Common of One or Several
Sovereign Pontiffs

The Office is entirely taken from the Common of a Martyr, the Common of Several Martyrs, or the Common of a Confessor Bishop, according to the type of Feast, except for that which follows here below.

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 : Venit Jesus in partes Cæsaréæ Philíppi, et interrogábat discípulos suos, dicens : Quem dicunt hómines esse Fílium hóminis?  Et réliqua.

At that time : When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  And so on, and that which followeth.

Cum, sicut evangélica lectióne reserátum est, interrogásset Dóminus discípulos, quem ipsum (multis divérsa opinántibus) créderent ; respondissétque beátus Petrus, dicens : Tu es Christus Fílius Dei vivi ; Dóminus ait : Beátus es, Simon Bar-Jona, quia caro et sanguis non revelávit tibi, sed Pater meus, qui in cælis est : et ego dico tibi, quia tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram ædificábo Ecclésiam meam, et portæ ínferi non prævalébunt advérsus eam.  Et tibi dabo claves regni cælórum : et quodcúmque ligáveris super terram, erit ligátum et in cælis : et quodcúmque sólveris super terram, erit solútum et in cælis.  Manet ergo disposítio veritátis, et beátus Petrus, in accépta fortitúdine petræ persevérans, suscépta Ecclésiæ gubernácula non relíquit.

When the Lord, as we read in the Gospel, asked his disciples who did men, amid their divers speculations, believe him the Son of Man to be, blessed Peter answered and said : Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And the Lord answered and said unto him : Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona : for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven : and I say also unto thee : That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it ; and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  But the dispensation of truth perdures, and blessed Peter, persevering in the strength of the rock which he hath received, hath not relinquished the position he assumed at the helm of the Church.

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

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

R.  Coróna áurea super caput ejus : * Expréssa signo sanctitátis, glória honóris et opus fortitúdinis.
V.  Quóniam prævenísti eum in benedictiónibus dulcédinis, posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.
R.  Expréssa signo sanctitátis, glória honóris et opus fortitúdinis.

R.  The Lord set a crown of gold upon his head, *  Wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, goodly and beautiful.
V.  For thou hast prevented him with the blessings of goodness, and hast set a crown of gold upon his head.
R.  Wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, goodly and beautiful.

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.

R.  Amávit eum Dóminus, et ornávit eum : stolam glóriæ índuit eum, * Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum.
V.  Induit eum Dóminus lorícam fídei, et ornávit eum.
R.  Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum.

R.  The Lord hath loved him and hath adorned him : he hath clothed him with a robe of glory: * And hath crowned him at the gates of paradise.
V.  The Lord hath put upon him the breastplate of faith, and hath adorned him.
R.  And hath crowned him at the gates of paradise.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 8:  Cujus (vel Quorum) festum cólimus, ipse (vel ipsi) intercédat (vel intercédant) pro nobis ad Dóminum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 8:  May he [or they] whose feast day we are keeping, be our Advocate(s) with God.
R.  Amen.

In univérsa namque Ecclésia, Tu es Christus Fílius Dei vivi, quotídie Petrus dicit ; et omnis lingua, quæ confitétur Dóminum, magistério hujus vocis imbúitur.  Hæc fides diábolum vincit et captivórum ejus víncula dissólvit.  Hæc érutos mundo, ínserit cælo, et portæ ínferi advérsus eam prævalére non possunt.  Tanta enim divínitus soliditáte muníta est, ut eam neque hærética umquam corrúmpere právitas, nec pagána potúerit superáre perfídia.  His ítaque modis, dilectíssimi, rationábile obséquio celebrétur hodiérna festívitas : ut in persóna humilitátis meæ ille intelligátur, ille honorétur, in quo et ómnium pastórum sollicitúdo, cum commendatárum sibi óvium custódia persevérat, et cujus étiam dígnitas in indígno heréde non déficit.

In the universal Church it is as if Peter were still saying  every day : Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  For every tongue which confesseth the Lord is taught that confession by the teaching of Peter.  This is the Faith that overcometh the devil and looseth the bonds of his prisoners.  This is the Faith which maketh men free of the world and bringeth them to heaven, and the gates of hell are impotent to prevail against it.  This is the rock which God hath fortified with such ramparts of salvation, that the contagion of heresy will never be able to infect it, nor idolatry and unbelief to overcome it.  And therefore, dearly beloved, we celebrate today's festival with reasonable obedience, that in my humble person he may be acknowledged and honoured who doth continue  to care for all the shepherds as well as sheep entrusted unto him, and who doth lose none of his dignity even in an unworthy successor.

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

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

R.  Hic est vere Martyr, qui pro Christi nómine sánguinem suum fudit: * Qui minas júdicum non tímuit, nec terrénæ dignitátis glóriam quæsívit, sed ad cæléstia regna pervénit.
V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas, et osténdit illi regnum Dei.
R.  Qui minas júdicum non tímuit, nec terrénæ dignitátis glóriam quæsívit, sed ad cæléstia regna pervénit.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Qui minas júdicum non tímuit, nec terrénæ dignitátis glóriam quæsívit, sed ad cæléstia regna pervénit.

R.  This is indeed a Martyr who for the Name of Christ poured forth his life-blood; * Who feared not the judgment of the world, nor clung to any earthly honours; but set his heart on a heavenly reward.
V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God.
R.  Who feared not the judgment of the world, nor clung to any earthly honours; but set his heart on a heavenly reward.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Who feared not the judgment of the world, nor clung to any earthly honours; but set his heart on a heavenly reward.

R.  Dómine, prævenísti eum in benedictiónibus dulcédinis: * Posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.
V.  Vitam pétiit a te, et tribuísti ei longitúdinem diérum in sæculum sæculi.
R.  Posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.

R.  Thou hast prevented him with the blessings of goodness; * Thou hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head, O Lord.
V.  He asked life of thee, and thou gavest him a long life, even for ever and ever.
R.  Thou hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head, O Lord.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Thou hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head, O Lord.

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.

R.  Sint lumbi vestri præcíncti, et lucérnæ ardéntes in mánibus vestris : *  Et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis.
V.  Vigiláte ergo, quia nescítis qua hora Dóminus vester ventúrus sit.
R.  Et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis.

R.  Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning in your hands : *  And be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding.
V.  Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
R.  And be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding.

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.

Cum ergo cohortatiónes nostras áuribus vestræ sanctitátis adhibémus, ipsum vobis, cujus vice fúngimur, loqui crédite : quia et illíus vos afféctu monémus, et non áliud vobis, quam quod dócuit, prædicámus ; obsecrántes, ut succíncti lumbos mentis vestræ, castam et sóbriam vitam in Dei timóre ducátis.  Coróna mea, sicut Apóstolus ait, et gáudium vos estis, si fides vestra, quæ ab inítio Evangélii in univérso mundo prædicáta est, in dilectióne et sanctitáte permánserit.  Nam licet omnem Ecclésiam, quæ in toto est orbe terrárum, cunctis opórteat florére virtútibus ; vos tamen præcípue inter céteros pópulos decet méritis pietátis excéllere, quos in ipsa apostólicæ petræ arce fundátos, et Dóminus noster Jesus Christus cum ómnibus redémit, et beátus Apóstolus Petrus præ ómnibus erudívit.

When, therefore, we address our exhortations to your godly ears, believe ye that ye are hearing him speak whose office we are discharging.  Yea, it is with his love for you that we warn you.  And we preach unto you no other thing than that which he taught, entreating you as did he : Gird up the loins of your mind ; be sober ; be ye holy in all manner of living ; pass the time of your sojourning here in the fear of God.  My disciples, dearly beloved, ye are to me as the disciples of the Apostle Paul were to him, namely : My crown and joy; if so be that your faith, abide, still in all lowliness and holiness, like unto the first times of the Gospel.  For although the whole Church, which is in all the world, should indeed abound in all the virtues, it becometh especially you among all others to excel in acts of piety, founded as ye be on the very citadel of the Apostolic Rock―ye who have not only been redeemed with the rest of men by our Lord Jesus Christ, but who have been instructed by the blessed Apostle Peter far beyond all others.

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

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