St. John of Damascus

Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Double

mtv

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

2nd Vespers

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Omnípotens sempiterne Deus, qui ad cultum sacrárum imáginum asseréndum, beátum Joánnem cælésti doctrína et admirábili spíritus fortitúdine imbuísti : concéde nobis ejus intercessióne et exémplo ; ut, quorum cólimus imágines, virtútes imitémur et patrocínia sentiámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, who, for the defence of the honour of holy images, didst endue thy blessed Saint John with heavenly learning and wondrous strength of spirit : grant unto us, we pray thee, that, by his intercession, and example ; we may so honour the images of thy Saints, that we may follow them in all true godliness, and feel the effectual succour of their advocacy.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

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

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

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Omnípotens sempiterne Deus, qui ad cultum sacrárum imáginum asseréndum, beátum Joánnem cælésti doctrína et admirábili spíritus fortitúdine imbuísti : concéde nobis ejus intercessióne et exémplo ; ut, quorum cólimus imágines, virtútes imitémur et patrocínia sentiámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, who, for the defence of the honour of holy images, didst endue thy blessed Saint John with heavenly learning and wondrous strength of spirit : grant unto us, we pray thee, that, by his intercession, and example ; we may so honour the images of thy Saints, that we may follow them in all true godliness, and feel the effectual succour of their advocacy.  Through.

St. John Baptist Cathedral in Damascus
now occupied by the Moslem infidel

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 of a Doctor, Series 1,  Sapientiam.

Lessons from Common of a Doctor
 

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, a pátrio loco Damascénus dictus, nóbili génere natus, humánis divinísque lítteris a Cosma mónacho Constantinópoli fuit excúltus ; cumque ea tempestáte imperátor Leo Isáuricus nefário bello sacrárum imáginum cultum insectarétur, Joánnes, hortátu Gregórii tértii Románi Pontíficis, et sermóne et scriptis sanctitátem illíus cultus sédulo propugnávit.  Quo facto tantam Leónis advérsum se invídiam concitávit, ut hic confíctis lítteris ipsum tamquam proditórem accusárit apud Damásci calípham, qui Joánne consiliário et adminístro utebátur.  Crédulus fraudi princeps Joánni nequídquam calúmniam ejuránti præcídi déxteram jussit.  Verum innocéntiæ vindex ádfuit cliénti suo sanctíssima Virgo, cujus opem précibus eníxe imploráverat, ejúsque benefício trunca manus restitúta ita bráchio coáluit, ac si divísa numquam fuísset.  Quo máxime miráculo permótus Joánnes, quod pridem ánimo concéperat, éxsequi státuit.  Itaque ægre a calípha impetráto secéssu, suas omnes facultátes in egénos distríbuit, et servos libertáte donávit ; tum sacra Palæstínæ loca peregrínus lustrávit, ac demum una cum Cosma institutóre suo in lauram sancti Sabbæ prope Hierosólymam concéssit, ibíque présbyter initiátus est.

This John is called John of Damascus, from his native place.  He was of noble birth, and studied sacred and profane letters at Constantinople, under the monk Cosmas.  At what time the Emperor Leo the Isaurian was making a wicked attack upon the honouring of holy images, John, at the desire of the Roman Pontiff Gregory III, earnestly defended both by his words and his writings, the holiness of this honour.  By this he roused against him so great a hatred on the part of Leo, that that Prince, by forged letters, accused John as a traitor to the Caliph of Damascus, whom he was serving as a councillor and minister.  John denied the charge, but the Caliph was deceived by it, and caused his right hand to be cut off.  He called earnestly for the help of the most holy Virgin, and she manifested the innocency of her servant by reuniting his hand to his arm, as though it had never been cut off.  This miracle moved John to carry out a design which he had long had in mind.  He obtained from the Caliph, albeit with difficulty, leave to go away, distributed all his goods to feed the poor, and freed all his slaves, then visited as a pilgrim the holy places in Palestine, and at length withdrew, along with his teacher Cosmas, to the monastery of St. Saba, between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.  There he was ordained priest.

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.

In religióne vitæ palæstra præclarióra virtútum exémpla mónachis præbuit, demissiónis potíssimum et obediéntiæ.  Abjectíssima quæque cœnóbii múnia véluti sibi própria deposcébat, ac sédulo obíbat.  Contéxtas a se spórtulas venditáre Damásci jussus, in ea nimírum civitáte ubi olim summis honóribus perfúnctus fúerat, irrisiónes ac ludíbria vulgi ávide captábat.  Obediéntiam ádeo cóluit, ut non modo ad quémlibet præsídum nutum præsto esset ; sed ne causam quidem eórum quæ præcipiebántur, quamvis árdua essent et insólita, quæréndam sibi umquam putárit.  Inter has virtútum exercitatiónes, cathólicum dogma de sanctárum imáginum cultu impénse tuéri numquam déstitit.  Quare ut ante Leónis Isáurici, ita póstmodum Constantíni Coprónymi advérsum se ódia vexationésque provocávit ; eo vel magis quod líbere arrogántiam imperatórum retúnderet, qui fídei negótia pertractáre, deque his senténtiam arbitrátu suo ferre audébant.

As a monk John set a bright example to all the others, especially as regarded lowliness and obedience.  He sought for the lowest offices in the community, as though they were in a peculiar sense his own, and fulfilled them with the greatest care.  When he was sent to Damascus to sell baskets made by himself, he welcomed the mockery and jests of the lowest classes in that city where he had before time been charged with the most honourable offices.  He was so devoted to obedience that he not only started up to obey every nod of his superiors, but also never thought it right to ask the reason of any duty laid upon him, however difficult or however strange it might be.  While thus living he never ceased earnestly to defend the Catholic doctrine as to the honouring of holy images.  For this reason he drew upon himself the hatred and persecution of the Emperor Constantine Copronymus, as he had first done that of the Emperor Leo the Isaurian, and this all the more because he freely rebuked the arrogance of these Emperors, who must needs take in hand matters concerning the faith, and pronounce sentence upon them according to their own judgment.

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.

Mirum sane est quam multa tum ad fidem tutándam, tum ad pietátem fovéndam, et solúta et adstrícta númeris oratióne, Joánnes elucubráverit ; dignus sane qui ab áltera Nicæna synodo amplíssimis láudibus celebrarétur, et ob áureum oratiónis flumen Chrysórrhoas appellarétur.  Neque solum contra Iconómachos orthodóxam fidem deféndit ; sed omnes ferme hæréticos, præsértim Acéphalos, Monothelítas, Theopaschítas strénue impugnávit.  Ecclésiæ jura potestatémque egrégie vindicávit.  Primátum Príncipis Apostolórum disertíssimis verbis asséruit ; ipsúmque ecclesiárum cólumen, infráctam petram, orbis terrárum magístrum et moderatórem sæpius nóminat.  Univérsa autem ejus scripta non modo eruditióne et doctrína præstant, sed étiam quemdam ingénuæ pietátis sensum prǽferunt, præcípue cum Genitrícis Dei laudes prǽdicat, quam singulári cultu et amóre prosequebátur.  Illud vero máxime in laudem Joánnis cedit, quod primus univérsam theologíam recto órdine comprehénderit et sancti Thomæ viam complanáverit ad sacram doctrínam tam præclára méthodo tractándam.  Tandem vir sanctíssimus méritis plenus devexáque jam ætáte, in pace Christi quiévit anno círciter septingentésimo quinquagésimo quarto.  Ejus Offícium et Missam Leo décimus tértius Póntifex máximus, áddito Doctóris título, univérsæ Ecclésiæ concéssit.

It is a marvel how many things John devised both for the protection of the faith, and for the encouragement of godliness, and expressed in his writings both in prose and verse.  He was worthy of the high praise which was given him by the Second Council of Nice.  On account of the golden streams of his eloquence, he was surnamed Chrysorrhoas, or John of the golden streams.  It was not against the enemies of holy images alone that he defended the orthodox faith.  He fought stoutly against the Acephali, the Monothelites, and the Theopaschites.  He maintained the laws and the power of the Church.  He taught with great learning the Primacy of the Prince of the Apostles, and many times calleth him the Pillar of the Churches, the unbroken rock, and the Teacher and Ruler of the world.  The whole of his writings are not only steeped in learning and teaching, but have a certain savour or simple piety, especially when he is praising the Mother of God, toward whom he was filled with a special reverence and love.  But the greatest praise of John is that he was the first who arranged in order a complete course of theology, and prepared the way in which holy Thomas Aquinas hath so clearly dealt with the whole body of sacred doctrine.  This truly holy man, full of days and good works, fell asleep in the peace of Christ about the year of salvation 754.  The supreme Pontiff, Leo XIII, established his office and Mass throughout the universal Church, whereof he also gave him the title of doctor.

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.

The Tomb and Cave of St. John of Damascus

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.

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 : Factum est et in álio sábbato, ut intráret Jesus in synagógam, et docéret : et erat ibi homo, et manus ejus déxtera erat árida.  Et réliqua.

At that time : It came to pass also on another Sabbath, that Jesus entered into the synagogue, and taught ; and there was there a man whose right hand was withered.  And so on, and that which followeth.

In hoc hómine ómnium hóminum imágo figurátur, in hoc géritur cura cunctórum, in hoc universórum sánitas diu exspectáta reparátur.  Arúerat enim manus hóminis magis stupóre fídei quam siccitáte nervórum, et plus culpa consciéntiæ quam debilitáte carnáli.  Antíqua ista nimis erat, et quæ in ipso mundi princípio contígerat ægritúdo ; nec arte hóminis aut benefício póterat hæc curári, quæ Dei fúerat indignatióne contrácta.  Tetígerat vétita, inconcéssa præsúmpserat, cum se ad árborem sciéndi bonum malúmque porréxerat : Auctóre indigébat, non qui malágma impóneret, sed qui posset illátam relaxáre senténtiam, et ignoscéndo resólvere quod religáverat indignándo.

This man is a figure of all men.  His healing is a type of their healing, and his soundness is a pledge of that soundness for which all have looked so long.  The hand of man hath withered through the deadness of faith rather than through the drying up of the sinews, and by the fault of the conscience rather than by the weakness of the flesh.  The withering up of man's hand hath been of old time, and a sickness which smote him at the very beginning of the world, and no art or benefit of man could heal that which had been blasted by the wrath of God.  That hand had touched the forbidden thing, it had sought that which was unlawful when it had been stretched out to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  It had need of him who had made it, not to lay a plaster upon it, but to cancel the sentence which he had uttered, and to loosen by pardon that which he had bound by judgment.

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 de omni corde suo laudávit Dóminum : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Ecce homo sine queréla, verus Dei cultor, ábstinens se ab omni ópere malo, et pérmanens in innocéntia sua.
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.  Behold a man without blame, a worshipper of God in truth, keeping himself clean from every evil work, and abiding still in his innocency.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.

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.

In hoc hómine nostræ tantum géritur umbra sanitátis ; perfécta autem salus nobis reservátur in Christo : quia tunc aríditas nostræ manus miseránda dissólvitur, cum cruóre perfúnditur Domínicæ passiónis, cum in illo vitáli ligno crucis exténditur, cum carpit fructuósam de dolóre virtútem, cum totam árborem salútis ampléctitur, cum clavis Dómini corpus affígitur, quo numquam ad árborem concupiscéntiæ et áridæ rédeat voluptátis.  Et ait hómini habénti manum áridam : Surge in médium, proféssor debilitátis própriæ, supérnæ pietátis exáctor, testis divínæ virtútis, Judáicæ incredulitátis assértor : surge in médium ; ut quos non compúngit virtus tanta signórum, quos non ópera tantæ salútis inclínant, vel debilitátis tantæ miserátio constríngat et mítiget.

This man's healing is a type of the healing of all men, our perfect health is to be found in Christ, then shall our miserable hand be withered no more when there droppeth thereon the Blood of the Suffering Lord, when it is stretched forth to the Tree of Life, which is the Cross.  When it gathereth the mighty fruit of his suffering, when it layeth hold upon the Tree of Salvation, when the body is so nailed thereto with the nails of the Lord that it can never return again to the tree of lust and barren enjoyment.  And he said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst.  Rise up and stand forth in the midst, O thou that dost confess thine own weakness, thou that dost call for pity from on high, thou that canst witness to the power of God ; rise up and stand forth in the midst, thou that tellest of the unbelief of the Jews ; the power of so many signs hath no pierced them, so many works of healing hath not beset them ; let the pity shown to such misery constrain them and soften them.

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.

Lesson IX is from the Homily of the occurring weekday :

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 9:  Per evangélica dicta deleántur nostra delícta.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 9:  By the Gospel words today may our sins be done away.
R.  Amen.

Lauds

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.
Omnípotens sempiterne Deus, qui ad cultum sacrárum imáginum asseréndum, beátum Joánnem cælésti doctrína et admirábili spíritus fortitúdine imbuísti : concéde nobis ejus intercessióne et exémplo ; ut, quorum cólimus imágines, virtútes imitémur et patrocínia sentiámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, who, for the defence of the honour of holy images, didst endue thy blessed Saint John with heavenly learning and wondrous strength of spirit : grant unto us, we pray thee, that, by his intercession, and example ; we may so honour the images of thy Saints, that we may follow them in all true godliness, and feel the effectual succour of their advocacy.  Through.

St. John Baptist Cathedral, Damascus

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Second Vespers

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

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

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

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Omnípotens sempiterne Deus, qui ad cultum sacrárum imáginum asseréndum, beátum Joánnem cælésti doctrína et admirábili spíritus fortitúdine imbuísti : concéde nobis ejus intercessióne et exémplo ; ut, quorum cólimus imágines, virtútes imitémur et patrocínia sentiámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, who, for the defence of the honour of holy images, didst endue thy blessed Saint John with heavenly learning and wondrous strength of spirit : grant unto us, we pray thee, that, by his intercession, and example ; we may so honour the images of thy Saints, that we may follow them in all true godliness, and feel the effectual succour of their advocacy.  Through.