St. Athanasius

Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Double

Common

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

At Second Vespers of Ss. Philip and James, Apostles

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

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

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.

Oremus.
Exáudi, quæsumus, Dómine, preces nostras, quas in beáti Athanásii Confessóris solemnitáte deférimus : et, qui tibi digne méruit famulári, ejus intercedéntibus méritis, ab ómnibus nos absólve peccátis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Hear, O Lord, we beseech thee, the prayers which we offer thee on this the solemn Feastday of thy blessed Confessor and Bishop Athanasius, and, for the sake of him who so nobly served thee, forgive us our trespasses.  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 the Common of Doctors,  Sapientiam.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Doctors

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.

Athanásius Alexandrínus, cathólicæ religiónis propugnátor acérrimus, ab Alexándro epíscopo Alexandríno diáconus factus est, in cujus locum succéssit.  Quem étiam ántea secútus fúerat ad Nicænum Concílium ; ubi cum Aríi impietátem repressísset, tantum ódium Arianórum suscépit, ut ex eo témpore ei insídias molíri numquam destíterint.  Nam coácto ad Tyrum concílio magna ex parte Arianórum episcopórum, subornárunt muliérculam, quæ accusáret Athanásium, quod hospítio accéptus sibi stuprum per vim intulísset.  Introdúctus ígitur est Athanásius, et una cum eo Timótheus présbyter ; qui símulans se esse Athanásium, Ego ne, inquit, múlier, apud te sum diversátus? ego te violávi?  Cui illa petulánter : Tu mihi vim attulísti ; idque jurejurándo affírmans, júdicum fidem obtestabátur, ut tantum flagítium vindicárent.  Qua cógnita fraude, rejécta est mulíeris impudéntia.

The great Athanasius, the lealest soldier that the Catholic Religion hath perhaps ever had, was an Alexandrian.  He was ordained Deacon by Alexander, Bishop of that city, whom he afterwards succeeded.  He had followed Alexander to the Council of Nicaea, where he wrestled triumphantly against the blasphemy of Arius.  For this reason he was honoured with so much of their hatred by the Arians, that their vindictiveness never forsook him from that time forward.  They called together a Council at Tyre, composed for the most part of Arian bishops, where they suborned a wretched woman to charge Athanasius with having raped her when she had received him as a guest into her house.  Athanasius therefore came into the assembly, and with him a certain priest, whose name was Timothy.  This Timothy arose as though he were Athanasius, and asked her, saying : Woman, was it I that raped thee?  She cried out indignantly : Yea, thou it was that didst rape me, the which she attested with an oath, and called on the honour of the judges to punish such iniquity.  Upon this discovery of her perjury, they drave the shameless woman from their presence.

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

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

R.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, allelúja.
V.  Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei.
R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, allelúja.

R.  I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast, alleluia.
V.  The enemy shall not be able to do him violence ; the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
R.  My hand shall hold him fast, 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.

Arsénium quoque epíscopum ab Athanásio interféctum Ariáni pervulgárunt ; quem dum occúlte détinent, manum mórtui déferunt in judícium, ab Athanásio ad usum mágicæ artis Arsénio amputátam criminántes.  At Arsénius noctu aufúgiens, cum se in conspéctu totíus concílii statuísset, Athanásii inimicórum impudentíssimum scelus apéruit.  Quod illi nihilóminus mágicis ártibus Athanásii tribuéntes, vitæ ejus insidiári non desistébant.  Quam ob rem in exsílium actus, in Gállia apud Tréviros exsulávit.  Grávibus deínceps ac diutúrnis sub Constántio imperatóre, Arianórum fautóre, tempestátibus jactátus et incredíbiles calamitátes perpéssus, magnam orbis terræ partem peragrávit ; ac sæpe e sua ecclésia ejéctus, sæpe étiam in eámdem et Júlii, Románi Pontíficis, auctoritáte, et Constántis imperatóris, Constántii fratris, patrocínio, decrétis quoque concílii Sardicénsis ac Jerosolymitáni, restitútus est, Ariánis intérea illi semper inféstis ; quorum pertinácem iram, et summum vitæ discrímen fúgiens, in sicca cistérna quinque annis se ábdidit, ejus rei tantum cónscio quodam Athanásii amíco, qui eum clam sustentábat.

The Arians also accused Athanasius of having murdered the Bishop Arsenius.  This Arsenius they kept shut up, and brought into the court a dead man's hand, which they declared had been his, and had been cut off by Athanasius to use in sorcery.  But Arsenius escaped in the night, and when he appeared before all the Council whole and sound, the brazen-faced crime of the enemies of Athanasius was exposed.  This appearance nevertheless they attributed to Athanasius being a warlock, and persisted still in their attack on him.  He was driven into exile, and banished to Treves in Gaul.  Thenceforth, under authority of the Emperor Constantius, that abettor of Arians, he was hunted to and fro with unceasing persecutions.  He suffered hardships which it is difficult to believe.  He was sent wandering all about the Roman world.  He was twice more thrust out of his See, and again restored through the authority of Pope Julius of Rome, and with the protection of the Emperor Constans, the brother of Constantius, by decrees of the Councils of Sardica and of Jerusalem.  The vindictiveness of the Arians never let him alone.  In his third exile so great was the danger of his life from the pursuit of their undying hatred, that he had to lie hid for five years in a dry cistern, unknown to all men, save one of his friends who brought him food.

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

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

R.  Pósui adjutórium super poténtem, et exaltávi eléctum de plebe mea : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, allelúja.
V.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum.
R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, allelúja.

R.  I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people. * My hand shall hold him fast, alleluia.
V.  I have found David, my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him.
R.  My hand shall hold him fast, 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.

Constántio mórtuo, cum Juliánus Apóstata, qui ei in império succéssit, éxsules epíscopos ad suas ecclésias redíre permisísset, Athanásius Alexandríam revérsus, summo honóre excéptus est.  Sed non multo post, iísdem Ariánis impelléntibus, a Juliáno exagitátus, rursus discédere cógitur.  Cumque ab ejus satellítibus ad necem conquirerétur, qua fugiébat navícula convérsa in contráriam flúminis partem, iis qui se insequebántur, ex indústria occúrrit ; et quæréntibus quantum inde abésset Athanásius, respóndit eum non longe abésse : ítaque illos contrárium tenéntes cursum effúgit, atque Alexandríam rédiens, ibídem usque ad Juliáni óbitum occúltus permánsit.  Qui paulo post, Alexandríæ ália exórta tempestáte, quátuor menses in patérno sepúlcro delítuit.  Ac dénique ex tot tantísque perículis divínitus eréptus, Alexandríæ mórtuus est in suo léctulo, sub Valénte : cujus vita et mors magnis nobilitáta est miráculis.  Multa pie et ad illustrándum cathólicam fidem præcláre scripsit, sexque et quadragínta annos in summa témporum varietáte Alexandrínam ecclésiam sanctíssime gubernávit.

After the death of Constantius, Julian the Apostate, who succeeded him, allowed every sort of bishop who had been banished to return to their own Churches.  Athanasius therefore returned to Alexandria, and was received with profound reverence.  But it was not long before the same Arians got Julian to hunt him down again, and again it behoved him to fly.  A band of soldiers were sent in pursuit of him to kill him, and as he fled up the Nile, their boat pressed hard on his.  Athanasius, before they were yet in sight, had his own boat turned round, and went down the stream to meet them.  As the vessels passed one another the murderers called out to ask if they knew where Athanasius was, and the servant of God himself cried to them in answer, Ye are close to him! whereupon they redoubled their exertions to ascend the stream, and Athanasius went peacefully down to Alexandria, and found means of concealment till the death of Julian.  Yet once again he had to fly from another persecution at Alexandria, and in this his fifth and last exile he hid himself for four months in his own father's sepulchre.  From all these so many and so great dangers did God deliver him, and at last he died in his own bed at Alexandria in the reign of Valens.  He wrote much that is both godly and luminous in explaining the Catholic Faith, and governed the Church of Alexandria in great holiness, amid all changes of weather, for six and forty years.

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

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

St. Athanasius, who died upon the 2nd day of May,
in the year of salvation 373

R.  Iste est, qui ante Deum magnas virtútes operátus est, et omnis terra doctrína ejus repléta est : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum, allelúja.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
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.  He was a man who despised the life of the world and attained unto the kingdom of heaven.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the 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.

Athanásius, epíscopus Alexandrínus, cathólicæ religiónis propugnátor acérrimus, cum, adhuc diáconus, in Concílio Nicæno Aríi impietátem repressísset, tantum ódium Arianórum suscépit, ut ex eo témpore ei insídias molíri numquam destíterint.  In exsílium actus, in Gállia apud Tréviros exsulávit.  Incredíbiles dein calamitátes perpéssus, magnam orbis partem peragrávit ; ac sæpe e sua ecclésia ejéctus, sæpe étiam in eámdem, Júlii, Románi Pontificis, auctoritáte atque decrétis concílii Sardicénsis ac Jerosolymitáni, restitútus est, Ariánis intérea illi semper inféstis.  Dénique ex tot tantísque perículis divínitus eréptus, Alexandríæ mórtuus est sub Valénte.  Ejus vita et mors magnis nobilitáta est miráculis.  Multa pie et ad illustrándam cathólicam fidem præcláre scripsit, sexque et quadragínta annos in summa témporum varietáte Alexandrínam ecclésiam sanctíssime gubernávit.

Athanasius was Bishop of Alexandria, and a most vigorous defender of the Catholic religion.  When he was still a deacon, he refuted the impiety of Arius at the Council of Nicaea, and earned such hatred from the Arians that, from that time on, they never ceased to lay snares for him.  Driven into exile, he went to Treves in Gaul.  He endured unbelievable hardships and wandered over a great part of the world, being often driven from his Church, and often restored by the authority of Pope Julius and the decrees of the Councils of Sardica and Jerusalem.  All this while, he was persecuted by the Arians.  Finally, rescued, by the help of God, from so many great dangers, he died at Alexandria during the reign of Emperor Valens.  His life and death are marked by great miracles.  He wrote many works, both of devotion and of catechetics, and, with great holiness, he ruled the Church of Alexandria, in those most troubled times, for forty-six years.

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.

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:   Cum persequétur vos in civitáte ista, fúgite in áliam.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus said unto his disciples:  When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.  And so on, and that which followeth.

In lege præcéptum erat ut constitueréntur civitátes refugiórum, ut, qui quomodocúmque ad necem quæreréntur, servári possent.  In consummatióne porro sæculórum cum advenísset illud ipsum Verbum Patris, quod Móysi antea locútum fúerat, rursus hoc præcéptum dedit, Cum vos, ínquiens, persecúti fúerint in civitáte ista, fúgite in áliam.  Paulóque post súbjicit : Cum vidéritis illam abominatiónem desolatiónis, quæ dicta est per Daniélem prophétam, consisténtem in loco sancto (qui legit, intélligat), tunc qui in Judæa sunt, fúgiant ad montes ; et qui in tecto est, ne descéndat tóllere áliquid de domo sua ; et qui in agro est, non revertátur tóllere túnicam suam.

It is written in the Law, Ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that in these cities they which were pursued to put them to death might enter and be safe.  And in the latter days when he was come, even that very Word of the Father, which had spoken aforetime unto Moses, he gave again the same commandment : When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.  And a while afterward, he said : When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, stand in the Holy Place (whoso readeth, let him understand), then let them which be in Judaea flee unto the mountains ; let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house ; neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

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 put upon him the breastplate of faith, and 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 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.

Hæc cum scirent Sancti, ejúsmodi tenuérunt suæ conversatiónis institútum.  Quæ enim nunc præcépit Dóminus, éadem quoque ante suum in carne advéntum locútus est in Sanctis ; et hoc institútum hómines ad perfectiónem ducit.  Nam quod Deus jússerit, id omníno faciéndum est.  Ideóque et ipsum Verbum propter nos homo factum, non indígnum putávit, cum quærerétur, quemádmodum et nos, abscóndere se ; et cum persecutiónem paterétur, fúgere, et insídias declináre : cum autem a se definítum tempus ipse adduxísset, in quo corporáliter pro ómnibus pati volébat, ultro seípsum trádidit insidiántibus.

The Saints, therefore, knowing these words of the Lord, have obeyed them in their lives.  What the Lord hath now commanded by his own Mouth, he commanded through his Saints before that he himself was come in the flesh, and to obey this commandment worketh in a man perfection, since whatever God commandeth is a thing which it behoveth man to do.  For this cause, that very Word of God which was made flesh for our sake thought it meet when they sought him (even as at this present time, they are seeking us), to hide himself, and, when they persecuted him, to fly and escape from their laying in wait for him ; although when that time came which he had himself decreed, and wherein he willed, as touching the Body, to suffer for us all, he willingly gave himself up to his enemies.

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 or the Vigil of the Ascension, 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

Ninth Lesson of the Vigil of the Ascension

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.

At vero sancti hómines cum hanc quoque formam a Salvatóre didicíssent, (ab ipso enim et ántea et semper omnes docebántur) advérsus persecutóres ut legítime certárent, fugiébant, et ab illis quæsíti se abscondébant.  Cum enim præstitúti sibi a divína providéntia témporis finem ignorárent, nolébant insidiántibus se témere trádere : sed contra, cum scirent quod scriptum est, in mánibus Dei esse hóminum sortes, et Dóminum mortificáre et vivificáre ; pótius in finem usque perseverábant, circumeúntes, ut ait Apóstolus, in melótis et péllibus caprínis, egéntes, angustiáti, in solitudínibus errántes, et in spelúncis et cavérnis terræ laténtes, quoad vel definítum mortis tempus veníret, vel qui tempus ipsum definíerat, Deus cum eis loquerétur, et insidiántes cohibéret, aut certe persecutóribus eos tráderet, utcúmque illi plácuísset.

Holy men of God, therefore, have learnt to take ensample from their Saviour (and the Same is and hath been the Teacher of all such, whether of old time, or in these latter days), and know how that it is lawful to baffle their persecutors by flying from them, and by lying hid when they seek them.  For since they know not the day nor the hour wherein an all-seeing God hath ordained their end, they do not daringly give themselves into the power of such as hate them, but rather, knowing it to be written, My times are in thy hand, and that The Lord killeth and maketh alive, they endure unto the end, they wander about, as saith the Apostle, in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, they wander in deserts, and hide in dens and caves of the earth, until either their appointed time come, or until more plainly God, the real Appointer of times, speaketh unto them, and chaineth up the persecutors, or manifestly giveth them over into the hands of the same, as may be his own good pleasure.

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, dicit Dóminus.  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, saith the Lord.  Alleluia.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Exáudi, quæsumus, Dómine, preces nostras, quas in beáti Athanásii Confessóris solemnitáte deférimus : et, qui tibi digne méruit famulári, ejus intercedéntibus méritis, ab ómnibus nos absólve peccátis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Hear, O Lord, we beseech thee, the prayers which we offer thee on this the solemn Feastday of thy blessed Confessor and Bishop Athanasius, and, for the sake of him who so nobly served thee, forgive us our trespasses.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH