of St. Placidus' childhood, St. Maurus, who was destined not to rejoin him in Heaven for many long years. Charity seeks not her own interests; she finds them by forgetting self, and losing self in God. St. Placidus had disappeared; St. Maurus had been sent away; St. Benedict was about to die: human prudence would have believed the holy patriarch's work in danger of perishing; whereas, at this critical moment, it strengthened its roots and extended its branches over the whole world. Unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, itself remains alone; but if it die, it brings forth much fruit (John 12: 24-25). As heretofore the blood of martyrs was the seed of Christians, it now produced a rich harvest of monks.

Deus, qui nos concédis sanctórum Mártyrum tuórum Plácidi et Sociórum eius natalícia cólere, da nobis in ætérna beatitúdine de eórum societáte gaudére.

Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
R. Amen.

O God, who dost permit us to keep the birthday of thy holy Martyrs Placidus and his companions, grant that we may enjoy their fellowship in everlasting happiness.

Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.