St. Monica

Widow

Double

Common

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

At Second Vespers of the Invention of Holy Cross

Ant:  Símile est regnum cælórum hómini negotiatóri quærénti bonas margarítas : invénta una pretiósa, dedit ómnia sua, et comparávit eam, allelúja.

Ant:  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it, alleluia.

V.  Spécie tua et pulchritúdine tua, allelúja.
R.  Inténde, próspere procéde, et regna, allelúja.

V.  In thy comeliness, yea in thy beauty, alleluia.
R.  Go forth, ride prosperously, and reign, alleluia.

Oremus.
Deus, mæréntium consolátor et in te sperántium salus, qui beátæ Mónicæ pias lácrimas in conversióne fílii sui Augustíni misericórditer suscepísti : da nobis utriúsque intervéntu; peccáta nostra deploráre, et grátiæ tuæ indulgéntiam inveníre.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, the comforter of them that mourn, and the hope of them that put their trust in thee, who didst favourably accept the tears of blessed Monica for the conversion of Augustine her son : grant, we pray thee ; that at the intercession of these thy servants, we may so bewail the sins that we have committed, that we may be worthy to obtain the abundant pardon of thy grace.  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 Holy Women, Mulierem fortem.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Holy Women
 

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.

Mónica, sancti Augustíni duplíciter mater, quia eum et mundo et cælo péperit, maríto mórtuo, quem senectúte conféctum Jesu Christo conciliávit, castam et opéribus misericórdiæ exércitam viduitátem agébat ; in assíduis vero ad Deum oratiónibus pro fílio, qui in Manichæórum sectam incíderat, lácrimas effundébat.  Quem étiam Mediolánum secúta est ; ubi ipsum frequénter hortabátur, ut ad epíscopum Ambrósium se conférret.  Quod cum ille fecísset, ejus et públicis conciónibus et privátis collóquiis cathólicæ fídei veritátem edóctus, ab eódem baptizátus est.

Monica was twice over the mother of St. Augustine, for, under God, he owed to her both earth and heaven.  When her husband was very old she made him a friend of Jesus Christ, and after his death she lived a widow in all purity and constantly occupied in works of mercy.  Her son Augustine had fallen into the heresy of the Manichaeans, and for his conversion she earnestly pleaded with God for years, with strong crying and tears.  She followed Augustine to Milan, and tenderly and constantly besought him to confer with Ambrose the Bishop.  This he consented to do, and at last, through the public sermons and private conversations of Ambrose, his eyes were opened to see the truth of the Catholic Religion, and he received baptism at the Bishop's hands.

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, allelúja.
V.  Spécie tua et pulchritúdine tua inténde, próspere procéde, et regna.
R.  Et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua, allelúja.

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

Mox in Africam redeúntes, cum ad Ostia Tiberína constitíssent, íncidit in febrem.  Quo in morbo cum eam quodam die ánima defecísset, ut se collégit, Ubi, inquit, eram?  Et astántes íntuens, Pónite hic matrem vestram : tantum vos rogo, ut ad altáre Dómini meminéritis mei.  Nono autem die beáta múlier ánimam Deo réddidit.  Ejus corpus ibi in ecclésia sanctæ Aureæ sepúltum est : quod póstea, Martíno quinto summo Pontífice, Romam translátum, in ecclésia sancti Augustíni honorífice cónditum est.

The mother and son set out to return to their home in Africa, but after they had reached Ostia at the mouth of the Tiber, she was stricken down with a fever.  One day as she lay sick, she came to herself after her mind had been long wandering, and said : Where am I?  Then she saw who were standing by, and said : Let you mother lie here : only, remember me at the altar of the Lord.  On the ninth day this blessed lady surrendered her spirit to God.  Her body was buried there at Ostia in the Church of St. Aurea, but, long after, in the Popedom of Martin V, it was carried to Rome and honourably buried again in the Church of St. Augustine.

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, allelúja.
V.  Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam.
R.  Proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ, allelúja.

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

Subdit vero Augustínus de matris morte dísserens : Neque enim decére arbitrabámur funus illud quéstubus lacrimósis gemitibúsque celebráre, quia illa nec mísere, nec omníno moriebátur : hoc et documéntis morum ejus, et fide non ficta rationibúsque certis tenebámus.  Atque inde paulátim reducébam in prístinum sensum ancíllam tuam, conversationémque ejus piam in te et sanctam, in nos blandam atque morígeram, qua súbito destitútus sum ; et líbuit flere de illa et pro illa.  Et si quis peccátum invénerit, flevísse me matrem meam exígua parte horæ, matrem óculis meis mórtuam, quæ me multos annos fléverat, ut óculis suis víverem, non irrídeat ; sed pótius, si est grandi caritáte, pro peccátis meis fleat ipse ad te Patrem ómnium fratrum Christi tui.

Augustine added these words after describing his mother's death : We did not think that hers was a death which it was seemly to mark with repining, or tears, or lamentations, seeing that she died not sorrowfully, nor at all as touching her best and noblest part.  This we knew, because we knew what her life had been, her faith unfeigned, her sure and certain hope.  And then, nevertheless, I remembered again what thine handmaid was used to be, her walk with thee, how godly and holy it was, and with us so gentle and long-suffering ; and that it was all gone away from me now.  And I wept, over her and for her.  And if any man will make it blame to me that I wept for a little while, when I saw lying dead before mine eyes my mother, who had wept over me so many years, that she might see me live, I say, if any man will make it blame to me, I pray him not to sneer at me, but rather (if his charity be so great) himself to weep over my sins before thee, who art a Father to all them to whom thy Christ is a Brother.

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, allelúja.
V.  Date ei de fructu mánuum suárum, et laudent eam in portis ópera ejus.
R.  Múlier timens Dóminum ipsa laudábitur, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Múlier timens Dóminum ipsa laudábitur, allelúja.

R.  Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, * But the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised, alleluia.
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, alleluia.
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, 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.

Mónica, sancti Augustíni piíssima mater, uxórum et viduárum exémplar, fílium Manichæum Mediolánum secúta, postquam assíduis oratiónibus, lácrimis et jejúniis, ope Ambrósii epíscopi, eum Christo lucrifécit, cum ipso in Africam rédiens, ad Ostia Tiberína in febrim íncidit, et nono die placidíssime óbiit.  De cujus morte mærens fílius dísserens subdit : Neque enim decére arbitrabámur funus illud quéstubus lacrimósis gemitibúsque celebráre, quia illa nec mísere, nec omníno moriebátur : hoc et documéntis morum ejus, et fide non ficta rationibúsque certis tenebámus.  Atque inde paulátim reducébam in prístinum sensum ancíllam tuam, conversationémque ejus piam in te et sanctam, in nos blandam atque morígeram, qua súbito destitútus sum ; et líbuit flere de illa et pro illa.  Et si quis peccátum invénerit, flevísse me matrem óculis meis mórtuam, quæ me multos annos fléverat, ut óculis suis víverem, non irrídeat ; sed pótius, si est grandi caritáte, pro peccátis meis fleat ipse ad te Patrem ómnium fratrum Christi tui.  Ejus corpus, in ecclésia sanctæ Aureæ prius sepúltum, póstea, Martíno quinto summo Pontífice, Romam translátum, in ecclésia sancti Augustíni honorífice cónditum est.

Monica, the devout mother of St. Augustine and a shining example to wives and mothers, followed her son to Milan when he become a Manichaean and, by her constant prayers, tears and fasting, gained him for Christ with the help of Ambrose the bishop.  When she was returning with him to Africa, she fell ill of fever at Ostia on the Tiber, and, after nine days, died peacefully.  After telling about her death, her sorrowing son adds : We did not think that hers was a death which it was seemly to mark with repining, or tears, or lamentations, seeing that she died not sorrowfully, nor at all as touching her best and noblest part.  This we knew, because we knew what her life had been, her faith unfeigned, her sure and certain hope.  And then, nevertheless, I remembered again what thine handmaid was used to be, her walk with thee, how godly and holy it was, and with us so gentle and long-suffering ; and that it was all gone away from me now.  And I wept, over her and for her.  And if any man will make it blame to me that I wept for a little while, when I saw lying dead before mine eyes my mother, who had wept over me so many years, that she might see me live, I say, if any man will make it blame to me, I pray him not to sneer at me, but rather (if his charity be so great) himself to weep over my sins before thee, who art a Father to all them to whom thy Christ is a Brother.  St. Monica's body was first buried in the Church of St. Aurea, but, long after, in the Popedom of Martin V, it was carried to Rome and honourably buried again in the Church of St. Augustine.

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

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

The Tomb of St. Monica in the Church of St. Augustine, Rome

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.
R.  Amen.

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 : Ibat Jesus in civitátem, quæ vocátur Naim : et ibant cum eo discípuli ejus, et turba copiósa.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus went into a city called Nain ; and his disciples went with him, and much people.  And so on, and that which followeth.

De júvene illo resuscitáto gavísa est mater vídua ; de homínibus in spíritu quotídie suscitátis gaudet mater Ecclésia.  Ille quidem mórtuus erat córpore ; illi autem mente.  Illíus mors visíbilis visibíliter plangebátur ; illórum mors invisíbilis nec quærebátur, nec videbátur.  Quæsívit ille, qui nóverat mórtuos.  Ille solus nóverat mórtuos, qui póterat fácere vivos.  Nisi enim ad mórtuos suscitándos venísset, Apóstolus non díceret : Surge, qui dormis, et exsúrge a mórtuis, et illuminábit te Christus.

That her son was called again to life was the joy of that widowed mother ; that souls of men are every day called to life is the joy of our Mother the Church.  He was dead in body ; they have been dead in mind.  His death was outward, and outwardly bewailed ; their inward death hath been neither mourned for nor seen.  But he hath sought for them, who hath seen that they are dead, and he only hath seen that they are dead, who hath been able to make them alive.  If he had not come to raise the dead, the Apostle had not said : Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

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

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

R.  Os suum apéruit sapiéntiæ, et lex cleméntiæ in lingua ejus : considerávit sémitas domus suæ, * Et panem otiósa non comédit, allelúja.
V.  Gustávit et vidit quia bona est negotiátio ejus : non exstinguétur in nocte lucérna ejus.
R.  Et panem otiósa non comédit, allelúja.

R.  She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness ; she looketh well to the ways of her household * And she eateth not the bread of idleness, alleluia.
V.  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good ; her candle goeth not out by night.
R.  And she eateth not the bread of idleness, alleluia.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 8:  Cujus festum cólimus, ipsa intercédat pro nobis ad Dóminum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 8:  May she whose feast day we are keeping, be our Advocate with God.
R.  Amen.

Tres autem mórtuos invenímus a Dómino resuscitátos visibíliter, míllia invisibíliter.  Quot autem mórtuos visibíliter suscitáverit, quis novit?  Non enim ómnia, quæ fecit, scripta sunt.  Joánnes hoc dixit : Multa ália fecit Jesus, quæ si scripta essent, árbitror totum mundum non posse libros cápere.  Multi ergo sunt álii sine dúbio suscitáti, sed non tres frustra commemoráti.  Dóminus enim noster Jesus Christus ea, quæ faciébat corporáliter, étiam spiritáliter volébat intélligi.  Neque enim tantum mirácula propter mirácula faciébat ; sed ut illa, quæ faciébat, mira essent vidéntibus, vera essent intelligéntibus.

We find written how the Lord raised from the dead three persons visibly, but thousands invisibly.  But how many they may have been whom he raised visibly, who knoweth?  For all the things which he did are not written.  John saith thus : There are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.  There were then, doubtless, many more raised to life, but it is not meaningless that three are recorded.  For our Lord Jesus Christ hath willed that those things which he did carnally, we should understand also spiritually.  He worked not miracles only for the sake of working wonders, but that his works might be at once wonderful to them that beheld, and true to them that understand 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.  Regnum mundi et omnem ornátum sæculi contémpsi, propter amórem Dómini mei Jesu Christi : * Quem vidi, quem amávi, in quem crédidi, quem diléxi, allelúja.
V.  Eructávit cor meum verbum bonum : dico ego ópera mea Regi.
R.  Quem vidi, quem amávi, in quem crédidi, quem diléxi, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Quem vidi, quem amávi, in quem crédidi, quem diléxi, allelúja.

R.  Earthly kingdoms and all the glory of the world did I spurn, for the love of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, * Whom I have seen, whom I have loved, in whom I have believed, whom I have greatly desired, alleluia.
V.  My heart is inditing of a good matter : I speak of the things which I have made unto the King.
R.  Whom I have seen, whom I have loved, in whom I have believed, whom I have greatly desired, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Whom I have seen, whom I have loved, in whom I have believed, whom I have greatly desired, 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.

Quemádmodum qui videt lítteras in códice óptime scripto, et non novit légere, laudat quidem antiquárii manum, admírans ápicum pulchritúdinem ; sed quid sibi velint, quid índicent illi ápices, nescit, et est óculis laudátor, mente non cógnitor.  Alius autem et laudat artifícium, et capit intelléctum : ille útique, qui non solum vidére quod commúne est ómnibus potest, sed étiam légere ; quod qui non dídicit, non potest.  Ita qui vidérunt Christi mirácula, et non intellexérunt quid sibi vellent, et quid intelligéntibus quodámmodo innúerent, miráti sunt tantum quia facta sunt ; álii vero et facta miráti, et intellécta assecúti.  Tales nos in schola Christi esse debémus.

Even as one that looketh upon a scroll right fairly written, and knoweth not how to read therein, praiseth the hand of the old scribe when he seeth the beauty of the points, but what it saith, what those points mean, he knoweth not, and praiseth by the eye, without understanding by the mind ; and as, on the other hand, he that can not only gaze on it, as can all men, but also can read it, praiseth the penmanship, and catcheth the sense likewise, which the unlearned cannot do : even so, there were some that saw the miracles which Christ did, and understood not what they meant, nor what they, as it were, hinted to such as did understand them, and these only marvelled to see them wrought.  And other some there were which saw the works, and marvelled, and understood them, and profited by them.  And it is as these last that we ought to be in the school of Christ.

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

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

Lauds

The first part of Lauds is in the Ordinary

V.  Diffúsa est grátia in lábiis tuis, allelúja.
R.  Proptérea benedíxit te Deus in ætérnum, allelúja.

V.  Full of grace are thy lips, alleluia.
R.  Because God hath blessed thee for ever, alleluia.

Ad Bened. Ant:  Date ei * de fructu mánuum suárum, et laudent eam in portis ópera ejus, allelúja.

Ant. on Bened:  Give her * of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates, alleluia.

THE BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, mæréntium consolátor et in te sperántium salus, qui beátæ Mónicæ pias lácrimas in conversióne fílii sui Augustíni misericórditer suscepísti : da nobis utriúsque intervéntu; peccáta nostra deploráre, et grátiæ tuæ indulgéntiam inveníre.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, the comforter of them that mourn, and the hope of them that put their trust in thee, who didst favourably accept the tears of blessed Monica for the conversion of Augustine her son : grant, we pray thee ; that at the intercession of these thy servants, we may so bewail the sins that we have committed, that we may be worthy to obtain the abundant pardon of thy grace.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH