Series 2 of Lessons
for Several Martyrs

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.

Nemo est qui nésciat, Mártyrum glórias ad hoc divíno consílio a Dei pópulis frequentári, ut et illis débitus honor dicétur, et nobis virtútis exémpla, favénte Christo, monstréntur ; ut, dum hæc ita celebrári perspícimus, cognoscámus quanta eos glória máneat in cælis, quorum natalítia táliter celebrántur in terris ; quo possímus, étiam ipsi, tálibus provocári exémplis, virtúte pari, devotióne consímili ac fide ; ut, Christo præstánte, dimicáre et víncere hostem possímus, ut, parta victória, cum iísdem Sanctis in regnis cæléstibus triumphémus.

Every man knoweth how, by the good Providence of God, the divers glories of his Martyrs are held in such esteem by his people, that the same his Saints in all places receive worthy honour, and before us is set, by the favour of Christ, the noble ensample of their courage.  Thus are we stirred up to consider, on the occasion of these holidays, how great glory doth abide them in heaven, whose birthdays are thus kept upon earth.  Thereby, also, we are roused to strive to be like them, brave, godly, and true : so that, in the strength of Christ, we, like them, may wrestle with and conquer our enemy, and, when we have gained the same victory that these Saints did gain, may with them at last be glorified in the kingdom of heaven.

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

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

R.  Sancti tui, Dómine, mirábile consecúti sunt iter, serviéntes præcéptis tuis, ut inveniréntur illæsi in aquis válidis : * Terra appáruit árida, et in Mari Rubro via sine impediménto.
V.  Quóniam percússit petram, et fluxérunt aquæ, et torréntes inundavérunt.
R.  Terra appáruit árida, et in Mari Rubro via sine impediménto.

R.  Thy Saints, O Lord, have passed a wonderful way, serving thy commandments, that they might be found without hurt in the midst of the mighty waters. * Dry land appeared, and out of the Red Sea, a way without impediment.
V.  He smote the rock, and the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed.
R.  Dry land appeared, and out of the Red Sea, a way without impediment.

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.

Quis est enim, qui eórum volens mérito copulári, nisi prius constántiam eórum téneat, sectétur fidem, imitémur virtútem passiónis ; eórum glóriam páribus vitæ lineaméntis aut invéniat aut exquírat?  Qui, etsi martyrio par esse non possit, tamen múneris tanti dignitáte se quisque bonis áctibus dignum præbeat.  Adest enim clementíssimus Deus, qui desiderántibus suis aut martyrium præbeat, aut, sine martyrio, cum Sanctis præmia divína retríbuat.

For what man is there willing to share their reward, that if he do not first lay hold on their stedfastness, follow after the ensample of their faith, and imitate their brave patience, can either seek or find their glory by likeness to their lives?  But whosoever doth so follow them, let him not doubt but that, though in very deed he gain not the crown of martyrdom, he is yet able by good works to make himself meet therefor.  For we have a most merciful God, which either giveth Martyrdom unto such as be willing, or, without Martyrdom, doth make them joint-heirs with all the Saints in the kingdom 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.  Vérbera carníficum non timuérunt Sancti Dei, moriéntes pro Christi nómine : * Ut herédes fíerent in domo Dómini.
V.  Tradidérunt córpora sua propter Deum ad supplícia.
R.  Ut herédes fíerent in domo Dómini.

R.  The Saints of God shrank not from the stripes of the executioners, but chose to die for the Name of Christ,  * That they might be made joint-heirs in the house of the Lord.
V.  They delivered their bodies for God's sake to suffer torment.
R.  That they might be made joint-heirs in the house of the Lord.

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.

Ut enim infirmátur peccátor advérsis, ita justus tentatiónibus roborátur.  Sic dimicárunt advérsus peccátum Sancti ; sic, et laborándo fortióres, et moriéndo victóres effécti sunt.  Nullus athlétes sine certámine fórtior dici, nullus sine victória póterit coronári.  Nemo miles sine prælio hostem subjécit ; nemo sine bello imperatórem proméruit.  Habes, christiáne, competéntia arma, quibus hostem expúgnes ; habes fortíssima tela, quibus inimícum debélles.

Yea, even as afflictions unman the ungodly, so do trials harden the righteous.  Even thus did the Saints strive against sin.  Thus in striving did they grow more strong, and in dying they were made more than conquerors.  Of such as run in a race, no man saith that they are strong, except they run, and none can be crowned, except he conquer.  No soldier prevaileth against his enemy, except he fight.  None hath won the title of Emperor, except he have warred.  O Christian, thou hast sufficient arms wherewith to fight the foe!  In thy hands are the mightiest weapons wherewith to conquer the enemy!

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

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

R.  Tamquam aurum in fornáce probávit eléctos Dóminus, et quasi holocáusti hóstiam accépit illos; et in témpore erit respéctus illórum, * Quóniam donum et pax est eléctis Dei.
V.  Qui confídunt in illum, intélligent veritátem : et fidéles in dilectióne acquiéscent illi.
R.  Quóniam donum et pax est eléctis Dei.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Quóniam donum et pax est eléctis Dei.

R.  As gold in the furnace hath the Lord tried his chosen ones, and received them as a burnt-offering, and yet a while, and they shall be regarded; * For the grace of God, and his peace, are with his chosen.
V.  They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth : and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him.
R.  For the grace of God, and his peace, are with his chosen.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  For the grace of God, and his peace, are with his chosen.

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 : Descéndens Jesus de monte, stetit in loco campéstri, et turba discipulórum ejus, et multitúdo copiósa plebis ab omni Judæa, et Jerúsalem, et marítima, et Tyri, et Sidónis.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus came down from the mountain and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude out of all Judea, and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Advérte ómnia diligénter, quómodo et cum Apóstolis ascéndat, et descéndat ad turbas.  Quómodo enim turba nisi in húmili Christum vidéret?  Non séquitur ad excélsa, non ascéndit ad sublímia.  Dénique ubi descéndit, invénit infírmos ; in excélsis enim infírmi esse non possunt.  Hinc étiam Matthæus docet in inferióribus débiles esse sanátos.  Prius enim unusquísque sanándus est, ut paulátim, virtútibus procedéntibus ascéndere possit ad montem ; et ídeo quemque in inferióribus sanat, hoc est, a libídine révocat, injúriam cæcitátis avértit.  Ad vúlnera nostra descéndit ; ut, usu quodam et cópia suæ natúræ, compartícipes nos fáciat esse regni cæléstis.

Mark well how Jesus goeth upward with his Apostles, and downward to the multitude.  How should the multitude behold Christ, save in a lower place?  Such go not up with him to the things which are above ; such attain not to the things which are high.  Hence, when Jesus cometh down, he findeth such as are diseased : for such like go not up to the heights.  Hence also Matthew saith that there were there all sick people.  Of these every man had need of healing, that, when he had received strength, by and by, he might go up into the mountain.  And therefore, being himself come down to the plain, he healeth them in this lower place; that is to say, he calleth them away from their earthly desires, and freeth them of their blindness.  He cometh down to the level of our wounded condition, to impart to us something from the abundance of his own nature, thus to make us joint-heirs of the kingdom of heaven. 

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

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

R.  Propter testaméntum Dómini et leges patérnas, Sancti Dei perstitérunt in amóre fraternitátis : * Quia unus fuit semper spíritus in eis, et una fides.
V.  Ecce quam bonus et quam jucúndum habitáre fratres in unum!
R.  Quia unus fuit semper spíritus in eis, et una fides.

R.  Because of the Covenant of the Lord and the laws of their fathers, the Saints of God stood fast in brotherly love:  *  For there was ever one spirit among them, and one faith.
V.  Behold how good and joyful a thing it is, brethren, to dwell together in unity.
R.  For there was ever one spirit among them, and one faith.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 8:  Quorum festum cólimus, ipsi intercédant pro nobis ad Dóminum.
R.  Amen.

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

Beáti páuperes ; quia vestrum est regnum Dei.  Quátuor tantum beatitúdines sanctus Lucas Domínicas pósuit, octo vero sanctus Matthæus ; sed in illis octo istæ quátuor sunt, et in quátuor istis illæ octo.  Hic enim quátuor velut virtútes ampléxus est cardináles ; ille in illis octo mysticum númerum reserávit.  Pro octáva enim multi inscribúntur Psalmi, et mandátum áccipis octo illis partem dare, fortásse benedictiónibus.  Sicut enim spei nostræ, octáva, perféctio est ; ita octáva, summa virtútum est.

Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Saint Luke giveth us but four of the Lord's beatitudes, whilst Saint Matthew hath eight.  However, the four are contained in the eight, and the eight in the four.  For in these four are embraced the cardinal virtues, whilst the number eight in itself containeth a mystery.  It is written at the head of more than one of the Psalms that they are for the octave. And thou hast received the commandment : Give a portion to seven, and also to eight.  To seven or eight what?  Perchance, degrees of blessedness.  For the octave of blessedness, namely this eighth beatitude, doth name the most glorious realization of all virtues, Blessed are they which are persecuted, and also the fullest realization of blessedness : Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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

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

Unless the alternate Respond below is to be used:

R.  Sancti mei, qui in carne pósiti, certámen habuístis:  *  Mercédem labóris ego reddam vobis.
V.  Veníte, benedícti Patris mei, percípite regnum.
R.  Mercédem labóris ego reddam vobis.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Mercédem labóris ego reddam vobis.

R.  O ye my Saints and Righteous Ones, who have conténded valiantly in the flesh,  *  I will render you a reward of your labours.
V.  Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom.
R.  I will render you a reward of your labours.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  I will render you a reward of your labours.

For Martyrs who are known as Brethren the following Respond is said, even if they are venerated along with others called Companions; provided that the Brothers are by number the majority of the group, or that if equal in number to their Companions, they are named first in the title of the Feast.

R.  Hæc est vera fratérnitas, quæ numquam pótuit violári certámine : qui, effúso sánguine, secúti sunt Dóminum : * Contemnéntes aulam régiam, pervenérunt ad regna cæléstia.
V.  Ecce quam bonum et quam jucúndum habitáre fratres in unum!
R.  Contemnéntes aulam régiam, pervenérunt ad regna cæléstia.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Contemnéntes aulam régiam, pervenérunt ad regna cæléstia.

R.  This is indeed the love of brethren wherein the strife of man could make no breach ; yea, in resisting even unto blood they did follow their Lord, * For they held in contempt the court of the earthly king, and thereby attained to the kingdom of heaven.
V.  Behold how good and joyful a thing it is, brethren, to dwell together in unity.
R.  For they held in contempt the court of the earthly king, and thereby attained to the kingdom of heaven.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  For they held in contempt the court of the earthly king, and thereby attained to the kingdom of heaven.

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.

Sed prius quæ sunt amplióra videámus.  Beáti, inquit, páuperes, quóniam vestrum est regnum Dei.  Primam benedictiónem hanc utérque Evangelísta pósuit.  Ordine enim prima est, et parens quædam generatióque virtútum ; quia qui contémpserit sæculária, ipse merébitur sempitérna, nec potest quisquam méritum regni cæléstis adipísci, qui, mundi cupiditáte pressus, emergéndi non habet facultátem.

But let us now consider the fuller of the forms of these beatitudes.  Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Both of the Evangelists give to this beatitude the first place.  Yea, surely, for poorness, at least in spirit, is the first in order, the mother and procreatrix of virtues ; since he that setteth no store by temporal things, winneth toward eternal things ; neither is any man able to gain the kingdom of heaven, on whom the love of this present world doth so press, that he cannot rid himself thereof.

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

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