St. Anthony

Abbot

Double

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Intercéssio nos, quæsumus, Dómine, beáti Antónii Abbátis comméndet : ut, quod nostris méritis non valémus, ejus patrocínio assequámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the prayers of thy holy Abbot, blessed Anthony may commend us unto thee : that we, who have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, may by his advocacy find favour in thy sight.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

First Vespers

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Similábo eum * viro sapiénti, qui ædificávit domum suam supra petram.

Ant. on Magnif:  I will liken him * unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock.

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Intercéssio nos, quæsumus, Dómine, beáti Antónii Abbátis comméndet : ut, quod nostris méritis non valémus, ejus patrocínio assequámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the prayers of thy holy Abbot, blessed Anthony may commend us unto thee : that we, who have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, may by his advocacy find favour in thy sight.  Through.

Ant.  Qui vult veníre post me, ábneget semetípsum, et tollat crucem suam, et sequátur me.

Ant:  If any man shall come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

V.  The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree.
R.  And shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus.

Oremus.
Preces pópuli tui, quæsumus, Dómine, cleménter exáudi : ut beáti Marcélli Mártyris tui atque Pontíficis méritis adjuvémur, cujus passióne lætámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people : that, as we do rejoice in the passion of thy blessed Pontiff and Martyr Marcellus, so his merits may be our succour and defence.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

Invitatory and Hymn

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

First Nocturn

The Lessons for the First Nocturn are taken from the occurrent Scripture.  If, however, they are to be taken from the Common, they are read from that of a Confessor not a Bishop, Series 1,  Beátus vir.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Confessors

Second Nocturn

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.

Antónius Ægyptius, nobílibus et christiánis paréntibus natus, quibus adoléscens orbátus est, cum ingréssus ecclésiam ex Evangélio audivísset : Si vis perféctus esse, vade, et vende ómnia quæ habes, et da paupéribus ; tamquam ea sibi dicta essent, sic Christo Dómino obtemperándum existimávit.  Itaque, véndita re familiári, pecúniam omnem paupéribus distríbuit.  Quibus solútus impediméntis, cæléstis vitæ genus in terris cólere instítuit.  Sed cum in periculósum illud certámen descénderet, ad fídei præsídium, quo erat armátus, adhibéndum sibi putávit subsídium reliquárum virtútum ; quarum tanto stúdio incénsus fuit, ut, quemcúmque vidéret áliqua virtútis laude excelléntem, illum imitári studéret.

Anthony was an Egyptian, the child of noble and Christian parents, whom he lost while yet very young.  On one occasion he entered a Church, and heard these words of the Gospel, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor.  He took these words as if they were addressed to himself personally, for this was the obedience which he thought every word of the Lord Christ should meet with.  He therefore sold his whole possessions, and gave the price to the poor.  Being thus delivered from worldly entanglements, he set himself to lead on earth the life of an angel.  Finding himself, as it were, about to enter the field of battle against Satan, the thought it wisest to add to the shield of faith, which he already possessed, all the rest of the armour of God, wherefore he observed all those who were eminent for any grace, and strove to copy them.

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

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

R.  Honéstum fecit illum Dóminus, et custodívit eum ab inimícis, et a seductóribus tutávit illum : * Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam.
V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas, et osténdit illi regnum Dei.
R.  Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam.

R.  The Lord multiplied the fruit of his labours and defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait. * And gave him perpetual glory.
V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God.
R.  And gave him perpetual glory.

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.

Nihil ígitur eo continéntius, nihil vigilántius erat.  Patiéntia, mansuetúdine, misericórdia, humilitáte, labóre, ac stúdio divinárum Scripturárum superábat omnes.  Ab hæreticórum et schismaticórum hóminum, máxime Arianórum, congréssu et collóquio sic abhorrébat, ut ne prope quidem ad eos accedéndum díceret.  Humi jacebat, cum eum necessarius somnus occupasset.  Jejúnium autem ádeo cóluit, ut salem tantúmmodo ad panem adhibéret, sitim aqua exstíngueret ; neque se ante solis occásum cibo aut potu recreábat, sæpe étiam bíduum cibo abstinébat ; sæpíssime in oratióne pernoctábat.  Cum talis tantúsque Dei miles evasísset Antónius, sanctíssimum júvenem hostis humáni géneris váriis tentatiónibus aggréditur, quas ille jejúnio et oratióne vincébat.  Nec vero frequens de sátana triúmphus secúrum reddébat Antónium, qui diáboli innumerábiles artes nocéndi nóverat.

He was excelled by none in watchfulness and self-restraint.  He surpassed all in long-suffering, meekness, tenderness, lowliness, perseverance, and continual study of the Holy Scriptures.  He had such a loathing of the company and conversation of hereticks and schismatics, especially Arians, that he used to say that a faithful Christian ought as far as possible never to come near any such.  He took the sleep which was needful for the body lying on the ground.  Such was his devotion to fasting, that he took nothing with his bread but salt, and drank only water ; he never ate or drank before sunset ; he often abstained from food altogether for two days at a time ; and very often passed whole nights in prayer.  Being so valiant a soldier of God, Anthony was attacked by the devil with divers temptations, but he overcame them all by prayer and fasting.  Nevertheless, these frequent triumphs over Satan did not lull Anthony into security, for he was well aware of the numberless arts of assault possessed by the evil one.

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

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

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 loved him and adorned him; he clothed him with a robe of glory : * And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.
V.  The Lord hath put on him the breast-plate of faith, and hath adorned him.
R.  And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.

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.

Itaque cóntulit se in vastíssimam Ægypti solitúdinem : ubi quotídie ad christiánam perfectiónem profíciens, dæmónes (quorum tanto erant acrióres ímpetus, quanto Antónius ad resisténdum fórtior evadébat) ita contémpsit, ut illis exprobráret imbecillitátem ; ac sæpe discípulos suos éxcitans ad pugnándum contra diábolum, docénsque quibus armis vincerétur : Mihi crédite, dicébat, fratres, pertiméscit sátanas piórum vigílias, oratiónes, jejúnia, voluntáriam paupertátem, misericórdiam et humilitátem, máxime vero ardéntem amórem in Christum Dóminum, cujus único sanctíssimæ crucis signo debilitátus áufugit.  Sic autem dæmónibus erat formidolósus, ut multi per Ægyptum ab illis agitáti, invocáto nómine Antónii liberaréntur : tántaque erat ejus fama sanctitátis, ut per lítteras se ejus oratiónibus Constantínus Magnus et fílii commendárent.  Qui aliquándo quintum et centésimum annum agens, cum innumerábiles sui institúti imitatóres habéret, convocátis mónachis et ad perféctam christiánæ vitæ régulam instrúctis, sanctitáte et miráculis clarus migrávit in cælum, décimo sexto Kaléndas Februárii.

Then he betook himself into the vast deserts of Africa that lie near Egypt.  Day by day he advanced on the path to perfection.  Day by day the attacks of the fiends became more violent , but day by day his strength grew greater to strive against them.  At length he came to mock at the powerlessness of the devils, against whom he stirred up his disciples to fight, teaching them with what arms to combat.  Believe me, my brethren, he used to say, Satan is afraid of good men's watchings, and prayers, and fasts, and voluntary poverty, and mercifulness, and lowliness, but above all, of their warm love for Christ our Lord, the mere sign of whose most holy Cross is enough to undo him and put him to flight.  He became such an object of dread to the devils, that many persons throughout Egypt who were tormented by them, were delivered by calling on his name : moreover the fame of his holiness was so spread abroad, that Constantine the Great and his sons wrote to him to commend themselves to his prayers.  In the hundred and fifth year of his age, and the fulness of his reputation for piety and miracles, having roused up great numbers to follow his example, he gathered his monks around him, and when he had exhorted them to strive after Christian perfection, he passed to heaven on the 17th day of January. 

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

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

R.  Iste homo perfécit ómnia quæ locútus est ei Deus, et dixit ad eum : Ingrédere in réquiem meam : * Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus.

R.  This is he which did according to all that God commanded him ; and God said unto him : Enter thou into my rest : * For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people.
V.  This is he which despised his life in this world, and is come unto an everlasting kingdom.
R.  For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people.

If this Feast be reduced to the rank of Simple, and Lesson IX of this Feast is to be said according to the Rubrics, the following abbreviated version may be used.

Antónius Ægyptius, cum ingréssus ecclésiam ex Evangélio audivísset : Si vis perféctus esse, vade, et vende ómnia quæ habes, et da paupéribus ; tamquam ea sibi dicta essent, sic Christo Dómino obtemperándum existimávit.  Itaque, véndita re familiári, prétium distríbuit paupéribus, ipséque in vastam Ægypti solitúdinem recéssit.  Virtútum ómnium stúdio ita incénsus fuit, ut, quemcúmque vidéret áliqua virtútis laude excelléntem, illum imitári studéret.  Nihil ígitur eo continéntius, nihil vigilántius.  Tanto terróri dæmónibus erat, ut multi per Ægyptum ab illis agitáti, nómine Antónii super ipsos invocáto, liberaréntur.  Ita, sanctitáte et miráculis clarus, cum innumerábiles sui institúti imitatóres habéret, annum agens quintum ultra centésimum, e vita  migrávit décimo sexto Kaléndas Februárias.

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

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

After the conclusion of the Second Nocturn, the Third Nocturn is begun according to the current weekday, as given in the table below.

Third Nocturn

In the Third Nocturn, the Gospel Homily Sint lumbi is read from the Common of Confessor not a Bishop, Series 1.

Gospel Homily from Common of Confessor not a Bishop