St. Peter Canisius

Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Double

mtv

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Deus, qui ad tuéndam cathólicam fidem beátum Petrum, Confessórem tuum, virtúte et doctrína roborásti : concéde propítius ; ut ejus exémplis et mónitis errántes ad salútem resipíscant, et fidéles in veritátis confessióne persevérent.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who for the defence of the Catholic Faith didst make blessed Peter thy confessor to be mighty in godliness and doctrine : we beseech thee so to enlighten us by his example and admonitions ; that where we are in error we may become wise unto salvation, and where we are faithful we may persevere in the confession of the truth.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

V.  Amávit eum Dóminus, et ornávit eum, allelúja.
R.  Stolam glóriæ índuit eum, allelúja.

V.  The Lord loved him, and adorned him, alleluia.
R.  He clothed him with a robe of glory, alleluia.

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

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

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Deus, qui ad tuéndam cathólicam fidem beátum Petrum, Confessórem tuum, virtúte et doctrína roborásti : concéde propítius ; ut ejus exémplis et mónitis errántes ad salútem resipíscant, et fidéles in veritátis confessióne persevérent.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who for the defence of the Catholic Faith didst make blessed Peter thy confessor to be mighty in godliness and doctrine : we beseech thee so to enlighten us by his example and admonitions ; that where we are in error we may become wise unto salvation, and where we are faithful we may persevere in the confession of the truth.  Through.

Ant:  Sancti et justi, in Dómino gaudéte, allelúja : vos elégit Deus in hereditátem sibi, allelúja.

Ant:  O ye holy and righteous, rejoice in the Lord, alleluia; for blessed are the folk that God hath chosen to him to be his inheritance, alleluia.

V.  Right dear in the sight of the Lord, alleluia.
R.  Is the death of his Saints, alleluia.

Oremus.
Gregem tuum, Pastor ætérne, placátus inténde : et per beátos Cletum et Marcellínum Mártyres tuos atque Summos Pontífices, perpétua protectióne custódi; quos totíus Ecclésiæ præstitísti esse pastóres.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O eternal Shepherd, do thou look favourably upon thy flock, which we beseech thee to guard and keep for evermore, through the blessed Cletus and Marcellinus, thy Martyrs and Supreme Pontiffs, whom thou didst choose to be the chief shepherds of the whole Church.  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 Doctor, Series 1,  Sapientiam.

Scripture Lessons

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.

Petrus Canísius, Noviómagi in Gélria eo ipso anno natus est, quo Luthérus in Germánia apérta rebellióne ab Ecclésia descívit, et Ignátius de Loyóla, in Hispánia, terréstri milítia abdicáta, ad prœliánda prœlia Dómini se convértit ; Deo nimírum portendénte, quos ille posthac adversários, quem sacræ milítiæ ducem esset habitúrus.  Colóniæ Agrippínæ, quo studiórum causa concésserat, perpétuo castitátis voto se Deo obstrínxit, et paulo post Societáti Jesu nomen dedit.  Sacerdótio auctus, cathólicam fidem contra novatórum insídias legatiónibus, sermónibus, scriptis libris statim defendéndam suscépit.  Ob præcláram sapiéntiam et explorátum rerum usum a Cardináli Augustáno et a pontifíciis Legátis magnópere expetítus, semel atque íterum Concílio Tridentíno intérfuit ; cujus étiam decréta ex auctoritáte Pii quarti Pontíficis Máximi rite per Germániam promulgánda et in morem inducénda curávit.  A Paulo quarto ad convéntum Petricoviénsem ire jussus, aliísque a Gregório décimo tértio legatiónibus obeúndis adhíbitus, álacri semper et numquam fracto difficultátibus ánimo, gravíssima religiónis negótia tractávit, ac vel inter præséntia vitæ discrímina ad felícem éxitum perdúxit.

Peter Canisius was born at Nimwegen in the Netherlands, in the very year in which Luther openly rebelled against the Church in Germany, and in which Ignatius Loyola in Spain gave up earthly warfare to fight the battles of the Lord ; God thus shewed what adversaries he was to encounter, and under whose leadership he was to fight.  He made his studies at Cologne, where he took a vow to God of perpetual chastity, and shortly afterwards entered the Society of Jesus.  After his ordination as priest, he began at once to defend the Catholic faith against the wiles of the innovators by missions, sermons, and writing books.  His eminent wisdom and experience caused the Cardinal of Augsburg and the papal legates to invite him to the Council of Trent, and he was present at its sittings more than once.  Moreover, by the authority of the Supreme Pontiff, Pius IV, he was entrusted with the charge of making its decrees known in Germany and carrying them into effect.  Paul IV sent him to the Diet of Petrikau, and Gregory XIII entrusted him with the carrying out of other missions, all of which he undertook with an eager spirit, never conquered by any difficulties, and carried the most important affairs of religion through all the crises of this present life to a successful end.

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, allelúja.
V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas, et osténdit illi regnum Dei.
R.  Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam, allelúja.

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, alleluia.
V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God.
R.  And gave him perpetual glory, alleluia.

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.

Supérno caritátis igne, quem in Basílica Vaticána e penetrálibus Cordis Jesu olim copiose háuserat, inflammátus, et divínæ glóriæ amplificándæ únice inténtus dici vix potest, quot, per annos ámplius quadragínta, labóres suscéperit, ærumnásque pertúlerit, ut complúres Germániæ civitátes ac províncias vel ab hæréseos contagióne defénderet, vel, hæresi inféctas, cathólicæ Fídei restitúeret.  In Ratisbonénsi et in Augustáno convéntu impérii próceres ad jura Ecclésiæ tuénda et mores populórum emendándos excitávit : in Vormatiénsi insolescéntes impietátis magístros ad siléntium adégit.  A sancto Ignátio Germániæ Superióris provínciæ præféctus, domos et collégia multis locis cóndidit.  Collégium Germánicum, Romæ constitútum, omni ope provéhere atque amplificáre stúduit ; in academíis sacrárum humanarúmque disciplinárum stúdia, miserándum in modum collápsa, instaurávit ; contra Centuriatóres Magdeburgénses duo volúmina egrégie conscrípsit : et summam doctrínæ christiánæ, theologórum judício et público trium sæculórum usu ubíque probatíssimam, alíaque complúra ad populórum institutiónem valde accommodáta in vulgus édidit.  Quamóbrem, hæreticórum málleus et alter Germániæ apóstolus appellátus, plane dignus hábitus est, qui ad tutándam in Germánia religiónem divínitus eléctus putarétur.

Inflamed with the heavenly fire of charity, which he had once received in the Vatican basilica from the sanctuary of the Heart of Jesus, and intent only on increasing the glory of God, it is almost impossible to describe how, for more than forty years, he took upon himself laborious tasks, and endured hardship, that he might defend very many cities and provinces of Germany from the contagion of heresy, or restore to the Catholic faith those that were infected with heresy.  At the Diets of Ratisbon and Augsburg, he exhorted the princes of the Empire to defend the rights of the Church and reform the lives of their subjects.  At Worms he reduced the insolent teachers of ímpiety to silence.  St. Ignatius made him prefect of the province of Upper Germany, where he founded houses and colleges in many places.  He used every effort to advance and enlarge the German College founded at Rome ; he restored the study of sacred and profane learning in academies, which had fallen into a wretched condition.  He wrote two excellent volumes against the Centuriators of Magdeburg ; and he edited a summary of Christian doctrine, which has been thoroughly approved by the judgment of theologians and by common use everywhere for three centuries, as well as very many other works useful for public instruction in the vulgar tongue.  For all these reasons he was called the Hammer of the Heretics, and the Second Apostle of Germany, and is rightly thought to have been worthy of having been chosen by God to protect religion in Germany.

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, allelúja.
V.  Induit eum Dóminus lorícam fídei, et ornávit eum.
R.  Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum, allelúja.

R.  The Lord loved him and adorned him; he clothed him with a robe of glory : * And crowned him at the gates of Paradise, alleluia.
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, alleluia.

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.

Inter hæc, precatióne crebra et assídua rerum supernárum commentatióne, lácrimis sæpe perfúsus et ánimo intérdum a sénsibus abdúcto, Deo se conjúngere sólitus erat.  A viris princípibus vel sanctitáte claríssimis et a quátuor Summis Pontifícibus magno in honóre hábitus, ádeo de se demísse sentiébat, ut se ómnium mínimum et díceret et habéret.  Vindobonénsem episcopátum semel, íterum ac tértio recusávit.  Moderatóribus suis obsequentíssimus, parátus erat ad ipsórum nutum ómnia relínquere aut ággredi, étiam cum valetúdinis et vitæ perículo.  Voluntária sui ipsíus coërcitióne castitátem perpétuo sepsit.  Demum Fribúrgi Helvetiórum, ubi plúrimum pro Dei glória et salúte animárum últimis vitæ suæ annis desudáverat, migrávit ad Deum die vicésima prima Decémbris anno millésimo quingentésimo nonagésimo séptimo, ætátis suæ séptimo supra septuagésimum.  Hunc vero strénuum cathólicæ veritátis propugnatórem Pius Papa nonus cælitum Beatórum honóribus adáuxit ; novis autem fulgéntem signis Pius undécimus, Póntifex máximus, anno jubilæi, Sanctórum número accénsuit, simúlque Doctórem universális Ecclésiæ declarávit.

In these activities he was accustomed to unite himself to God by frequent prayer and assiduous meditation on heavenly things, often bathed in tears and sometimes with his soul rapt in ecstasy.  He was held in great honour by men of rank, or of most distinguished holiness, and by four of the Supreme Pontiffs, but he thought so humbly of himself, that he spake of and held himself as the least of all.  He refused the bishoprick of Vienna no less than three times.  He was most obedient to his superiors, and ready at their mere nod to stop or to undertake all labours, even at the risk of his health and life.  He guarded his chastity with perpetual voluntary self-mortification.  At length, at Fribourg in Switzerland, where during the last years of his life he had laboured much for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, he passed to God on the 21st day of December, 1597, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.  This zealous champion of Catholic truth was adorned with the heavenly honours of the blessed by Pope Pius IX ; and, as fresh miracles added to his renown, the Supreme Pontiff Pius XI, in the year of the Jubilee, included him among the Saints, and at the same time declared him a Doctor of the Universal Church.

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, allelúja.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus, allelúja.

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, alleluia.
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, alleluia.
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, alleluia.

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.

Petrus Canísius, Noviómagi in Gélria natus, statim ac Societáti Jesu nomen déderat, cathólicam fidem contra novatórum insídias, legatiónibus, sermónibus, scriptis libris defendéndam suscépit.  Divínæ glóriæ amplificándæ únice inténtus, dici vix potest, quot per annos ámplius quadragínta labóres ærumnásque pertúlerit.  Semel atque íterum Concílio Tridentíno intérfuit, Germániæ regiónes bene multas peragrávit, omne hóminum genus salubérrimus instítuis públice et privátim excóluit, complurésque urbes atque províncias vel ab hæréseos contagióne deféndit vel hæresim inféctas cathólicæ fídei restítuit.  A sancto Ignátio Germániæ Superióris provínciæ præféctus, domos et collégia multis locis cóndidit.  Contra Centuriatóres Magdeburgénses duo egrégia volúmina conscrípsit, et et summam doctrínæ christiánæ theologórum judício et longo populórum usu probátíssimam alíaque complúra in vulgus édidit ; dignus proínde qui hæreticórum málleus et alter Germániæ apóstolus vocarétur.  Dénique Fribúrgi Helvetiórum, séptimum supra septuagésimum annum agens, die vicésima prima Decémbris anno millésimo quingentésimo nonagésimo séptimo quiévit in Dómino.  Eum Pius Papa undécimus Sanctórum fastis adjúnxit et simul universális Ecclésiæ Doctórem declarávit.

Peter Canisius was born at Nimwegen in the Netherlands.  After joining the Society of Jesus, he began at once to defend the Catholic faith against the wiles of the innovators by missions, sermons, and writing books.  His one idea was to promote the greater glory of God and it would be impossible to relate how many labours and hardships he went through for more than forty years.  He took part more than once in the Council of Trent, travelled on successful missions through many parts of Germany, instructed all classes of society with sound teaching, both public and private, and defended many cities and provinces against the contagion of heresy or brought back to the Catholic faith those tainted by heresy.  He was made head of the province of Germany by St. Ignatius, and built houses and colleges in many places.  Against the Centuriators of Magdeburg, he wrote two famous volumes, and brought out a summary of Christian doctrine highly approved both by the judgment of theologians and by its long continued use among the people, and many other works in the mother-tongue.  From all this, he earned the title of Hammer of the Heretics and second Apostle of Germany.  Finally, at Fribourg in Switzerland, at the age of seventy-seven, he rested in the Lord on the 21st day of December, 1597.  Pius XI added him to the list of the Saints and at the same time proclaimed him a Doctor of the Universal Church.

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

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

The Council of Trent

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 : 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.

Amábo et colam missos a Christo Apóstolos horúmque successóres in Evangélii sémine spargéndo sédulos et indeféssos propagándi verbi cooperatóres, qui jure testári possunt : Sic nos exístimet homo ut minístros Christi et dispensatóres mysteriórum Dei.  Vóluit enim Christus ut vigilantíssimus ac fidelíssimus paterfamílias per tales minístros ac legátos lucérnam Evangélicam igne cælitus demísso accéndi, et accénsam non módio suppóni, sed super candelábrum constítui, quæ suum splendórem longe latéque diffúnderet omnésque tum Judæórum tum Géntium vigéntes ténebras et erróres profligáret.

I shall always love and reverence the Apostles sent by Christ, and their successors as well, in their work of sowing the Gospel seed.  For all such may justly say of themselves : Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  It was Christ himself, like a watchful and most faithful householder, who wished that the Gospel-lamp should be lighted by his ministers and stewards with fire sent down from heaven ; and once lighted, that it should not be put under a bushel, but set upon a candlestick, so as to spread its brightness far and wide, and put to flight all darkness and error rife among both Jews and Gentiles.

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, allelúja.
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, allelúja.

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, alleluia.
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, alleluia.

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.

Etenim evangélico Doctóri sat non est, verbo lucére pópulo, et vocem in desérto clamántem præstáre, multísque in pietáte juvándis lingua óperam dare, ne alióquin, si verbi ministérium prætermíttat, canis mutus non valens latráre a prophéta dicátur.  Sed et ardére illum opórtet, ut, ópere atque caritáte instrúctus, munus suum ornet evangélicum, Paulúmque ducem sequátur.  Is quippe non conténtus Ephesiórum epíscopo demandáre : Præcipe hoc et doce : labóra sicut bonus miles Christi Jesu ; constánter étiam apud amícos et inimícos evangelizávit, ac epíscopis apud Ephesum colléctis bona dixit consciéntia : Vos scitis, quómodo nihil subtráxerim utílium, quóminus annuntiárem vobis, et docérem vos públice et per domos, testíficans Judæis atque Gentílibus in Deum pœniténtiam et fidem in Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum.

It is not enough for the Gospel-teacher to please the people with his speaking.  He must also be the voice of one crying in the wilderness, and so by his eloquence call many to the good life.  He must not be a dumb dog, not even able to bark, as spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah.  Yea, he should also burn in such a way that, equipped with good works and love, he may adorn his evangelical office, and follow the leadership of Paul.  He indeed was not satisfied with bidding the bishop of the Ephesians : This command and teach : conduct thyself in work as a good soldier of Christ Jesus ; but he unflaggingly preached the Gospel to friend and foe alike, and said with a good conscience to the bishops gathered at Ephesus : Ye know how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, urging Jews and Gentiles to turn unto God in repentance and to believe in our Lord Jesus 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.  In médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os ejus, * Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus, allelúja.
V.  Jucunditátem et exsultatiónem thesaurizávit super eum.
R.  Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus, allelúja.

R.  In the midst of the congregation he opened his mouth : * And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, alleluia.
V.  He shall find joy, and a crown of gladness.
R.  And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, alleluia.
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, alleluia.

If this day should be Rogation Monday, Lesson ix is to be taken from the Homily of that day, with a Commemoration at Lauds, as is noted below.  Otherwise, Lesson ix is as follows below.

Ninth Lesson of Rogation Monday

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.

Talem enim pastórem decet esse in Ecclésia, qui, more Pauli, ómnibus ómnia fiat, ut in illo repériat æger curatiónem, mœstus lætítiam, despérans fidúciam, imperítus doctrínam, dúbius consílium, pœnitens véniam atque solátium, et quidquid tandem ad salútem est cuíque necessárium.  Quocírca pulchre Christus, cum primários mundi Ecclesiæque doctóres constitúere vellet, non sat hábuit Discípulis dícere : Vos estis lux mundi : sed étiam illud subjécit : Non potest cívitas abscóndi supra montem pósita, neque accéndunt lucérnam et ponunt eam sub módio, sed super candelabrum, ut lúceat ómnibus qui in domo sunt.  Errant enim opinántes ecclesiástæ, quod múneri suo doctrínæ splendóre magis quam vitæ integritáte et caritátis ardóre possint satisfácere.

Such should be the shepherd in the Church who, like Paul, becometh all things to all men, so that the sick may find healing in him ; the sad, joy ; the desperate, hope ; the ignorant, instruction ; those in doubt, advice ; the penitent, forgiveness and comfort, and finally, every one whatever is necessary unto salvation.  And so Christ, when he wished to appoint the chief teachers of the world and of the Church, did not limit himself to saying to his disciples  : Ye are the light of the world : but also added : A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid ; neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Those churchmen err who imagine that it is by brilliant preaching that they fulfil their office ; rather, it is by holiness of life and an all-embracing love.

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, allelúja.
R.  Et osténdit illi regnum Dei, allelúja.

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

Ad Bened. Ant:  Euge, serve bone * et fidélis, quia in pauca fuísti fidélis, supra multa te constítuam, intra in gáudium Dómini tui.  Allelúja.

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 thou into the joy of thy Lord.  Alleluia.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, qui ad tuéndam cathólicam fidem beátum Petrum, Confessórem tuum, virtúte et doctrína roborásti : concéde propítius ; ut ejus exémplis et mónitis errántes ad salútem resipíscant, et fidéles in veritátis confessióne persevérent.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who for the defence of the Catholic Faith didst make blessed Peter thy confessor to be mighty in godliness and doctrine : we beseech thee so to enlighten us by his example and admonitions ; that where we are in error we may become wise unto salvation, and where we are faithful we may persevere in the confession of the truth.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Vespers from the Chapter onwards of the following day, with Commemoration of the preceding, and of St. Vitalis Martyr.