Series 2 of Lessons for Several Martyrs
in Eastertide

Absolutio: Exáudi, Dómine Jesu Christe, preces servórum tuórum, et miserére nobis : Qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivis et regnas in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  Graciously hear, O Lord Jesu Christ, the prayers of thy servants, and have mercy upon us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

Benedíctio 1: Benedictióne perpétua benedícat nos Pater ætérnus.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 1:  May the Father Eternal bless us with a never-ending blessing.
R.  Amen.

Fratres : Debitóres sumus non carni, ut secúndum carnem vivámus.  Si enim secúndum carnem vixéritis, moriémini ; si autem spíritu facta carnis mortificavéritis, vivétis.  Quicúmque enim spíritu Dei agúntur, ii sunt fílii Dei.  Non enim accepístis spíritum servitútis íterum in timóre, sed accepístis spíritum adoptiónis filiórum, in quo clamámus : Abba (Pater).  Ipse enim Spíritus testimónium reddit spirítui nostro, quod sumus fílii Dei.  Si autem fílii, et herédes : herédes quidem Dei, coherédes autem Christi ; si tamen compátimur, ut et conglorificémur.  Exístimo enim quod non sunt condígnæ passiónes hujus témporis ad futúram glóriam, quæ revelábitur in nobis.  Nam exspectátio creatúræ revelatiónem filiórum Dei exspéctat.

Brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Beátus vir, qui métuit Dóminum, allelúja : * In mandátis ejus cupit nimis, allelúja, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Glória et divítiæ in domo ejus, et justítia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.
R.  In mandátis ejus cupit nimis, allelúja, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, alleluia :  *  He hath great delight in his commandments, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house, and his righteousness endureth for ever.
R.  He hath great delight in his commandments, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Benedíctio 2: Unigénitus Dei Fílius nos benedícere et adjuváre dignétur.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 2: May the Son of God, the sole-begotten, mercifully bless and keep us.
R.  Amen.

Scimus autem quóniam diligéntibus Deum ómnia cooperántur in bonum, iis qui secúndum propósitum vocáti sunt sancti.  Nam quos præscívit, et prædestinávit confórmes fíeri imáginis Fílii sui, ut sit ipse primogénitus in multis frátribus.  Quos autem prædestinávit, hos et vocávit : et quos vocávit, hos et justificávit : quos autem justificávit, illos et glorificávit.  Quid ergo dicémus ad hæc?  Si Deus pro nobis, quis contra nos?  Qui étiam próprio Fílio suo non pepércit, sed pro nobis ómnibus trádidit illum, quómodo non étiam cum illo ómnia nobis donávit?  Quis accusábit advérsus eléctos Dei?  Deus, qui justíficat, quis est qui condémnet?  Christus Jesus, qui mórtuus est, immo qui et resurréxit, qui est ad déxteram Dei, qui étiam interpéllat pro nobis.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, even to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect? It is God that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Tristítia vestra, allelúja, * Convertétur in gáudium, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Mundus autem gaudébit, vos vero contristabímini, sed tristítia vestra.
R.  Convertétur in gáudium, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  Ye shall weep and lament, alleluia : *  But your sorrow shall be turned into joy, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  The world shall rejoice, and ye shall be sorrowful.
R.  But your sorrow shall be turned into joy, alleluia, alleluia.

Benedíctio 3: Spíritus Sancti grátia illúminet sensus et corda nostra.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 3: May the grace of the Holy Spirit all our heart and mind enlighten.
R.  Amen.

Quis ergo nos separábit a caritáte Chrísti?  tribulátio, an angústia, an fames, an núditas, an perículum, an persecútio, an gládius?  (sicut scriptum est : Quia propter te mortificámur tota die : æstimáti sumus sicut oves occisiónis).  Sed in his ómnibus superámus propter eum, qui diléxit nos.  Certus sum enim quia neque mors, neque vita, neque Angeli, neque Principátus, neque Virtútes, neque instántia, neque profúndum, neque creatúra ália póterit nos separáre a caritáte Dei, quæ est in Christo Jesu Dómino nostro.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principálities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Pretiósa in conspéctu Dómini, allelúja, * Mors Sanctórum ejus, allelúja.
V.  Custódit Dóminus ómnia ossa eórum, unum ex his non conterétur.
R.  Mors Sanctórum ejus, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Mors Sanctórum ejus, allelúja.

R.  Right dear in the sight of the Lord, alleluia, * Is the death of his Saints, alleluia.
V.  The Lord keepeth all their bones, so that not one of them is broken.
R.  The death of his Saints, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  The death of his Saints, alleluia.

Absolutio: Ipsíus píetas et misericórdia nos ádjuvet, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May his loving-kindness and mercy assist us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 4: Deus Pater omnípotens sit nobis propítius et clemens.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 4:  May God the Father Almighty shew us his mercy and pity.
R.  Amen.

Quibus ego vos láudibus prædicem, fortíssimi Mártyres? robur péctoris vestri et perseverántiam fídei, quo præcónio vocis exórnem?  Tolerástis usque ad consummatiónem glóriæ duríssimam quæstiónem ; nec cessístis supplíciis, sed vobis pótius supplícia cessérunt.  Finem dolóribus, quem torménta non dabant, corónæ dedérunt.  Laniéna grávior ad hoc diu perseverávit, non ut stantem fidem dejíceret, sed ut hómines Dei ad Deum velócius mítteret.

How can I find words to praise you, O valiant Martyrs?  Where can I find speech eloquent enough to extol your great-hearted courage and stedfast faith?  Ye endured pitiless torment until it was consummated in glory.  The tormentors did not wear you out.  Nay, rather ye wore out your tormentors.  When they gave you no rest from suffering, ye did suffer until ye gained the crown.  And the torments, no matter how dread, diminished not the might of your faith, and did but accomplish more quickly the sending home to God of God's own.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Lux perpétua lucébit Sanctis tuis, Dómine, * Et ætérnitas témporum, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Lætítia sempitérna erit super cápita eórum : gáudium et exsultatiónem obtinébunt.
R.  Et ætérnitas témporum, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  Light perpetual shall shine upon thy Saints, *  And an ageless eternity, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads : they shall obtain joy and gladness.
R.  And an ageless eternity, alleluia, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal.
R.  Amen.

Vidit admírans præséntium multitúdo cæléste certámen, certámen Dei, certámen spiritále, prælium Christi : stetísse servos ejus, voce libera, mente incorrúpta, virtúte divína, telis quidem sæculáribus nudos, sed armis fídei ardéntis armátos.  Stetérunt torti torquéntibus fortióres ; et pulsántes ac laniántes úngulas, pulsáta ac laniáta membra vicérunt.  Inexpugnábilem fidem superáre non pótuit sæviens diu plaga repetíta, quamvis, rupta compáge víscerum, torqueréntur in servis Dei jam non membra, sed vúlnera.  Fluébat sanguis, qui incéndium persecutiónis exstíngueret, qui flammas et ignes gehénnæ glorióso cruóre sopíret.

They that stood by looked in wonder at your heavenly conflict, that holy battle of God, that spiritual wrestling, that Christ-honouring combat.  They saw his servants stand, unshaken in speech, unbroken in spirit, strong in God's strength, naked indeed to the weapons of this world, but nonetheless clothed in the whole armour of God, and equipped with the fiery weapons of faith.  There they that were tortured stood bolder than they that tortured them.  Their bruised and mangled bodies overcame the instruments of cruelty that bruised and mangled them.  The bloody stripes, often laid on, could not beat them down who were such impregnable towers of faith, even when the covering of their bowels was broken, and that which was being tortured in God's servants was no longer a body but a mass of wounds.  O glorious blood which flowed in such wise as to put out the fires of persecution, and to quench even the flames and fire of hell!

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  In servis suis, allelúja, * Consolábitur Deus, allelúja.
V.  Judicábit Dóminus pópulum suum, et in servis suis.
R.  Consolábitur Deus, allelúja.

R.  God shall be comforted, alleluia, * In his servants, alleluia.
V.  For the Lord will avenge his people, and be gracious unto his servants.
R.  In his servants, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love.
R.  Amen.

O quale illud fuit spectáculum Dómino, quam sublíme, quam magnum, quam Dei óculis sacraménto ac devotióne mílitis ejus accéptum! sicut scriptum est in Psalmis, Spíritu Sancto loquénte ad nos páriter et monénte : Pretiósa est in conspéctu Dómini mors justórum ejus.  Pretiósa mors hæc est, quæ emit immortalitátem prétio sui sánguinis, quæ accépit corónam de consummatióne virtútis.  Quam lætus illic Christus fuit, quam libens in tálibus servis suis et pugnávit et vicit protéctor fídei, dans credéntibus tantum quantum se credit cápere qui sumit!  Certámini suo ádfuit, præliatóres atque assertóres sui nóminis eréxit, corroborávit, animávit.  Et qui pro nobis mortem semel vicit, semper vincit in nobis.

How noble in the sight of the Lord is such a spectacle!  O how precious in the sight of God is the faith and loyalty of his soldiers!  As it is written in the Psalms, the Holy Ghost therein both speaking to us and warning us : Right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints.  Right dear indeed is that death which, with the price of its own blood, buyeth the life that can never die, and receiveth the crown which is the consummation of its own courage!  O how joyful was Christ in that place!  How gladly did he, the Keeper of their faith, when he found servants like these, fight and triumph in them!  Then did he give to all those that thus believed in him whatever each one believed himself to have received.  He it was who was there when they fought.  He it was who raised them up to be his warriors, and endued them with might to become champions of his holy Name.  For he who once conquered earth in his own Person on our behalf, liveth for ever now to conquer death in the person of each of us.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Fíliæ Jerúsalem, veníte et vidéte Mártyres cum corónis, quibus coronávit eos Dóminus * In die solemnitátis et lætítiæ, allelúja.
V.  Quóniam confortávit seras portárum tuárum, benedíxit fílios tuos in te.
R.  In die solemnitátis et lætítiæ, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  In die solemnitátis et lætítiæ, allelúja.

R.  Go forth, O ye daughters of Sion, and behold the King of Martyrs with the crown wherewith the Lord hath crowned him * In the day of his espousals, and in the day of gladness, alleluia.
V.  For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, and hath blessed thy children within thee.
R.  In the day of his espousals, and in the day of gladness, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  In the day of his espousals, and in the day of gladness, alleluia.

Absolutio: A vínculis peccatórum nostrórum absólvat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May the Lord Almighty and merciful break the bonds of our sins and set us free.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 7: Evangélica léctio sit nobis salus et protéctio.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 7:  May the Gospel's holy lection be our safeguard and protection.
R.  Amen.

In illo témpore : Dixit Jesus discípulis suis: Ego sum vitis, vos pálmites : qui manet in me, et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum ; quia sine me nihil potéstis fácere.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus said unto his disciples:  I am the vine, ye are the branches : he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. And so on, and that which followeth.

Ne quisquam putáret saltem parvum áliquem fructum posse a semetípso pálmitem ferre, cum dixísset, Hic fert fructum multum ; non ait, Quia sine me parum postéstis fácere ; sed, Nihil potéstis fácere.  Sive ergo parum sive multum, sine illo fíeri non potest, sine quo nihil fíeri potest.  Quia, etsi parum attúlerit palmes, eum purgat agrícola, ut plus áfferat ; tamen, nisi in vite mánserit et víxerit de radíce, quantúmlibet fructum a semetípso non potest ferre.  Quamvis autem Christus vitis non esset, nisi homo esset ; tamen istam grátiam palmítibus non præbéret, nisi étiam Deus esset.

Lest anyone should think that a branch could of itself bring forth at least a little fruit, the Lord, when he said of the vine : The same bringeth forth much fruit : doth not add thereto : For without me ye can do but little.  Rather, he said : Without me ye can do nothing.  Be it then little or much, there can be nothing done save through him without whom we can do nothing.  For if the branch bring forth fruit, albeit but little, it is because of him the husbandman who purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit.  And if the branch abide not in the vine, and draw not its sap from the vine's root, it can of itself bring forth no fruit whatsoever.  And as Christ would not have been the vine if he had not been man, so he could not have given grace to his branches if he had not also been God.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Ego sum vitis vera, et vos pálmites : * Qui manet in me, et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Sicut diléxit me Pater, et ego diléxi vos.
R.  Qui manet in me, et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  I am the true Vine, ye are the branches : * He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.
R.  He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, alleluia, alleluia.

But on Tuesdays and Fridays between Low Sunday and the III after Easter, when and if the occurrent Scriptural Responds have been used in the First Nocturn, in place of the above is said :

R.  Tristítia vestra, allelúja, * Convertétur in gáudium, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Mundus autem gaudébit, vos vero contristabímini, sed tristítia vestra.
R.  Convertétur in gáudium, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  Ye shall weep and lament, alleluia : *  But your sorrow shall be turned into joy, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  The world shall rejoice, and ye shall be sorrowful.
R.  But your sorrow shall be turned into joy, alleluia, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 8:  Cujus festum cólimus, ipse intercédat pro nobis ad Dóminum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 8:  May he whose feast day we are keeping, be our Advocate with God.
R.  Amen.

Verum, quia ita sine ista grátia non potest vivi, ut et mors in potestáte sit líberi arbítrii : Si quis in me, inquit, non mánserit, mittétur foras sicut palmes, et aréscet ; et cólligent eum, et in ignem mittent, et ardet.  Ligna ítaque vitis tanto sunt contemptibilióra si in vite non mánserint, quanto gloriosióra si mánserint.  Dénique, sicut de his étiam per Ezechiélem prophétam Dóminus dicit, præcísa, nullis agricolárum úsibus prosunt, nullis fabrílibus opéribus deputántur.  Unum de duóbus pálmiti cóngruit, aut vitis, aut ignis : si in vite non est, in igne erit.  Ut ergo in igne non sit, in vite sit.

Without the sap of grace the branch cannot live.  Yet it is within the power of free-will to choose death rather than life.  And therefore the Lord saith : If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered ; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  For the branches, if they abide not in the vinde, are not good wood but are worthless stalks, fit only for burning ; whereas, if they abide in the vine, they are instinct with the glory of life.  Thus a branch, if it be severed from the vine, is useless to the husbandman as a vine, or to a carpenter as wood.  Of this matter the Lord spake by the Prophet Ezekiel, saying : Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work : how much less shall it be meet yet for any work when the fire hath devoured it? therefore the vine I have given to the fire for fuel.  For a vine-branch is useful for only one of two things, either as a vine-branch to bear fruit, or as brush to make a fire.  If it abide not in the vine, it is fit only to be cast into the fire.  Therefore, that it need not be cast into the fire, let it abide in the vine.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Cándidi facti sunt Nazaræi ejus, allelúja : splendórem Deo dedérunt, allelúja : * Et sicut lac coaguláti sunt, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Candidióres nive, nitidióres lacte, rubicundióres ébore antíquo, sapphíro pulchrióres.
R.  Et sicut lac coaguláti sunt, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et sicut lac coaguláti sunt, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  Her Nazarites are made white, alleluia, for they do manifest the splendour of God, alleluia : * And they are of one heart and of one soul, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  Purer are they than freshly-fallen snow, whiter than milk, more ruddy in body than rubies, fairer than the polished sapphire.
R.  And they are of one heart and of one soul, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And they are of one heart and of one soul, alleluia, alleluia.

If Lesson ix is to be taken from an occurring Feast or Sunday, it is given in its proper place, as announced in the Ordo.

Alternate Ninth Lesson

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 9: Ad societátem cívium supernórum perdúcat nos Rex Angelórum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 9: May the King of Angels give us fellowship with all the citizens of heaven.
R.  Amen.

Si manséritis in me, inquit, et verba mea in vobis mánserint, quodcúmque voluéritis petétis, et fiet vobis.  Manéndo quippe in Christo, quid velle possunt nisi quod cónvenit Christo?  Quid velle possunt manéndo in Salvatore, nisi quod non est aliénum a salúte?  Aliud quippe vólumus quia sumus in Christo, et áliud vólumus quia sumus adhuc in hoc sæculo.  De mansióne namque hujus sæculi nobis aliquándo subrépit, ut hoc petámus quod nobis non expedíre néscimus.  Sed absit ut fiat nobis, si manémus in Christo, qui non facit, quando pétimus, nisi quod éxpedit nobis.

If ye abide in me, saith he, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  For what can they will that abide in Christ save that which is agreeable to Christ?  Or what can they will that abide in the Saviour save that which tendeth to salvation?  But we are likely to will one thing because we are in Christ, and another because we are yet in this world.  Thus it cometh to pass, because we are yet of this world, that we sometimes seek things whereof we are not aware that they are inexpedient for us.  But God forbid that such things should be done for us, seeing that we abide in Christ who, when we ask, giveth nothing save what is expedient for us.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.