St. Ignatius of Antioch

Bishop and Martyr

Double

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

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.

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.

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Infirmitátem nostram réspice, omnípotens Deus : et, quia pondus própriæ actiónis gravat, beáti Ignátii Mártyris tui atque Pontíficis intercéssio gloriósa nos prótegat.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Almighty God, mercifully look upon our infirmities : that whereas we are afflicted by the burden of our sins ; the glorious intercession of thy Martyr and Bishop blessed Ignatius may be our succour and defence.  Through.

Ant:  Hic vir, despíciens mundum et terréna, triúmphans, divítias cælo cóndidit ore, manu.

Ant:  Lo, a servant of God, who esteemed as naught all things earthly, and by word and work laid him up treasures in heaven.

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.

Oremus.
Deus, qui sanctum Joánnem Confessórem tuum adolescéntium patrem et magístrum excitásti, ac per eum, auxiliatríce Vírgine María, novas in Ecclésia tua famílias floréscere voluísti : concéde, quæsumus ; ut eódem caritátis igne succénsi, ánimas quærere, tibíque soli servíre valeámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who didst raise up as a teacher and father unto young men and maidens thy holy Confessor John, through whom also, holpen by the Virgin Mary, thou didst make new families to increase in thy Church : we beseech thee that we likewise may be so set on fire of love ; that we may seek diligently after souls, and give ourselves wholly unto thy service.  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 Martyr, A Mileto.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of a Martyr
 

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.

Ignátius, Antiochénæ ecclésiæ tértius post Petrum Apóstolum epíscopus, commovénte persecutiónem Trajáno, damnátus ad béstias, Romam vinctus míttitur.  Cumque návigans Smyrnam venísset, ubi Polycárpus, audítor Joánnis, epíscopus erat, scripsit unam epístolam ad Ephésios, álteram ad Magnesiános, tértiam ad Trallénses, quartam ad Romános.  Et inde egrédiens scripsit ad Philadélphios, et ad Smyrnæos, et propriam ad Polycárpum, comméndans illi Antiochénsem ecclésiam ; in qua et de Evangélio, quod nuper a me translátum est, super persóna Christi ponit testimónium.

Ignatius was the third Bishop of Antioch after the Apostle Peter.  When Trajan stirred up his persecution, he was condemned to be devoured by wild beasts, and sent to Rome in chains.  When on his journey thither he arrived at Smyrna, where Polycarp, the disciple of John, was Bishop, he wrote an Epistle to the Ephesians, another to the Magnesians, a third to the Trallians, and a fourth to the Roman : and after leaving Smyrna, he addressed a further Epistle to the Philadelphians, and another to the Smyrnians, along with a private Epistle to Polycarp, to whose care he commended the Church of Antioch.  In this last he quoteth a passage regarding the Person of Christ from the Gospel, which I have recently translated.

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.

Dignum autem vidétur, quia tanti viri fécimus mentiónem, et de epístola ejus, quam ad Romános scribit, pauca pónere : De Syria usque ad Romam pugno ad béstias in mari et in terra, nocte diéque ligátus cum decem leopárdis, hoc est milítibus, qui me custódiunt ; quibus et cum beneféceris, pejóres fiunt.  Iníquitas autem eórum mea doctrína est ; sed non idcírco justificátus sum.  Utinam fruar béstiis, quæ mihi sunt præparátæ ; quas et oro mihi velóces esse ad intéritum et ad supplícia, et állici ad comedéndum me, ne, sicut et aliórum Mártyrum, non áudiant corpus attíngere.  Quod si veníre nolúerint, ego vim fáciam, ego me urgébo, ut dévorer.  Ignóscite mihi, filíoli ; quid mihi prosit, ego scio.

It is fitting that, as we have made mention of a man of so much importance, we should also note briefly the Epistle which he addressed to the Romans.  I am on my way, saith he, from Syria to Rome, and am already fighting with beasts on sea and on land all the way.  I may say I am chained day and night to ten leopards, for indeed the soldiers, who have charge of me, are no better.  The more courteous I am to them, the worse they use me.  But still their wickedness is good schooling for me, though I know that my mere sufferings cannot in themselves gain me justification.  I earnestly wish for the beasts which are to devour me ; at any rate, I pray they may put me out of pain quickly, and fly on me willingly, that I be not like some other Martyrs, whose bodies the animals have refused to touch.  If I find that they will not come on, I will run at them as quick as I can, to make them devour me.  Let me be, my little children : I know what is good for me.

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.

Nunc incípio Christi esse discípulus, nihil de his quæ vidéntur, desíderans, ut Jesum Christum invéniam.  Ignis, crux, béstiæ, confráctio óssium, membrórum divísio, et totíus córporis contrítio, et tota torménta diáboli in me véniant ; tantum ut Christo fruar.  Cumque jam damnátus esset ad béstias, et ardóre patiéndi rugiéntes audíret leónes, ait : Fruméntum Christi sum ; déntibus bestiárum molar, ut panis mundus invéniar.  Passus est anno undécimo Trajáni.  Relíquiæ córporis ejus Antiochíæ jacent extra portam Daphníticam, in cœmetério.

I feel now that I am beginning to be Christ's disciple ; I desire none of those things which are seen, if so be I may find Christ Jesus.  I care not that there come upon me fire, or cross, or wild beasts, or breaking of my bones, or sundering of my members, or destruction of my whole body, yea, or all the torments of the devil, if only so be I may win Christ.  When he was brought condemned to the theatre, and heard the roaring of the beasts which were to devour him, he felt so strong an eagerness to suffer, that he cried out : I am Christ's wheat, and so let the beasts' teeth be my mill, that I may be ground, and be found to make good bread.  He suffered in the eleventh year of Trajan.  What was left of his body lieth at Antioch, in the graveyard outside the gate which leadeth toward Daphne.

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.

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.

Ignátius, Antiochíæ post Petrum secúnda successióne episcopátum sortítus est, et Trajáne témpore accusátus, quod Christiánus esset, ad béstias damnátur Romam mitténdus.  Quo cum a Syria vinctus deportátur, omnes Asiæ civitátes, ad quas appulísset, evangélicis cohortatiónibus epístolis erúdiens.  In quarum una, quam Smyrnæ, dum apud Polycárpum diversarétur, ad Romános scripsit, inter cétera hæc de sua damnatióne refert : O salutáres béstias, quæ præparántur mihi!  Quando vénient?  Quando emmiténtur?  Quando eis frui licébit cárnibus meis? Quas et ego opto acrióres parári, ne forte, ut in nonnúllis fecérunt, tímeant contíngere corpus meum.  Nunc incípio discípulus esse Christi.  Ignes, cruces, béstiæ, discerptiónes membrórum, ac totíus córporis pœnæ, et ómnia supplícia diáboli arte quæsíta cumuléntur, dúmmodo Jesum Christum mérear adipísci.  Romam ígitur perdúctus, cum rugiéntes audíret leónes, ardóre martyrii incénsus, in hæc verba prorúpit : Fruméntum Christi sum ; déntibus bestiárum molar, ut panis mundus invéniar.  Passus est  undécimo anno Trajáni.

Ignatius, chosen to be the second successor of Peter as Bishop of Antioch, was accused of being a Christian during the reign of Trajan, and condemned to be sent to the beasts at Rome.  As he was being brought from Syria in chains, he kept teaching all the cities of Asia through which he passed, exhorting them as a messenger of the Gospel, and instructing the more distant ones by his epistles.  In one of these epistles, which he wrote to the Romans from Smyrna while he was enjoying the company of Polycarp, among other matters he said this about his own death sentence : O helpful beasts that are being made ready for me!  When will they come?  When will they be sent out?  When will they be allowed to devour my flesh?  And I hope that they will be made the more fierce, lest perchance, as happened in the case of others, they may fear to touch my body.  Now I am beginning to be Christ's disciple.  Let fire, crosses, beasts, the tearing apart of my whole body and all the suffering prepared by the devil's art be heaped upon me all at once, if only I may attain Christ Jesus!  When he had arrived in Rome, he heard the lions roaring and, burning with desire for martyrdom, he cried out, I am Christ's wheat, and so let the beasts' teeth be my mill, that I may be ground, and be found to make good bread.  He suffered in the eleventh year of Trajan.

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

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 : Amen, amen dico vobis, nisi granum fruménti cadens in terram, mórtuum fúerit, ipsum solum manet.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus said unto his disciples : Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Ipse Dóminus Jesus erat granum mortificándum et multiplicándum ; mortificándum infidelitáte Judæórum, multiplicándum fide populórum.  Jam vero exhórtans ad passiónis suæ sectánda vestígia, Qui amat, inquit, ánimam suam, perdet eam.  Quod duóbus modis intélligi potest.  Qui amat, perdet  ; id est, si amas, perdes.  Si cupis vitam tenére in Christo, noli mortem timére pro Christo.  Item alio modo : Qui amat ánimam suam, perdet eam ; noli amáre, ne perdas ; noli amáre in hac vita, ne perdas in ætérna vita.

The Lord Jesus was himself a corn of wheat that was to die and bring forth much fruit ; to die by the unbelief of the Jews, and to bring forth much fruit in the faith of the Gentiles.  He, exhorting men to follow his steps, saith : He that loveth his life shall lose it.  Now, these words may be understood in two ways.  First : he that loveth his life shall lose it, that is, If thou love life, thou wilt lose it ; if thou wilt live for ever in Christ, refuse not to die for Christ.  Or secondly : he that loveth his life shall lose it ; love not then that which thou shalt lose ; love not this present life, so that thou be thereby in jeopardy of losing life eternal.

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 pure gold upon his head.
R.  Wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, goodly and beautiful.

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.

Hoc autem, quod postérius dixi, magis habére vidétur evangélicus sensus ; séquitur enim : Et qui odit ánimam suam in hoc mundo, in vitam ætérnam custódit eam.  Ergo, quod supra dictum est, Qui amat, subintellígitur in hoc mundo, ipse útique perdet ; qui autem odit, útique in hoc mundo, in vitam ætérnam ipse custódit eam.  Magna et mira senténtia, quemádmodum sit hóminis in ánimam suam amor ut péreat, ódium ne péreat.  Si male amáveris, tunc odísti ; si bene óderis, tunc amásti.  Felíces, qui odérunt custodiéndo, ne perdant amándo.

That this second interpretation is the meaning of the Gospel, appeareth most probably from the words which follow : And he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal.  From which we may suppose the sense of the first words to be : He that loveth his life in this world shall lose it unto life eternal.  This is a great and marvellous saying, shewing how a man may so love life as to lose life, and so hate life as to keep life.  If thou love it too well, then dost thou hate it : if thou hate it with an holy hatred, then dost thou love it.  Blessed are they that, lest they should so love it as to lose it, so hate it as to keep it.

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.

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 vide ne tibi subrépat ut teípsum velis interímere, sic intelligéndo, quod debes odísse in hoc mundo ánimam tuam.  Hinc enim quidam malígni atque pervérsi hómines, et in seípsis crudelióres et sceleratióres homicídæ flammis se donant, aquis se præfócant, præcipítio se collídunt et péreunt.  Hoc Christus non dócuit ; immo étiam diábolo præcipítium suggerénti respóndit : Redi retro, sátana : scriptum est, Non tentábis Dóminum, Deum tuum.  Petro autem dixit, signíficans qua morte clarificatúrus erat Deum : cum esses júnior, cingébas te, et ambulábas quo volébas ; cum autem senúeris, alter te cinget et feret quo tu non vis.  Ubi satis expréssit, non a seípso, sed ab álio debére occídi, qui vestígia séquitur Christi.

Beware lest thou take these words, He that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal, as some do, for an approval of suicide.  Some evil and perverse men, bloody and guilty murderers of themselves, do indeed throw themselves into the fire, drown themselves in water, and cast themselves down precipices, and so perish.  This is not the teaching of Christ, who, when the devil would have him cast himself down from an high place, answered : Get thee behind me, Satan.  It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  Who also said to Peter, signifying by what death he should glorify God : When thou wast young thou girdedst thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldest ; but when thou shalt be old, another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  From which it is evident  that he that would follow Christ's footsteps, must be slain, not by himself, but by another.

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.  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.
Infirmitátem nostram réspice, omnípotens Deus : et, quia pondus própriæ actiónis gravat, beáti Ignátii Mártyris tui atque Pontíficis intercéssio gloriósa nos prótegat.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Almighty God, mercifully look upon our infirmities : that whereas we are afflicted by the burden of our sins ; the glorious intercession of thy Martyr and Bishop blessed Ignatius may be our succour and defence.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH