Bishop and Martyr

Double

Common

Lauds

Oremus.
Deus, qui nos beáti Polycárpi Mártyris tui atque Pontíficis ánnua solemnitáte lætíficas : concéde propítius ; ut, cujus natalítia cólimus, de ejúsdem étiam protectióne gaudeámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who makest us glad with the yearly festival of blessed Polycarp thy Martyr and Bishop : mercifully grant that, as we now observe his heavenly birthday ; so we may likewise rejoice in his protections.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

At Second Vespers of the Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Iste Sanctus pro lege Dei sui certávit usque ad mortem, et a verbis impiórum non tímuit ; fundátus enim erat supra firmam petram.

Ant. on Magnif:  This is a Saint who strove for the truth, even unto death, and feared not the words of sinful men, forasmuch as he was founded upon a sure foundation.

V.  Glória et honóre coronásti eum, Dómine.
R.  Et constituísti eum super ópera mánuum tuárum.

V.  Thou hast crowned him with glory and worship, O Lord.
R.  And hast made him to have dominion of the works of thy hands.

Oremus.
Deus, qui nos beáti Polycárpi Mártyris tui atque Pontíficis ánnua solemnitáte lætíficas : concéde propítius ; ut, cujus natalítia cólimus, de ejúsdem étiam protectióne gaudeámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who makest us glad with the yearly festival of blessed Polycarp thy Martyr and Bishop : mercifully grant that, as we now observe his heavenly birthday ; so we may likewise rejoice in his protections.  Through.

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
 

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 Martyr, A Mileto.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of a Martyr
 

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 Fourth Lesson is used alone.

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.

Polycárpus, Joánnis Apóstoli discípulus et ab eo Smyrnæ epíscopus ordinátus, totíus Asiæ princeps fuit, quippe qui nonnúllos Apostolórum et eórum qui víderant Dóminum, magístros habúerit et víderit.  Hic propter quasdam super die Paschæ quæstiónes, sub imperatóre Antoníno Pio, Ecclésiam in Urbe regénte Anicéto, Romam venit ; ubi plúrimos credéntium, Marciónis et Valentíni persuasióne decéptos, redúxit ad fidem.  Cumque ei fortúito óbviam fuísset Márcion et díceret : Cognóscis nos? respóndit : Cognósco primogénitum diáboli.  Póstea vero, regnánte Marco Antoníno et Lúcio Aurélio Cómmodo, quarta post Nerónem persecutióne, Smyrnæ, sedénte procónsule et univérso pópulo in amphitheátro advérsus eum personánte, igni tráditus est.  Scripsit ad Philippénses valde útilem epístolam, quæ usque hódie in Asiæ convéntu légitur.

Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John, and was consecrated by him Bishop of Smyrna.  He was reckoned the chief of all the Christians of Asia, because he had been taught by several of the Apostles, and other persons who had seen the Lord.  During the reign of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, and while Anicetus presided over the Church of Rome, Polycarp came thither to discuss some questions regarding the time for observing Easter.  He found some hereticks at Rome, who had been led astray by the doctrine of Marcion and Valentine, and brought back many of them to the faith.  One day Marcion met him by accident, and said to him  : Dost thou recognise me? whereto he replied : I recognise the devil's eldest son.  Some time after, in the reign of Marcus Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, during the fourth persecution since Nero, when the Proconsul was ruling in Smyrna, the whole population being assembled in the theatre, clamoured against Polycarp, and to please them he was burnt.  He wrote an extremely useful Epistle to the Philippians, which is publicly read in the Churches of Asia even to this day.

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.  Descendítque cum illo in fóveam, et in vínculis non derelíquit eum.
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 went down with him into the pit, and left him not in bonds.
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.

Príncipes persecúti sunt me gratis : et a verbis tuis trepidávit cor meum.  Bene hoc Martyr dicit, quod injúste persecutiónum torménta sustíneat ; qui nihil rapúerit, nullum violéntus opprésserit, nullíus sánguinem fúderit, nullíus torum putáverit esse violándum ; qui nihil légibus débeat, et gravióra latrónum sustinére cogátur supplícia ; qui loquátur juste, et non audiátur ; qui loquátur plena salútis, et impugnétur, ut possit dícere : Cum loquébar illis, impugnábant me gratis.  Gratis ígitur persecutiónem pátitur, qui impugnátur ut nóxius, cum sit in tali confessióne laudábilis ; impugnátur quasi venéficus, qui in nómine Dómini gloriátur, cum píetas virtútum ómnium fundaméntum sit.

Princes have persecuted me without cause, but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.  Thus might a Martyr speak of himself, for in that he is punished unjustly, he is persecuted.  He hath committed no robbery, oppressed none by violence, shed no blood, defiled the bed of no man, is debtor to the laws in nothing ; yet he is punished more grievously than any malefactor.  A Martyr speaketh righteousness, and there is none that will hear.  He proclaimeth salvation, and men fight against him.  Thus he well might say : When I speak unto them of peace, they make them ready to battle ; they fought against me without a cause.  Yea, they fought against him without a cause, for they could lay no sin to his charge.  They fought against him as an evildoer, albeit in his confession of God he is worthy of praise.  They fought against him as a sorcerer, and behold, he glorieth in the Name of the Lord, the love whereof is the source of all well-doing.

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

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

R.  Desidérium ánimæ ejus tribuísti ei, Dómine, * Et  voluntáte labiórum ejus non fraudásti eum.
V.  Quóniam prævenísti eum in benedictiónibus dulcédinis, posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.
R.  Et  voluntáte labiórum ejus non fraudásti eum.

R.  Thou hast given him, O Lord, his heart's desire, * And hast not denied him the request of his lips.
V.  For thou hast prevented him with the blessings of goodness, and hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
R.  And hast not denied him the request of his lips.

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.

Vere frustra impugnátur, qui apud ímpios et infídos impietátis arcéssitur, cum fídei sit magíster.  Verum, qui gratis impugnátur, fortis debet esse et constans ; quómodo ergo subtéxuit : Et a verbis tuis trepidávit cor meum?  Trepidáre infirmitátis est, timóris atque formídinis.  Sed est étiam infírmitas ad salútem, est étiam timor sanctórum : Timéte Dóminum, omnes sancti ejus ; et, Beátus vir, qui timet Dóminum.  Qua ratióne beátus?  Quia in mandátis ejus cupit nimis.

But certain also it is that they do fight against him in vain when they the ungodly accuse him of ungodliness, or when he who was a master of faith is accused of faithlessness.  Verily, him that is fought against without a cause it behoveth to be stedfast and fearless.  Wherefore then saith he: My heart standeth in awe of thy word?  Awe is sometimes a mark of the weak, the timid, and the fearful.  But there is also a weakness unto salvation, and a fear which is an holy fear, as it is written : O fear the Lord, all ye his Saints.  Or again : Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.  And wherefore is he blessed?  Because he hath great delight in his commandments.

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

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

R.  Stola jucunditátis índuit eum Dóminus : * Et corónam pulchritúdinis pósuit super caput ejus.
V.  Cibávit illum Dóminus pane vitæ et intelléctus : et aqua sapiéntiæ salutáris potávit illum.
R.  Et corónam pulchritúdinis pósuit super caput ejus.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et corónam pulchritúdinis pósuit super caput ejus.

R.  The Lord hath put on him a robe of honour, * And hath put about his head a crown of joy.
V.  With the bread of life and understanding the Lord hath fed him, and hath given him the water of wisdom to drink.
R.  And hath put about his head a crown of joy.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And hath put about his head a crown of joy.

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 Nihil est opertum is read from the Common of a Martyr, Series 4.

Gospel Homily from Common of a Martyr

Lauds

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

Ad Bened. Ant:  Qui odit * ánimam suam in hoc mundo, in vitam ætérnam custódit eam.

Ant. on Bened:  He that hateth his life * in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, qui nos beáti Polycárpi Mártyris tui atque Pontíficis ánnua solemnitáte lætíficas : concéde propítius ; ut, cujus natalítia cólimus, de ejúsdem étiam protectióne gaudeámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who makest us glad with the yearly festival of blessed Polycarp thy Martyr and Bishop : mercifully grant that, as we now observe his heavenly birthday ; so we may likewise rejoice in his protections.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH