Ss. Perpetua and Felicity

Martyrs

Double

Common of Holy Women

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

2nd Vespers

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

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

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

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Istárum est enim * regnum cælórum, qui contempsérunt vitam mundi, et pervenérunt ad præmia regni, et lavérunt stolas suas in sánguine Agni.

Ant. on Magnif:  Blessed are they * who have despised earthly pleasure, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and have won the heavenly great reward.

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Da nobis, quæsumus, Dómine, Deus noster, sanctárum Mártyrum tuárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis palmas incessábili devotióne venerári : ut, quas digna mente non póssumus celebráre ; humílibus saltem frequentémus obséquiis.  Per Dóminum nostrum.

Let us pray.
Grant unto us, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, to reverence with unceasing devotion the glory of thy holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity; and though it be not ours worthily to honour their triumph, to persevere in offering them the humble tribute of our duty.  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
 

Invitatory and Hymn

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In confessióne beatárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis.

Let us praise our God * In thanksgiving for blessed Perpetua and Felicity.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In confessióne beatárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis.

Let us praise our God * In thanksgiving for blessed Perpetua and Felicity.

Psalmus 94.
Venite, exsultemus Domino

Veníte, exsultémus Dómino, jubilémus Deo, salutári nostro : præoccupémus fáciem ejus in confessióne, et in psalmis jubilémus ei.

O come, let us sing unto the Lord ; let us heartily rejoice in the God of our salvation.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving ; and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In confessióne beatárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis.

Let us praise our God * In thanksgiving for blessed Perpetua and Felicity.

Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus, et Rex magnus super omnes deos : quóniam non repéllet Dóminus plebem suam : quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terræ, et altitúdines móntium ipse cónspicit.

For the Lord is a great God ; and a great King above all gods:  For the Lord will not cast off his people:  In his hand are all the corners of the earth, and the strength of the hills is his also.

In confessióne beatárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis.

In thanksgiving for blessed Perpetua and Felicity.

In the following verse of the Psalm, at the words veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum (O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker) all genuflect.

Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et áridam fundavérunt manus ejus : veníte, adorémus, et procidámus ante Deum : plorémus coram Dómino, qui fecit nos, quia ipse est Dóminus Deus noster ; nos autem pópulus ejus, et oves páscuæ ejus.

The sea is his and he made it ; and his hands prepared the dry land.  O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker: For he is the Lord our God ; and we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In confessióne beatárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis.

Let us praise our God * In thanksgiving for blessed Perpetua and Felicity.

Hódie, si vocem ejus audiéritis, nolíte obduráre corda vestra, sicut in exacerbatióne, secúndum diem tentatiónis in desérto : ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri, probavérunt et vidérunt ópera mea.

Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness ; when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works.

In confessióne beatárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis.

In thanksgiving for blessed Perpetua and Felicity.

Quadragínta annis próximus fui generatióni huic, et dixi : Semper hi errant corde ; ipsi vero non cognovérunt vias meas : quibus jurávi in ira mea : Si introíbunt in réquiem meam.

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways:  unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In confessióne beatárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis.

Let us praise our God * In thanksgiving for blessed Perpetua and Felicity.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

In confessióne beatárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis.

In thanksgiving for blessed Perpetua and Felicity.

Laudémus Deum nostrum * In confessióne beatárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis.

Let us praise our God * In thanksgiving for blessed Perpetua and Felicity.

As soon as the introductory part of Matins is finished, there is begun The First Nocturn.  The Psalms with their Antiphons are taken from the occurring weekday, as given in the table below.

First Nocturn

The Lessons for the First Nocturn are taken from the Common of Virgins, Series 2, Confitebor.

Lessons from Common of Virgins
 

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.

Perpétua et Felícitas, in persecutióne Sevéri imperatóris, in Africa, una cum Revocáto, Saturníno et Secúndulo comprehénsæ sunt et in tenebricósum cárcerem detrúsæ ; quibus ultra adjúnctus est Sátyrus.  Erant adhuc catechúmenæ, sed paulo post baptizátæ sunt.  Paucis diébus interjéctis, e cárcere ad forum dedúctæ cum sóciis, post gloriósam confessiónem, ab Hilarióne procuratóre damnántur ad béstias.  Inde hílares descéndunt ad cárcerem, ubi váriis visiónibus recreántur et ad martyrii palmam accendúntur.  Perpétuam, nec patris sénio confécti iterátæ preces et lácrimæ, nec erga fílium infántem pendéntem ad úbera matérnus amor, nec supplícii atrócitas, a Christi fide dimovére umquam potuérunt.

Perpetua and Felicity were arrested during the persecution of the emperor Severus in Africa, together with Revocatus, Saturninus and Secundulus, and were cast into a dark dungeon, where Satyrus was added to their company.  They were as yet catechumens but shortly afterwards they were baptized.  After a few days they and their companions were led forth from prison to the court, and, after a glorious profession of faith, were condemned by the procurator Hilarion to the beasts.  Thereupon they went down to the prison rejoicing, and there they were refreshed with many visions, and fired with longing for the martyr's palm.  Neither the repeated prayers and tears of Perpetua's father, a man of extreme old age, nor her motherly love for her baby son still at the breast, nor the atrocity of the torture, could shake her faith in Christ.

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

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

R.  Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam : * Et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua.
V.  Spécie tua et pulchritúdine tua inténde, próspere procéde, et regna.
R.  Et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua.

R.  Ride on because of the Word of truth, of meekness, and righteousness : * And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
V.  In thy comeliness, yea, in thy beauty, go forth, ride prosperously, and reign.
R.  And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

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.

Felícitas vero, instánte spectáculi die, cum octo jam menses prægnans esset, in magno erat luctu, ne differétur ; leges quippe vetábant prægnántes supplício áffici.  At précibus commártyrum acceleráto partu, eníxa est fíliam.  Cumque in partu labórans doléret, ait illi quidam de custódibus : Quæ sic modo doles, quid fácies objécta béstiis?  Cui illa : Modo ego pátior ; illic autem álius erit in me, qui patiétur pro me, quia et ego pro illo passúra sum.

As the day of the spectacle came close, Felicity was afflicted with great sorrow lest it should be put off, since she was eight months with child ; and the law forbade expectant mothers to be put to the torture.  But at the prayers of her fellow-martyrs her delivery was hastened, and she gave birth to a daughter.  While she was groaning in the pains of childbirth, one of the jailers said to her : What wilt thou do when thrown to the beasts, if thou groanest thus now?  She replied : Now it is I who suffer ; but then Another will be within me, who will suffer on my behalf, seeing that it is for him that I am to suffer.

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

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

R.  Dilexísti justítiam, et odísti iniquitátem : * Proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ.
V.  Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam.
R.  Proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ.

R.  Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity : * Wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.
V.  Because of the Word of truth, of meekness, and of righteousness.
R.  Wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.

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.

In amphitheátrum, toto inspectánte pópulo, producúntur tandem generósæ mulíeres, Nonis Mártii, ac primum flagéllis cædúntur.  Tunc a ferocíssima vacca, aliquámdiu jactátæ, plagis concísæ et in terram elísæ sunt.  Demum cum sóciis, quia a váriis béstiis vexáti fúerant, gladiórum íctibus conficiúntur.  Harum sanctárum Mártyrum festum Pius décimus Póntifex máximus ad ritum dúplicem pro univérsa Ecclésia evéxit ac diéi sextæ Mártii adsignári mandávit.

At length the noble-hearted women were brought into the amphitheatre, in the sight of all the people, on the 7th day of March, and were first beaten with scourges.  Then they were tossed for some time by a ferocious cow, beaten with lashes, and dashed on the ground.  Lastly, together with their companions, who had been attacked by various beasts, they were slain with blows of the sword.  Pope Pius X raised the feast of these holy Martyrs to the rite of a double for the Universal Church, and ordered it to be kept on March 6th.

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

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

R.  Fallax grátia, et vana est pulchritúdo : * Múlier timens Dóminum ipsa laudábitur.
V.  Date ei de fructu mánuum suárum, et laudent eam in portis ópera ejus.
R.  Múlier timens Dóminum ipsa laudábitur.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Múlier timens Dóminum ipsa laudábitur.

R.  Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, * But the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
V.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
R.  But the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  But the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

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 Simile est regnum cælorum thesauro abscondito is read from the Common of Holy Women.

Gospel Homily from Common of Holy Women

Lesson IX is from the Homily of the occurring weekday
 

Lauds

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

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

Ad Bened. Ant:  Istárum est enim * regnum cælórum, qui contempsérunt vitam mundi, et pervenérunt ad præmia regni, et lavérunt stolas suas in sánguine Agni.

Ant. on Bened:  Blessed are they * who have despised earthly pleasure, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and have won the heavenly great reward.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Da nobis, quæsumus, Dómine, Deus noster, sanctárum Mártyrum tuárum Perpétuæ et Felicitátis palmas incessábili devotióne venerári : ut, quas digna mente non póssumus celebráre ; humílibus saltem frequentémus obséquiis.  Per Dóminum nostrum.

Let us pray.
Grant unto us, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, to reverence with unceasing devotion the glory of thy holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity; and though it be not ours worthily to honour their triumph, to persevere in offering them the humble tribute of our duty.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH