Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Double

mtv

Common

Matins

Lauds

Oremus.
Ecclésiam tuam, quæsumus, Dómine, grátia cæléstis amplíficet : quam beáti Joánnis Chrysóstomi Confessóris tui atque Pontíficis illustráre voluísti gloriósos méritis, et doctrínis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O Lord, who didst vouchsafe to illúmine thy Church with the wondrous righteousness and doctrine of thy blessed Confessor and Bishop Saint Chrysostom : grant, we beseech thee ; that the bounty of thy heavenly grace may evermore increase and multiply the same.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

Ad Magnif. Ant:  O Doctor óptime, * Ecclésiæ sanctæ lumen, beáte Joánnes Chrysóstome, divínæ legis amátor, deprecáre pro nobis Fílium Dei.

Ant. on Magnif:  O Doctor right excellent, * O light of Holy Church, O blessed John Chrysostom, lover of the divine law, entreat for us the Son of God.

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Ecclésiam tuam, quæsumus, Dómine, grátia cæléstis amplíficet : quam beáti Joánnis Chrysóstomi Confessóris tui atque Pontíficis illustráre voluísti gloriósos méritis, et doctrínis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O Lord, who didst vouchsafe to illúmine thy Church with the wondrous righteousness and doctrine of thy blessed Confessor and Bishop Saint Chrysostom : grant, we beseech thee ; that the bounty of thy heavenly grace may evermore increase and multiply the same.  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.
Deus, qui nos beáti Polycárpi Mártyris tui atque Pontíficis annua 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
 

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 Doctors,  Sapientiam.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Doctors
 

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.

Joánnes Antiochénus, propter áureum eloquéntiæ flumen cognoménto Chrysóstomus, a forénsibus et sæculáribus stúdiis ad divínas lítteras summa cum ingénii et indústriæ laude se cóntulit.  Itaque sacris initiátus ac présbyter Antiochénæ ecclésiæ factus, mórtuo Nectário, Arcádii imperatóris ópera, invítus Constantinopolitánæ ecclésiæ præfícitur.  Quo suscépto pastoráli múnere, depravátos mores, et nobiliórum hóminum vivéndi licéntiam veheméntius objurgáre cœpit : qua ex libertáte magnam multórum súbiit invídiam.  Apud Eudóxiam étiam, quod eam propter Callítropæ víduæ pecúniam, et altérius víduæ agrum reprehendísset, gráviter offéndit.

John of Antioch, who, on account of the golden stream of his eloquence, is called by the Greeks Chrysostomos, or, The golden-mouthed, was a lawyer and man of the world of much eminence, before he turned his great intellect and wonderful industry to the study of things sacred.  He took orders, and was ordained a priest of the Church of Antioch, and after the death of Nectarius, was forced by the Emperor Arcadius to accept, though sorely against his own will, the Archbishoprick of Constantinople.  Having received the burden of a shepherd's office, in the year 398, he set himself zealously to do his duty, struggling against the degradation of public morality and the loose lives of the nobility, and thereby drew upon himself the ill-will of many enemies, especially the Empress Eudoxia, whom he had rebuked on account of the money of the widow Callitropa, and the land of another widow.

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

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

R.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.
V.  Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei.
R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

R.  I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast.
V.  The enemy shall not be able to do him violence ; the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
R.  My hand shall hold him fast.

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.

Quare áliquot episcopórum acto Chalcédone convéntu, quo ipse vocátus ire nóluit, quod nec legítimum concílium nec públicum esse díceret, niténte in primis ipsa contra Chrysóstomum Eudóxia, ejícitur in exsílium : sed paulo post propter ejus desidérium seditióne pópuli facta, admirábili civitátis plausu ab exsílio revocátur.  Verum cum pérditos mores increpáre non desísteret, et ad argénteam Eudóxiæ státuam in foro sanctæ Sophíæ ludos fíeri prohibéret ; conspiratióne inimicórum episcopórum íterum exsuláre cógitur, víduis et egéntibus ómnibus commúnis paréntis ejectiónem lugéntibus.  In exsílio Chrysóstomus incredíbile est et quanta mala perpéssus sit, et quam multos ad Jesu Christi fidem convérterit.

Some bishops being assembled in a Council at Chalcedon, which Council the Saint held to be neither lawful, nor public, although he was commanded to go there, he refused.  Whereupon Eudoxia, striving earnestly against him, caused him to be sent into exile.  Soon after, however, the people of the city rose, and demanded his recall, and he was then brought back again amid great public rejoicings.  Nevertheless he ceased not to war against vice, and absolutely forbade the celebration of public games round the silver statue of Eudoxia in the square outside the Church of the Eternal Wisdom.  Upon this, a party of bishops, who were enemies to him, banded together, and obtained that he should be banished again, which was done accordingly, amid the lamentations of widows and the poor, who felt as if they were being deprived of a common father.  During this exile, it almost passeth belief how much Chrysostom suffered, and how many souls he turned to the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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

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

R.  Pósui adjutórium super poténtem, et exaltávi eléctum de plebe mea : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.
V.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum.
R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

R.  I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people. * My hand shall hold him fast.
V.  I have found David, my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him.
R.  My hand shall hold him fast.

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.

Verum dum, concílio Romæ hábito, decréto Innocéntii primi Pontíficis restitúitur, a milítibus, qui eum custodiébant, miris in itínere malis et calamitátibus affícitur.  Cumque per Arméniam ducerétur, sanctus Basilíscus Martyr, in cujus templo ántea oráverat, noctu sic eum affátus est : Joánnes frater, crástinus dies nos loco conjúnget.  Quare postrídie sumpto Eucharístiæ sacraménto seque crucis signo múniens, ánimam Deo réddidit, décimo octávo Kaléndas Octóbris.  Quo mórtuo, horríbilis grando Constantinópoli cécidit, et quatríduo Augústa cessit e vita.  Ejus corpus insígni pompa et hóminum multitúdine celebrátum, Theodósius Arcádii fílius Constantinópolim portándum, et honorífice sepeliéndum curávit sexto Kaléndas Februárii : cujus étiam relíquias venerátus, paréntum suórum véniam pétiit : quod deínde Romam translátum in basílica Vaticána cónditum est.  Multitúdinem, pietátem, ac splendórem conciónum ceterorúmque ejus scriptórum, interpretándi étiam ratiónem, et inhæréntem senténtiæ sacrórum librórum explanatiónem omnes admirántur ; dignúmque exístimant, cui Paulus Apóstolus, quem ille mirífice cóluit, scribénti et prædicánti multa dictásse videátur.  Hunc vero præclaríssimum univérsæ Ecclésiæ Doctórem Pius décimus Póntifex máximus cæléstem oratórum sacrórum patrónum declarávit atque constítuit.

At this time a Council was assembled at Rome, wherein Chrysostom's restoration to his See was decreed by Pope Innocent I, but meanwhile, he was suffering great hardships and cruelties on his journey at the hands of the soldiers who had him in charge.  As he passed through Armenia he prayed in the Church of the holy martyr Basiliscus, and the same night that blessed conqueror appeared to him in a vision and said : Brother John, tomorrow thou shalt be with me.  On the next day, therefore, he received the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and, arming himself with the sign of the Cross, resigned his soul to God, it being the 14th of September.  As soon as he was dead a furious hailstorm took place at Constantinople, and after four days the Empress died.  The Emperor Theodosius, the son of Arcadius, brought the body of John Chrysostom to Constantinople with great state, and numerously attended, and on the 27th of January, laid it with magnificent honours in the grave, beside which he prayed for the forgiveness of his own father and mother.  The holy body was afterwards taken to Rome, and is now buried in the Vatican Basilica.  The number, devoutness, and brilliance of St. John Chrysostom's sermons and other writings, his acuteness in exposition, and the close aptness of his explanations of Holy Scripture, have been and are the object of universal wonder and admiration, and often seem not unworthy to have been dictated to him by the Apostle Paul, for whom he entertained a wonderful devotion.  This most outstanding Doctor of the Church universal was proclaimed and appointed the heavenly patron of sacred orators by the Supreme Pontiff, Pius X.

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 est, qui ante Deum magnas virtútes operátus est, et omnis terra doctrína ejus repléta est : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.

R.  This is he who wrought mighty deeds and valiant in the sight of God, and all the earth is filled with his doctrine: * May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.
V.  He was a man who despised the life of the world and attained unto the kingdom of heaven.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the 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.

Joánnes Antiochénus, propter áureum eloquéntiæ flumen cognoménto Chrysóstomus, présbyter Antiochénæ ecclésiæ factus, mórtuo Nectário, Arcádii imperatóris ópera, invítus Constantinopolitánæ ecclésiæ præfícitur.  Quo in múnere, cum depravátos mores et nobílium hóminum vivéndi licéntiam veheméntius objurgáret, magnam multórum súbiit invídiam.  Apud Eudóxiam étiam, quod eam propter Callítropæ víduæ pecúniam, et altérius víduæ agrum reprehendísset, gráviter offéndit.  Quare exsuláre cógitur, víduis et egéntibus ómnibus commúnis paréntis ejectiónem lugéntibus.  Incredíbile dictu est, quanta mala in exsílio perpéssus sit, et quam multos ad Jesu Christi fidem convérterit.  Multitúdinem, pietátem ac splendórem conciónum ceterorúmque ejus scriptórum, omnes admirántur.  Animam Deo réddidit décimo octávo Kaléndas Octóbris, ejúsque corpus in basílica Vaticána cónditum est.  Hunc præclárum totíus Ecclésiæ Doctórem Pius Papa décimus cæléstem prædicatórum patrónum constítuit.

John of Antioch, who, on account of the golden stream of his eloquence, is called by the Greeks Chrysostomos, or, The golden-mouthed.  He was ordained a priest of the Church of Antioch, and after the death of Nectarius, was forced by the Emperor Arcadius to accept, though sorely against his own will, the Archbishoprick of Constantinople.  In this office, he struggled against the degradation of public morality and the loose lives of the nobility, and thereby drew upon himself the ill-will of many enemies, especially the Empress Eudoxia, whom he had rebuked on account of the money of the widow Callitropa, and the land of another widow.  Whereupon he was sent into exile, amid the lamentations of widows and the poor, who felt as if they were being deprived of a common father.  During this exile, it almost passeth belief how much Chrysostom suffered, and how many souls he turned to the faith which is in Christ Jesus.  The number, devoutness, and brilliance of St. John Chrysostom's sermons and other writings have been and are the object of universal admiration.  He gave up his soul unto God on the 14th day of September, and his body was buried in the Vatican basilica.  This outstanding Doctor of the Church universal was appointed the heavenly patron of preachers by Pope Pius X.

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

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

Church of the Eternal Wisdom (St. Sophia), Constantinople

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

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:   Vos estis sal terræ.  Quod si sal evanúerit, in quo saliétur?  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus said unto his disciples:  Ye are the salt of the earth : But if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  And so on, and that which followeth.

Atténdite quid díxerit : Vos estis sal terræ ; per quod osténdit, quam necessário ista præcípiat.  Non enim de vestra, inquit, tantúmmodo vita, sed de univérso orbe vobis rátio reddénda est.  Non ad duas quippe urbes aut decem aut vigínti, neque ad unam gentem vos mitto, sicut mittébam prophétas ; sed ad omnem terram prorsus ac mare totúmque mundum, et hunc váriis crimínibus oppréssum.

Consider how that the Lord saith : Ye are the salt of the earth: by the which figure he sheweth what a necessity of life is his teaching.  By this figure he would have us know that we have an account to render, not of our own life only, but for the whole world.  Not unto two cities, nor unto ten, nor unto twenty, nor unto one people, as I sent the Prophets, so send I you.  But I send you unto every land and sea, even unto the whole world, lying groaning, as it is, under the burden of divers sins.

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 put upon him the breastplate of faith, and 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 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.

Dicéndo enim, Vos estis sal terræ, osténdit univérsam hóminem infatuátum esse natúram et peccatórum vi corrúptam ; et idcírco illas ab eis virtútes requírit, quæ máxime ad multórum salútem procurándam necessáriæ sunt atque útiles.  Nam, qui mansuétus est ac modéstus, et miséricors et justus, non intra se tantúmmodo hæc recte facta conclúdit, verum in aliórum quoque utilitátem præcláros hos fáciet efflúere fontes.  Igitur qui corde mundo est atque pacíficus, et persecutiónem pro veritáte pátitur, nihilóminus in commúne cómmodum vitam instítuit.

These words : Ye are the salt of the earth, shew unto us the whole nature of man as savourless, and of bad odour through the corruption of sin.  And therefore he demandeth from his followers such qualities as are most needful and useful to the furthering of the salvation of many.  He that is lowly in spirit, compassionate, meek, and a seeker after righteousness, shutteth not up his good things in his own heart, but rather is like a fountain whence good things freely flow forth unto his neighbour.  He that is merciful, whose heart is pure, who seeketh peace, and who suffereth persecution for the truth's sake, is by the same token one whose life is for the good of the commonwealth.

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 médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os ejus, * Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.
V.  Jucunditátem et exsultatiónem thesaurizávit super eum.
R.  Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.

R.  In the midst of the congregation he opened his mouth : * And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.
V.  He shall find joy, and a crown of gladness.
R.  And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.

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.

Ne ígitur putétis, inquit, ad lévia vos ducéndos esse certámina, neque exiguárum rerum vobis ineúndam esse ratiónem, Vos estis sal terræ.  Quid ígitur?  Ipsine putrefácta medicáti sunt? Nequáqum ; neque enim fíeri potest, ut ea, quæ jam corrúpta sunt, salis perfricatióne reparéntur.  Non ergo hoc fecérunt ; sed, ante renováta sibíque trádita atque ab illa jam putrédine liberáta, aspergébant sale, et in ea novitáte conservábant, quam a Dómino suscéperant.  Liberáre quippe a putrédine peccatórum, Christi virtútis est ; ut autem ad illa íterum non revertántur, Apostolórum curæ est ac labóris.

Think not, saith the Lord, that the struggle is easy whereunto ye shall be called, nor that those are paltry things for which ye shall be held accountable.  Ye are the salt of the earth.  What then?  Are ye to salt that which is corrupted?  Nay, for it is impossible that what is once corrupted can be made sound by salting it.  This it is not asked of them to do.  But their work is to sprinkle with salt, and to keep fresh thereafter, such things as the Lord hath given over into their charge, for these things he himself hath made new, and freed them from all taint, before giving them.  Christ's is the power that doth deliver from the corruption of sin.  To preserve from falling away again is the duty and toil commanded to the Apostles.

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

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

Lauds

V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas.
R.  Et osténdit illi regnum Dei.

V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths.
R.  And shewed him the kingdom of God.

Ad Bened. Ant:  Euge, serve bone * et fidélis, quia in pauca fuísti fidélis, supra multa te constítuam, dicit Dóminus.

Ant. on Bened:  Well done, good and faithful servant: * thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, saith the Lord.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Ecclésiam tuam, quæsumus, Dómine, grátia cæléstis amplíficet : quam beáti Joánnis Chrysóstomi Confessóris tui atque Pontíficis illustráre voluísti gloriósos méritis, et doctrínis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O Lord, who didst vouchsafe to illúmine thy Church with the wondrous righteousness and doctrine of thy blessed Confessor and Bishop Saint Chrysostom : grant, we beseech thee ; that the bounty of thy heavenly grace may evermore increase and multiply the same.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Vespers from the Chapter onwards of the following day, with a Commemoration of the preceding, and of the second Feast of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr.