St. Benedict

Abbot

Greater Double

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

2nd Vespers

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Intercéssio nos, quæsumus, Dómine, beáti Benedícti 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 Benedict 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 Benedícti 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 Benedict 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.

The Benedictine Abbey of Solesmes, France

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 Common, they are read from that of Several Confessors,  Laudemus viros, with Responds from the Common of Confessor not a Bishop as noted therein.

Lessons from Common of Several 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.

Benedíctus, Núrsiæ nóbili génere ortus, Romæ liberálibus disciplínis erudítus, ut totum se Jesu Christo daret, ad eum locum, qui Sublácus dícitur, in altíssimam spelúncam penetrávit ; in qua sic per triénnium delítuit, ut unus id sciret Románus mónachus, quo ad vitæ necessitátem minístro utebátur.  Dum ígitur ei quodam die ardéntes ad libídinem faces a diábolo subjiceréntur, se in vépribus támdiu volutávit, dum, laceráto córpore, voluptátis sensus dolóre opprimerétur.  Sed jam erumpénte ex illis látebris fama ejus sanctitátis, quidam mónachi se illi instituéndos tradidérunt : quorum vivéndi licéntia cum ejus objurgatiónes ferre non posset, venénum in potióne ei dare constítuunt.  Verum, póculum ei præbéntibus, crucis signo vas confrégit, ac relícto monastério in solitúdinem se recépit.

Benedict was born of a noble family at Norcia, and studied letters at Rome.  Desiring to give himself to Christ Jesus, he betook himself to a very deep cave at the place now called Subiaco.  In this place he lay hid for three years, unknown to all except the monk Romanus, by means of whom he received the necessaries of life.  While he was in the cave at Subiaco, the devil one day assailed him with an extraordinary storm of impure temptation, and to get it under, he rolled himself in brambles till his whole body was lacerated, and the sting of pain drove out the sallies of lust.  At last the fame of his holiness spread itself abroad from the desert, and some monks came to him for guidance, but the looseness of their lives was such that they could not bear his exhortations, and they plotted together to poison him in his drink.  When they gave him the cup, he made the sign of the Cross over it, whereupon it immediately broke, and Benedict left that monastery, and retired to a desert place alone.

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.

Sed cum multi ad eum quotídie discípuli convenírent, duódecim monastéria ædificávit, éaque sanctíssimis légibus communívit.  Póstea Cassínum migrávit, ubi simulácrum Apóllinis, qui adhuc ibi colebátur, commínuit, aram evértit et lucos succéndit ; ibíque sancti Martíni sacéllum et sancti Joánnis ædículam exstrúxit, oppidános autem et íncolas christiánis præcéptis ímbuit.  Quare augebátur in dies magis divína grátia Benedíctus, ut étiam prophético spíritu ventúra prædíceret.  Quod ubi accépit Tótila Gothórum rex, exploratúrus, an res ita esset, spathárium suum régio ornátu et comitátu præmíttit, qui se regem simuláret.  Quem ut ille vidit, Depóne, inquit, fili, depóne quod geris ; nam tuum non est.  Tótilæ vero prædíxit advéntum ejus in Urbem, maris transmissiónem, et post novem annos mortem.

Nevertheless his disciples followed him daily, and for them he built twelve monasteries, and set holy laws to govern them.  Afterwards he went to Cassino, and brake the image of Apollo which was still worshipped there, overturned the altar, and burnt the groves.  There, he built the Church of St. Martin and the little chapel of St. John ; and instilled Christianity into the townspeople and inhabitants.  He grew in the grace of God day by day, so that being endowed with the spirit of prophecy he foretold things to come.  When Totila, King of the Goths, heard of it, and would see whether it really were so, he sent his spatharius before him, with the kingly ensigns and attendance, and feigning himself to be Totila.  But as soon as Benedict saw him he said : My son, put off that which thou wearest, for it is not thine.  To Totila himself he foretold that he would go to Rome, would cross the sea, and would die after nine years.

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.

Qui áliquot ménsibus ántequam e vita migráret, præmónuit discípulos, quo die esset moritúrus ; ac sepúlcrum, in quo suum corpus condi vellet, sex diébus ántequam eo inferrétur, aperíri jussit : sextóque die deférri vóluit in ecclésiam ; ubi, sumpta Eucharístia, sublátis in cælum óculis orans, inter manus discipulórum efflávit ánimam : quam duo mónachi eúntem in cælum vidérunt, pállio ornátum pretiosíssimo, circum eam fulgéntibus lampádibus, et claríssima et gravíssima spécie virum, stantem supra caput ipsíus, dicéntem audiérunt : Hæc est via, qua diléctus Dómini Benedíctus in cælum ascéndit.

Some months before he departed this life, Benedict forewarned his disciples on what day he was to die ; and he ordered his grave to be opened six days before he was carried to it.  On the sixth day, he would be carried into the Church, where he received the Eucharist, and then, in the arms of his disciples, with his eyes lifted up to heaven, and wrapt in prayer, he gave up the ghost.  Two monks saw his soul rising to heaven, clothed in a most precious garment and surrounded with lights, and One of a most glorious and awful aspect standing above, whom they heard saying : This is the way whereby Benedict, the beloved of the Lord, goeth up to heaven.

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.

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 Ecce nos relíquimus is read from the Common of Abbots, Series 1.

Gospel Homily from Common of Abbots

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, intra in gáudium Dómini tui.

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: enter into the joy of thy Lord.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Intercéssio nos, quæsumus, Dómine, beáti Benedícti 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 Benedict 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.

St. Benoit-sur-Loire, France

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Second Vespers

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

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

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Intercéssio nos, quæsumus, Dómine, beáti Benedícti 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 Benedict 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.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH