Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Double

mtv

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

Durham Cathedral

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

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

MAGNIFICA

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Deus, qui Ecclésiam tuam beáti Bedæ Confessóris tui atque Doctóris mira eruditióne claríficas : concéde propítius fámulis tuis; ejus semper illustrári sapiéntia et méritis adjuvári.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who hast enlightened thy Church with the wondrous learning of blessed Bede thy Confessor and Doctor : mercifully grant to us thy servants ; that we, being in all things enlightened by his wisdom, may at all times feel the effectual succour of his righteousness.  Through.

Ant:  Hic vir, despíciens mundum et terréna, triúmphans, divítias cælo cóndidit ore, manu.

Ant:  Lo, a servant of God, who esteemed as naught all things earthly, and by word and work laid him up treasures in heaven.

V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas.
R.  Et osténdit illi regnum Dei.

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

Oremus.
Deus, qui beátum Philíppum Confessórem tuum Sanctórum tuórum glória sublimásti : concéde propítius ; ut, cujus solemnitáte lætémur, ejus virtútum proficiámus exémplo.  (Per Dóminum.)

Let us pray.
O God, who didst exalt thy blessed confessor Saint Philip to the glory of thy Saints : mercifully grant that we, who rejoice in his festival, may learn to follow rightly the pattern of his godliness.  (Through.)

Ant:  Iste Sanctus pro lege Dei sui certávit usque ad mortem, et a verbis impiórum non tímuit ; fundátus enim erat supra firmam petram.

Ant:  This is a Saint who strove for the truth, even unto death, and feared not the words of sinful men, forasmuch as he was founded upon a sure foundation.

V.  Glória et honóre coronásti eum, Dómine.
R.  Et constituísti eum super ópera mánuum tuárum.

V.  Thou hast crowned him with glory and worship, O Lord.
R.  And hast made him to have dominion of the works of thy hands.

Oremus.
Gregem tuum, Pastor ætérne, placátus inténde : et per beátum Joánnem Mártyrem tuum atque Summum Pontíficem, perpétua protectióne custódi ; quem totíus Ecclésiæ præstitísti esse pastórem.  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 John, thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, whom thou didst choose to be the chief shepherd 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

Northumberland Cross

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.

Durham Cathedral

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.

Beda présbyter, Girvi in Británniæ et Scótiæ fínibus ortus, septénnis sancto Benedícto Biscópio abbáti Wiremuthénsi educándus tráditur.  Mónachus deínde factus, vitam sic instítuit, ut, dum se ártium et doctrinárum stúdiis totum impénderet, nihil umquam de regulári disciplína remítteret.  Nullum fuit doctrínæ genus, in quo non esset diligentíssime versátus ; sed præcípua illi cura divinárum Scripturárum meditátio, quarum senténtiam ut plénius assequerétur, Græci Hebraicíque sermónis notítiam est adéptus.  Tricésimo ætátis anno, abbátis sui jussu sacérdos initiátus, statim, suasóre Acca Hagulstadénsi epíscopo, sacros explanáre libros aggréssus est : in quo sanctórum Patrum doctrínis ádeo inhæsit, ut nihil proférret nisi illórum judício comprobátum, eorúmdem étiam fere verbis usus.  Otium perósus semper, ex lectióne ad oratiónem transíbat ac vicíssim ex oratióne ad lectiónem : in qua ádeo ánimo inflammabátur, ut sæpe inter legéndum et docéndum lácrimis perfunderétur.  Ne autem rerum fluxárum curis distraherétur, delátum abbátis munus constantíssime detrectávit.

Bede the priest was born at Jarrow, on the borders of England and Scotland.  At the age of seven years he was placed under the care of holy Benedict Biscop, Abbot of Wearmouth, to be educated.  Thereafter, he became a monk, and so ordered his life that, whilst he should devote himself wholly to the study of the sciences and of doctrine, he might in nothing relax the discipline of his Order.  There was no branch of learning in which he was not most thoroughly versed, but his chief care was the study of Holy Scriptures ; and that he might the better understand them he acquired a knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew tongues.  When he was thirty years of age he was ordained priest at the command of his Abbot, and immediately, on the advice of Acca, Bishop of Hexham, undertook the work of expounding the Sacred Books.  In his interpretations he so strictly adhered to the teaching of the holy Fathers, that he would advance nothing which was not approved by their judgment, nay, had the warrant of their very words.  He ever hated sloth, and by habitually passing from reading to prayer, and in turn from prayer from reading, he so inflamed his soul that often amid his reading and teaching he was bathed in tears.  Lest also his mind should be distracted by the cares of transitory things, he never would take the office of Abbot when it was offered to him.

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.

Sciéntiæ ac pietátis laude Bedæ nomen sic brevi cláruit, ut sanctus Sérgius Papa de eo Romam arcesséndo cogitáverit ; quo difficíllimis scílicet, quæ de rebus sacris exórtæ erant, quæstiónibus definiéndis conférret óperam.  Emendándis fidélium móribus, fídei vindicándæ atque asseréndæ libros plures conscrípsit, quibus tantam sui apud omnes opiniónem fecit, ut illum sanctus Bonifátius epíscopus et martyr, Ecclésiæ lumen prædicáverit ; Lanfráncus, Anglórum doctórem ; concílium Aquisgranénse, doctórem admirábilem díxerit.  Quin ejus scripta, eo adhuc vivénte, públice in ecclésiis legebántur.  Quod cum fíeret, quóniam ipsum sanctum mínime appelláre licéret, Venerábilis título efferébant ; qui deínde véluti próprius secútis étiam tempóribus semper hábitus est.  Ejus autem doctrínæ eo vis efficácior erat, quod vitæ sanctimónia religiosísque virtútibus confírmabátur.  Quam ob rem discípulos, quos multos et egrégios imbuéndos hábuit, stúdio et exémplo non lítteris modo atque sciéntiis, sed étiam sanctitáte fecit insígnes.

The name of Bede soon became so famous for learning and piety that St. Sergius the Pope thought of calling him to Rome, where, certainly, he might have helped to solve the very difficult questions which had then arisen concerning sacred things.  He wrote many books for the bettering of the lives of the faithful, and defending and extending of the faith.  By those he gained everywhere such a reputation that the holy martyr Bishop Boniface styled him a Light of the Church ; Lanfranc called him The Teacher of the English ; and the Council of Aix-la-Chapelle The Admirable Doctor.  But as his writings were publicly read in the churches during his life, and as it was not allowable to call him already a saint, they named him The Venerable, a title which in all times after hath remained peculiarly his.  The power of his teaching was the greater also, in that it was attested by a holy life and the graces of religious observance.  In this way, by his earnestness and example, his disciples, who were many and distinguished, were made eminent, not only in letters and the sciences, but in personal holiness.

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.

Ætáte demum et labóribus fractus, gravi morbo corréptus est.  Quo cum ámplius quinquagínta dies deténtus esset, consuétum orándi morem Scripturásque interpretándi non intercépit ; eo namque témpore Evangélium Joánnis in populárium suórum usum Anglice vertit.  Cum autem in Ascensiónis prælúdio instáre sibi mortem persentiret, suprémis Ecclésiæ sacraméntis muníri vóluit ; tum, sodáles amplexátus, atque humi super cilício stratus, cum illa verba ingemináret, Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto, obdormívit in Dómino.  Ejus corpus, suavíssimum, uti fertur, spirans odórem, sepúltum est in monastério Girvénsi, ac póstea Dunclínum cum sancti Cuthbérti relíquiis translátum.  Eum tamquam Doctórem a Benedictínis aliísque religiósis famíliis ac diœcésibus cultum, Leo décimus tértius Póntifex máximus, ex sacrórum Rítuum Congregatiónis consúlto, universális Ecclésiæ Doctórem declarávit, et festo ipsíus die Missam et Offícium de Doctóribus ab ómnibus recitári decrévit.

Broken at length by age and labour, he was seized by a grievous illness.  Though he suffered under it for more than seven weeks, he ceased not from his prayers and his interpreting of the Scriptures ; for at that time he was turning the Gospel of John into English for the use of his people.  But when, on the Eve of the Ascension, he perceived that death was coming upon him, he desired to be fortified with the last sacraments of the Church : then, after he had embraced his companions, and was laid on a piece of sackcloth on the ground, he repeated the words, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, and fell asleep in the Lord.  His body, very sweet, as it related, breathing sweet odour, was buried in the monastery of Jarrow, and afterwards was translated to Durham with the relics of St. Cuthbert.  Bede, who was already a Doctor among the Benedictines, and in other religious Orders, and venerated in certain dioceses, was declared by Pope Leo XIII, after consulting with the Congregation of Sacred Rites, to be a Doctor of the universal Church ; and the Mass and Office for Doctors was ordered to be recited by all on his feast-day.

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.

Beda présbyter, Girvi in Británniæ et Scótiæ fínibus ortus est.  Mónachus factus, vitam sic instítuit, ut, dum se ártium et doctrinárum stúdiis totum impénderet, nihil umquam de regulári disciplína remítteret.  Nullum fuit doctrínæ genus, in quo non esset diligentíssime versátus ; sed præcípua illi cura fuit divinárum Scripturárum meditátio, ita ut, sacerdótio initiátus, sacros explanáre libros aggréssus sit ; in quo sanctórum Patrum doctrínis ádeo inhæsit, ut nihil proférret nisi illórum judício comprobátum, eorúmdem étiam fere verbis usus, Otium perósus semper, ex lectióne ad oratiónem transíbat, ac vicíssim ex oratióne ad lectiónem.  Emendándis fidélium móribus, fídei víndicándæ atque asseréndæ libros plures conscrípsit, quibus tantam sui apud omnes opiniónem fecit, ut ejus scripta, eo adhuc vivénte públice in ecclésiis legeréntur.  Ætáte demum et labóribus fractus, pie obdormívit in Dómino.  Eum Leo décimus tértius universális Ecclésiæ Doctórem declarávit.

Bede the priest was born at Jarrow, on the borders of England and Scotland.  When a monk, he so arranged his life as to devote himself completely to the study of the liberal arts and sacred doctrine, without in any way relaxing the discipline of the Rule.  There was no kind of learning in which he was not thoroughly versed ; but his special interest was the study of the Scriptures ; and when he was made a priest, he undertook the task of explaining the holy books.  In doing so, he adhered to the teaching of the holy Fathers so closely that he would say nothing not already approved by their judgment, and he even made use of their very words.  Abhorring laziness, he would go straight from reading to prayer and from prayer to reading.  To raise the level of morality among Christians and to defend and spread the faith, he wrote many books, which gained him such a reputation with everyone that his writings were publicly read in churches during his own lifetime.  At length, worn out with age and labours, he fell asleep peacefully in the Lord.  Leo XIII 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.

The Tomb of St. Bede
in Durham Cathedral

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.

If Lesson ix is not be to said of any commemorated Office, Lesson viii is taken from Lesson vii, beginning at the sign  ¶, and, for Lesson ix, Lesson viii is read.

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.

In terra, humána natúra : in sale, sapiéntia verbis significátur.  Salis enim natúra, terra effícitur infructuósa ; unde quasdam urbes légimus, victórum ira, sale seminátas.  Et hoc cónvenit apostólicæ doctrínæ, ut sale sapiéntiæ compéscat in terra humánæ carnis luxum sæculi aut fœditátem vitiórum evanúerit, in quo saliétur?  Id est, si vos, per quos condiéndi sunt pópuli, propter metum persecutiónum, aut terrórem, amiséritis regna cælórum, extra Ecclésiam pósiti, inimicórum oppróbria sustinétis non dúbium.  ¶  Vos estis lux mundi : id est, vos, quia vera luce illumináti estis, lux eis qui in mundo sunt, esse debétis.  Non potest cívitas abscóndi supra montem pósita : id est, apostólica doctrína super Christum fundáta, sive Ecclésia super Christum ex multis géntibus fídei unitáte constrúcta et caritátis bitúmine conglutináta ; quæ sit tuta intrántibus, et laboriósa adeúntibus, habitatóres custódit, et omnes inimícos seclúdit.

The earth signifies human nature, and the salt signifies wisdom.  Salt, verily, by its nature renders the earth unfruitful.  Hence we read of cities, which in the anger of their victors were sown with salt.  And hereto agreeth the teaching of the Apostle that by the salt of wisdom the lust of this world is restrained in the earth of human flesh, lest the foulness of vice should sprout up.  But what if the salt shall have lost its savour?  That is to say, if ye, by whom the people are to be seasoned, lose the kingdom of heaven through terror or fear of persecution, being thus separated from the Church, doubt not that ye will incur the taunts of the enemy.  ¶  Ye are the light of the world.  That is to say, Because ye are enlightened by the true light, ye ought to be the light of them that are in the world.  A city set on an hill cannot be hid.  That is to say, The Apostles' teaching is founded upon Christ ; in other words, the Church is built upon Christ, out of many nations, in the unity of the Faith, and bound together with the cement of love.  To them that enter it, it is a place of safety ; to them that go up to it, the way is toilsome ; yet it is the guardian of them that dwell in it, for it excludeth every enemy.

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.

Neque accéndunt lucérnam, et ponunt eam sub módio, sed super candelábrum.  Sub módio ergo lucérnam ponit quisquis lucem doctrínæ cómmodis temporálibus obscúrat et tegit ; super candelábrum vero, qui se ita ministério Dei súbjicit, ut supérior sit doctrína veritátis quam sérvitus córporis.  Aliter Salvátor accéndit lucérnam, qui humánæ testam natúræ flamma suæ divinitátis implévit ; et hanc super candelábrum, id est Ecclésiam, pósuit, quod in fróntibus nostris fidem suæ incarnatiónis fixit.  Quæ lucérna non pótuit sub módio poni, id est, sub mensúra legis inclúdi ; nec in sola Judæa, sed in univérso illúxit orbe.

Neither doth any man light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick.  He that putteth the light  under the bushel is he that for his own temporal ends would hide, and tamper with, the light of doctrine.  But he that placeth it on the candlestick is he that doth follow the ministry of God in such wise that the work of teaching the truth is shewn to be a greater thing than the service of the body.  Considered in another fashion : the Saviour lighted the candle when he filled our mortal body with the flame of the Godhead.  Thereby he placed it on a candlestick, namely, the Church ; for he fixed the Faith of his incarnation upon our foreheads.  Which light cannot be placed under a bushel.  That is, it cannot be included within the limits of the Law, nor in Judaea alone, but hath shone over all the earth.

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.

For St. John I, Pope and Martyr:

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.

Joánnes Etrúscus Justíno senióre imperatóre, rexit Ecclésiam ; ad quem proféctus est Constantinópolim auxílii causa, quod Theodorícus rex hæréticus divexábat Itáliam.  Cujus étiam iter Deus miráculis illustrávit.  Nam, cum ei nóbilis vir ad Corínthum, equum, quo ejus uxor mansuéto utebátur, itíneris causa commodásset, factum est, ut dómino póstea remíssus equus ita ferox eváderet, ut frémitu et totíus córporis agitatióne semper deínceps dóminam expúlerit ; tamquam indignarétur mulíerem recípere, ex quo sedísset in eo Jesu Christi Vicárius.  Quam ob rem illi equum Pontífici donavérunt.  Sed illud majus miráculum, quod Constantinópoli, in áditu portæ Aureæ, inspectánte frequentíssimo pópulo, qui una cum imperatóre Pontífici honóris causa occúrrerat, cæco lumen restítuit.  Ad cujus pedes prostrátus étiam imperátor, eum venerátus est.  Rebus cum imperatóre compósitis, in Itáliam rédiit, statímque epístolam scripsit ad omnes Itáliæ epíscopos, jubens eos Arianórum ecclésias ad cathólicum ritum consecráre, illud subjúngens : Quia et nos, quando fúimus Constantinópoli tam pro religióne cathólica quam pro regis Theodoríci causa, quascúmque illis in pártibus eórum ecclésias reperíre potúimus, cathólicas eas consecrávimus.  Quod iniquíssimo ánimo ferens Theodorícus, dolo accersítum Pontíficem Ravénnam in cárcerem conjécit ; ubi, squalóre inediáque afflíctus, paucis diébus cessit e vita, cum sedísset annos duos, menses novem, dies quatuórdecim, ordinátis eo témpore epíscopis quíndecim.  Paulo post móritur Theodorícus : quem quidam eremíta, ut scribit sanctus Gregórius, vidit inter Joánnem Pontíficem et Symmachum patrícium, quem idem occíderat, demérgi in ignem Liparitánum ; ut vidélicet illi, quibus mortem attúlerat, tamquam júdices essent ejus intéritus.  Joánnis corpus Ravénna Romam portátum est, et in basílica sancti Petri sepúltum.

Pope John I was a Tuscan, who ruled the Church during the reign of the Emperor Justinian.  He went to Constantinople to get help from Justinian in the troubles which the heretic King Theodoric was then causing in Italy.  It pleased the Lord to mark this journey with wonders.  A certain nobleman at Corinth lent to the Pope for his journey a very quiet horse on which his own wife was used to ride.  But when the horse was returned to his owner he was found become so vicious, that by his restiveness and plunging he was always throwing off his mistress, as though he were not content to carry the lady after having carried the Vicar of Jesus Christ.  When the nobleman and his wife found the beast to be thus worthless, they gave him for a present to the Pope.  But a thing much more marvellous was that when the Pope, accompanied by the Emperor, and under the gaze of an immense multitude of people, who had come forth with Justinian to do him honour, was at the entering in of the Golden Gate of Constantinople, he gave sight to a blind man.  Even the Emperor fell at his feet to shew him respect.  When he had arranged his business with Justinian he returned into Italy, and forthwith sent out a letter to all the Bishops of Italy, bidding them hallow for Catholic worship the churches of the Arians, and adding these words : We Ourselves when We were at Constantinople on some matters pértaining to the Catholic Religion and others pértaining to the King Theodoric, hallowed as Catholic all their Churches which We were able to find in those parts.  Theodoric took this rule very ill, and, having enticed John by fraud to come to Ravenna, he cast him into prison, wherein, in a few days, he died of filth and hunger.  He had sat in the chair of Peter two years, nine months, and fourteen days, within which time he had ordained fifteen Bishops.  A little while afterward Theodoric also died.  St. Gregory writeth that a certain hermit saw him between Pope John and Symmachus the Patrician, whom he had likewise slain, going down into the fiery crater of Lipari, as though they who had been his victims were become the judges of his punishment.  The body of John was carried from Ravenna to Rome, and there buried in the Basilica of St. Peter.

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.
R.  Et osténdit illi regnum Dei.

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

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

Ant. on Bened:  Well done, good and faithful servant: * thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter into the joy of thy Lord.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, qui Ecclésiam tuam beáti Bedæ Confessóris tui atque Doctóris mira eruditióne claríficas : concéde propítius fámulis tuis; ejus semper illustrári sapiéntia et méritis adjuvári.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who hast enlightened thy Church with the wondrous learning of blessed Bede thy Confessor and Doctor : mercifully grant to us thy servants ; that we, being in all things enlightened by his wisdom, may at all times feel the effectual succour of his righteousness.  Through.

V.  The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree.
R.  And shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus.

Oremus.
Gregem tuum, Pastor ætérne, placátus inténde : et per beátum Joánnem Mártyrem tuum atque Summum Pontíficem, perpétua protectióne custódi ; quem totíus Ecclésiæ præstitísti esse pastórem.  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 John, thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, whom thou didst choose to be the chief shepherd of the whole Church.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

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