Martyrs

Semidouble

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

Ss. Nereus, Achilleus and Pancras

V.  Sancti et justi, in Dómino gaudéte, allelúja.
R.  Vos elégit Deus in hereditátem sibi, allelúja.

V.  O ye holy and righteous, rejoice in the Lord, alleluia.
R.  For God hath chosen you as his inheritance, alleluia.

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Lux perpétua * lucébit Sanctis tuis, Dómine, et ætérnitas témporum, allelúja.

Ant. on Magnif:  Light perpetual * shall shine upon thy Saints, O Lord, and an ageless eternity, alleluia.

Oremus.
Semper nos, Dómine, Mártyrum tuórum Nérei, Achíllei, Domitíllæ atque Pancrátii fóveat, quæsumus, beáta solémnitas : et tuo dignos reddat obséquio.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant, O Lord, that this holy festival of thy blessed Martyrs, Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla and Pancras, may ever assist us in thy service : and that we may thereby be rendered worthy to walk after thy commandments.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

COMMEMORATION OF THE CROSS

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

St. Achilleus

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 Several Martyrs outside Eastertide, Fratres : Debitores, with Responds from the Common of Martyrs in Eastertide, as therein given.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Martyrs
 

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.

Néreus et Achílleus fratres eunúchi Fláviæ Domitíllæ, a beáto Petro una cum ipsa ejúsque matre Plautílla baptizáti, cum Domitíllæ persuasíssent, ut virginitátem suam Deo consecráret, ab ejus sponso Aureliáno tamquam Christiáni accusáti, ob præcláram fídei confessiónem in Póntiam ínsulam relegántur.  Ubi ad quæstiónem íterum vocáti et verbéribus cæsi, mox Tarracínam perdúcti, a Minúcio Rufo equúleo et flammis cruciáti, cum constánter negárent se, a sancto Petro Apóstolo baptizátos, ullis torméntis cogi posse ut idólis immolárent, secúri percússi sunt.  Quorum córpora ab Auspício, eórum discípulo et Domitíllæ educatóre, Romam deláta, via Ardeatína sepúlta sunt.

Nereus and Achilleus were brethren, eunuchs belonging to Flavia Domitilla, who were baptized by blessed Peter, along with her and her mother Plautilla.  They had advised Domitilla to consecrate her virginity to God, and on this account Aurelian, to whom she was betrothed, accused them of being Christians.  They nobly confessed the faith, and were banished to the island of Ponza.  Then they were again put to the torture, and after being scourged, were taken to Tarracina.  At Terracina, Minutius Rufus tormented them with the rack and with fire, but as they constantly affirmed that having once been baptized by the blessed Apostle Peter, no torture could ever make them sacrifice to idols, they were beheaded.  Auspicius, their own disciple and the tutor of Domitilla, took their bodies to Rome, where they were buried on the road to Ardea.

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

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

R.  Lux perpétua lucébit Sanctis tuis, Dómine, * Et ætérnitas témporum, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Lætítia sempitérna erit super cápita eórum : gáudium et exsultatiónem obtinébunt.
R.  Et ætérnitas témporum, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  Light perpetual shall shine upon thy Saints, *  And an ageless eternity, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads : they shall obtain joy and gladness.
R.  And an ageless eternity, alleluia, 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.

Flávia Domitílla virgo Romána, Titi et Domitiáni imperatórum neptis, cum sacrum virginitátis velámen a beáto Cleménte Papa accepísset, ab Aureliáno sponso, Titi Aurélii cónsulis fílio, deláta quod Christiána esset, a Domitiáno imperatóre in ínsulam Póntiam est deportáta, ubi in cárcere longum martyrium duxit.  Demum Tarracínam dedúcta, íterum Christum conféssa, cum semper constántior apparéret, sub Trajáno imperatóre, júdicis jussu incénso ejus cubículo, una cum Theodóra et Euphrósyna virgínibus et collactáneis suis, gloriósi martyrii cursum confécit, Nonis Maji : quarum córpora, íntegra invénta, a Cæsário diácono sepúlta sunt.  Hac vero die duórum fratrum ac Domitíllæ córpora, ex diaconía sancti Hadriáni simul transláta, in ipsórum Mártyrum basilicam, títuli Fascíolæ, restitúta sunt.

The Virgin Flavia Domitilla was a Roman, the niece of the Emperors Titus and Domitian, and was veiled by the blessed Pope Clement.  Aurelian, son of the Consul Titus Aurélius, to whom she was betrothed, accused her of being a Christian, and the Emperor Domitian banished her into the island of Ponza, where she long suffered and testified in prison.  At length she was taken to Terracina, where she again confessed Christ, and as she seemed ever to grow firmer, the judge, under the Emperor Trajan, caused her chamber to be set on fire, and there Domitilla, with her foster-sisters the maidens Theodora and Euphrosyna, finished the race of faith by grasping the crown of glory, on the 7th day of May.  Their bodies were found whole, and were buried by the Deacon Caesarius.  This, the twelfth day of May, is that whereon the bodies of Nereus and Achilleus, and that of Domitilla, were carried from the Deaconry of St. Hadrian, and laid in the Church which is properly called by the name of these holy martyrs but formerly by that of St. Peter's Bandage.

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 servis suis, allelúja, * Consolábitur Deus, allelúja.
V.  Judicábit Dóminus pópulum suum, et in servis suis.
R.  Consolábitur Deus, allelúja.

R.  God shall be comforted, alleluia, * In his servants, alleluia.
V.  For the Lord will avenge his people, and be gracious unto his servants.
R.  In his servants, 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.

Pancrátius, in Phrygia nóbili génere natus, puer quatuórdecim annórum Romam venit Diocletiáno et Maximiáno imperatóribus.  Ubi a Pontífice Románo baptizátus et in fide christiána erudítus, ob eámdem paulo post comprehénsus ; cum diis sacrificáre constánter renuísset, virili fortitúdine datis cervícibus, illústrem martyrii corónam consecútus est.  Cujus corpus Octavílla matróna noctu sústulit, et unguéntis delibútum via Aurélia sepelívit.

Pancras was the son of a noble family of Phrygia.  He came to Rome in the reign of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, being there a boy of fourteen years of age.  There he was baptized by the Bishop of Rome, and brought up in the Christian faith.  On this account he was soon after taken, and having constantly refused to sacrifice to the gods, he offered his neck to the executioner with manly courage, and won a glorious crown of martyrdom.  The Lady Octavilla took his body by night, embalmed it with precious ointments, and buried it on the Aurelian Way.

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

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

R.  Fíliæ Jerúsalem, veníte et vidéte Mártyres cum corónis, quibus coronávit eos Dóminus * In die solemnitátis et lætítiæ, allelúja.
V.  Quóniam confortávit seras portárum tuárum, benedíxit fílios tuos in te.
R.  In die solemnitátis et lætítiæ, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  In die solemnitátis et lætítiæ, allelúja.

R.  Go forth, O ye daughters of Sion, and behold the King of Martyrs with the crown wherewith the Lord hath crowned him * In the day of his espousals, and in the day of gladness, alleluia.
V.  For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, and hath blessed thy children within thee.
R.  In the day of his espousals, and in the day of gladness, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  In the day of his espousals, and in the day of gladness, 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.

St. Domitilla

Néreus et Achílleus fratres, eunúchi Fláviæ Domitíllæ, a beáto Petro una cum ipsa ejúsque matre Plautílla baptizáti, cum Domitíllæ persuasíssent, ut virginitátem suam Deo consecráret, ab ejus sponso Aureliáno, quod Christiáni essent accusáti, in Póntiam ínsulam relegántur.  Mox verbéribus cæsi, ut idólis immolárent, et Tarracínam perdúcti, equúlei et flammárum cruciátibus superátis, secúri percússi sunt ; quorum córpora ab Auspício eórum discípulo Romam deláta, via Ardeatína sunt sepúlta.  Flávia Domitílla vero, quæ sacrum virginitátis velámen a beáto Cleménte Papa accéperat, et ipsa in ínsulam Póntiam deportáta, et post diutúrna víncula Tarracínam dedúcta, júdicis jussu incénso ejus cubículo, una cum virgínibus Theodóra et Euphrósyna, collactáneis suis, gloriósam mortem oppétiit Nonis Maji, Trajáno imperatóre ; quarum córpora Cæsárius diáconus sepelívit.  Pancrátius, nóbili génere in Phrygia natus, puer quatuórdecim annórum Romæ baptizátus, Diocletiáno et Maximiáno imperatóribus, comprehénditur, et, cum diis sacrificáre constánter renuísset, datis cervícibus, illústrem martyrii corónam consecútus est ; cujus corpus ab Octavílla matróna clam via Aurélia sepúltum est.

The brothers Nereus and Achilleus were eunuchs of Flavia Domitilla and were baptized by St. Peter at the same time as she herself and her mother Plautilla.  Because they persuaded Domitilla to consecrate her virginity to God, they were accused of being Christians by Aurelian, who had been betrothed to her, and were sent to the island of Ponza.  Soon afterwards, there were scourged in an effort to make them sacrifice to idols, and were taken to Terracina, where, after they had overcome the torture of the rack and flaming torches, they were beheaded.  Their bodies were taken to Rome by their disciple Auspicius and buried on the Ardeatine Way.  As for Flavia Domitilla, who had received the sacred veil of a virgin from Pope St. Clement, she also was deported to the island of Ponza, and after a long imprisonment was taken to Terracina.  There, by the judge's orders, her dwelling was set on fire, and she won a glorious death, along with the virgins Theodora and Euphrosyna, her foster-sisters, on May 7, under Emperor Trajan.  Their bodies were buried by the Deacon Caesarius.  Pancras, born of a noble Phrygian family, was baptized in Rome at the age of fourteen.  Under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, he was arrested ; and when he firmly refused to sacrifice to the gods, he was beheaded and so won the glorious crown of martyrdom.  His body was buried secretly on the Via Aurelia by the matron Octavilla.

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

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

The Church of Ss. Nereus and Achilleus, 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 : Erat quidam régulus, cujus fílius infirmabátur Caphárnaum.  Et réliqua.

At that time : There was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Quid est quod régulus Dóminum rogat, ut ad ejus fílium véniat, et tamen ire corporáliter recúsat ; ad servum vero centuriónis non invitátur, et tamen se corporáliter ire pollicétur?  Réguli fílio per corporálem  præséntiam non dignátur adésse, centuriónis servo non dedignátur occúrrere.  Quid est hoc, nisi quod supérbia nostra retúnditur, qui in homínibus non natúram, qua ad imáginem Dei facti sunt, sed honóres et divítias venerámur?  Redémptor vero noster, ut osténderet quia quæ alta sunt hóminum, despiciénda sunt, et quæ despécta sunt hóminum, despiciénda non sunt ; ad fílium réguli ire nóluit, ad servum centuriónis ire parátus fuit.

Wherefore was it that when this nobleman besought them Lord to come down ere his child died, the Lord (albeit he healed him) would not come, and yet, when the Centurion prayed him to heal his servant, albeit not asked to come down, he went with them?  He deemed not that the nobleman's son was worthy of his bodily presence, but he refused not to go to help the Centurion's servant.  What is this but a rebuke to earthly pride, which maketh us to respect in men their honours and riches rather than that Divine image wherein they are created?  It was not so with our Redeemer, who would not go to the son of the nobleman, but was ready to come down for the Centurion's servant, to shew that to him the things which are great among men are but of little moment, and the things which are little esteemed among men are not beneath his notice.

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

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

R.  Ego sum vitis vera, et vos pálmites : * Qui manet in me, et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Sicut diléxit me Pater, et ego diléxi vos.
R.  Qui manet in me, et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  I am the true Vine, ye are the branches : * He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.
R.  He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, alleluia, alleluia.

But on Tuesdays and Fridays between Low Sunday and the III after Easter, when and if the occurrent Scriptural Responds have been used in the First Nocturn, in place of the above is said :

R.  Tristítia vestra, allelúja, * Convertétur in gáudium, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Mundus autem gaudébit, vos vero contristabímini, sed tristítia vestra.
R.  Convertétur in gáudium, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  Ye shall weep and lament, alleluia : *  But your sorrow shall be turned into joy, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  The world shall rejoice, and ye shall be sorrowful.
R.  But your sorrow shall be turned into joy, alleluia, alleluia.

If Lesson IX is to be that of any commemorated Office, Lessons VIII and IX below are joined to make one single Lesson.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 8:  Quorum festum cólimus, ipsi intercédant pro nobis ad Dóminum.
R.  Amen.

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

Increpáta est ergo supérbia nostra, quæ nescit pensáre hómines propter hómines.  Sola, ut díximus, quæ circúmstant homínibus pensat, natúram non áspicit, honórem Dei in homínibus non agnóscit.  Ecce ire non vult Fílius Dei ad fílium réguli ; et tamen veníre parátus est ad salútem servi!  Certe, si nos cujúspiam servus rogáret ut ad eum ire deberémus, prótinus nobis nostra supérbia in cogitatióne tácita repondéret dicens : Non eas, quia temetípsum degéneras, honor tuus despícitur, locus viléscit.  Ecce de cælo venit, qui servo in terra occúrrere non déspicit ; et tamen humiliári in terra contémnimus, qui de terra sumus!

Our pride then standeth rebuked, that pride which maketh us forget for the sake of one man that another man is a man at all.  This pride, as we have said, looketh only at the surroundings of men, not at their nature, and seeth not that God is to be honoured in a man because he is a man.  Lo! how the Son of God will not unto the nobleman's son, but is ready to go and heal the servant.  Of myself I know that if any one's servant were to ask me to go to him, I have a sort of pride which would say to me silently inside my heart : Go not ; thou wilt lower thyself ; the Papal dignity will be lightly esteemed ; thy exalted station will be degraded.  Behold how he which came down from heaven, doth not deem it below him to go to help a servant, and yet I who am of the earth earthly, shrink from being trodden on.

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

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

R.  Cándidi facti sunt Nazaræi ejus, allelúja : splendórem Deo dedérunt, allelúja : * Et sicut lac coaguláti sunt, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Candidióres nive, nitidióres lacte, rubicundióres ébore antíquo, sapphíro pulchrióres.
R.  Et sicut lac coaguláti sunt, allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et sicut lac coaguláti sunt, allelúja, allelúja.

R.  Her Nazarites are made white, alleluia, for they do manifest the splendour of God, alleluia : * And they are of one heart and of one soul, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  Purer are they than freshly-fallen snow, whiter than milk, more ruddy in body than rubies, fairer than the polished sapphire.
R.  And they are of one heart and of one soul, alleluia, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And they are of one heart and of one soul, alleluia, 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.

Nolíte ergo intra vosmetípsos pensáre, quod habétis, sed quid estis.  Ecce mundus, qui dilígitur, fugit.  Sancti isti ad quorum tumbam consístimus, floréntem mundum mentis despéctu calcavérunt.  Erat tunc vita longa, salus contínua, opuléntia in rebus, fœcúnditas in propágine, tranquíllitas in diutúrna pace ; et tamen, cum in seípso floréret, jam in eórum córdibus mundus arúerat.  Ecce jam mundus in seípso áruit, et adhuc in córdibus nostris floret.  Ubique mors, ubíque luctus, ubíque desolátio, úndique percútimur, úndique amaritudínibus replémur ; et tamen cæca mente carnális concupiscéntiæ ipsas ejus amaritúdines amámus, fugiéntem séquimur, labénti inhærémus.

Think not therefore within yourselves what ye have, but what ye are.  Behold, the world which I love, is a world which passeth away.  Those holy servants of God, by whose grave I am standing, ennobled themselves mentally above the world at its fairest.  To them was offered length of days, robust health, plenty in possessions, fruitfulness in offspring, comfort under perpetual peace : and yet while the spring-tide of life was unfolding before them, their hearts had already condemned it to an arid winter.  Behold, winter in their hearts, spring in mine!  Death, and pain, and barrenness occur all around me, I am attacked on all sides, and I feel very bitter, and yet the sting of fleshly lust so blindeth me, that I love the bitter feelings, I hunt after that which fleeth from me, and cling to that which would leave me.

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.  Pretiósa in conspéctu Dómini, allelúja.
R.  Mors Sanctórum ejus, allelúja.

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

Ad Bened. Ant:  Fíliæ Jerúsalem, * veníte et vidéte Mártyres cum corónis, quibus coronávit eos Dóminus in die solemnitátis et lætítiæ, allelúja, allelúja.

Ant. on Bened:  Go forth, O ye daughters of Sion, * and behold the Martyrs with their crowns, with which the Lord hath crowned them in the day of solemnity and rejoicing, alleluia, alleluia.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Semper nos, Dómine, Mártyrum tuórum Nérei, Achíllei, Domitíllæ atque Pancrátii fóveat, quæsumus, beáta solémnitas : et tuo dignos reddat obséquio.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant, O Lord, that this holy festival of thy blessed Martyrs, Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla and Pancras, may ever assist us in thy service : and that we may thereby be rendered worthy to walk after thy commandments.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

COMMEMORATION OF THE CROSS

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH