Confessor

Double

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

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

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

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Similábo eum * viro sapiénti, qui ædificávit domum suam supra petram.

Ant. on Magnif:  I will liken him * unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock.

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Cæléstium donórum distribútor, Deus, qui in angélico júvene Aloísio miram vitæ innocéntiam pari cum pœniténtia sociásti : ejus méritis et précibus concéde ; ut, innocéntem non secúti, pœniténtem imitémur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, the giver of all spiritual gifts, who in the angelic youth of thy blessed Saint Aloysius didst unite a wondrous penitence to a wondrous innocence of life : grant, by his merits and intercession ; that although we have not followed the pattern of his innocence, yet we may imitate the example of his penitence.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

Invitatory and Hymn

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn
 

First Nocturn

The Lessons for the First Nocturn are taken from the occurrent Scripture.  If, however, they are to be taken from the Common, they are read from that of a Confessor not a Bishop, Series 1,  Beatus vir.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Confessors
 

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.

Aloísius, Ferdinándi Gonzágæ Castelliónis Stiverórum marchiónis fílius, festináto propter vitæ perículum baptísmo, prius cælo quam terris nasci visus, primam illam grátiam tam constánter retínuit, ut in ea confirmátus crederétur.  A primo ratiónis usu, quo se Deo statim óbtulit, vitam duxit quotídie sanctiórem.  Novénnis Floréntiæ ante aram beátæ Vírginis, quam paréntis loco semper hábuit, perpétuam virginitátem vovit ; eámque, insígni Dei benefício, nulla mentis aut córporis pugna tentátam servávit.  Réliquas ánimi perturbatiónes cœpit ætáte illa tam fórtiter comprímere, ut ne primo quidem eárum motu deínde incitarétur.  Sénsus étiam, óculos præcípue, ita cohíbuit, ut non modo illos numquam in fáciem inténderit Maríæ Austríacæ, quam plures annos inter honorários Hispaniárum príncipis ephébos fere quotídie salutávit ; sed a matris étiam vultu continéret : homo proptérea sine carne, aut ángelus in carne mérito appellátus.

Aloysius, eldest son of Ferdinand Gonzaga, Marquis of Castiglióne delle Stiviere, was hurriedly baptized on account of danger that he seemed to be born to heaven almost before he was born to earth, and he so faithfully kept that his first grace that he seemed to have been confirmed therein.  From his first use of reason, which he employed to offer himself to God, he led a life more holy day by day.  At Florence, when he was nine years old, he made a vow of perpetual virginity before the Altar of the Blessed Virgin, upon whom he always looked as in the place of a mother to him, and by a remarkable mercy from God, he kept this vow wholly and without the slightest impure temptation, either of mind or body, during his whole life.  As for any uprisings of the soul, he began at that age to check them so sternly, that he was never more pricked by even their earliest movements.  His senses, and especially his eye-sight, he so mortified, that he never once looked upon the face of Mary of Austria, whom, when he was for several years one of the Pages of honour of the King of Spain, he saluted almost every day ; and he even denied himself  in part, the pleasure of looking on the face of his own mother.  He might indeed have been justly called a fleshless man, or an infleshed angel.

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

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

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.

Adjécit sénsuum custódiæ, córporis cruciátum.  Tria síngulis hebdómadis jejúnia, éaque plerúmque módico pane et aqua tolerábat ; quamquam perpétuum fuísse per id tempus ipsíus jejúnium vidéri potest, cum ejus prándia ferme vix únciam æquárent.  Sæpe étiam ter in die se fúnibus aut caténis cruentábat ; flagélla quandóque canum loris, cilícia equórum calcáribus supplévit.  Mollem léctulum clam injéctis ásserum fragméntis asperábat, eo étiam ut cítius ad orándum excitarétur ; magnam quippe noctis partem, summa étiam híeme, solo tectus indúsio, pósitis humi génibus, vel præ languóre jacens ac pronus, in cæléstium contemplatióne traducébat.  Intérdiu quoque tres, quátuor, quinque horas in ea perstábat immótus, donec unam saltem ánimo nusquam distrácto percurrísset.  Cujus constántiæ præmium fuit stabílitas mentis inter orándum alio non vagántis, immo perpétua velut éxtasi in Deo defíxæ.  Ei demum ut únice adhæréret, victo post triennále acérrimum certámen patre, et avíti principátus jure in fratrem transláto, societáti Jesu, ad quam cælésti voce Matríti fúerat accítus, Romæ se adjúnxit.

To this fettering of the senses he added torture of the body.  He kept three days as fasts in every week and that mostly upon a little bread and water.  But indeed he as it were fasted every day, for he hardly ever took so much as an ounce weight of food at breakfast.  Often also, even thrice in one day, he would lash himself to flowing of blood with cords, or prick himself with spiked chains.  He sometimes used a dog-whip, instead of a scourge, and the rowels of spurs instead of hair-cloth.  He privately filled his soft bed with pieces of broken plates, that he might find it easier to wake to pray.  He passed great part of the night, clad only in a shirt even in the depth of winter, kneeling on the ground, or lying flat on his face when too weak and weary to remain upright, busied with heavenly thoughts.  Sometimes he would keep himself thus for three, four, or five hours, until he had spent at least one without any movement of body or any wandering of mind.  Such perseverance obtained for him the reward of being able to keep his understanding quite concentrated in prayer without distraction, as though rapt in God in an unbroken ecstasy.  Desiring to give himself up to him alone, he overcame, after a strong opposition for three years, the objections of his father, procured the transfer to his brother of his right to the Marquisate, and joined at Rome the Society of Jesus, to which he had been called by a voice from heaven when he was at Madrid.

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

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

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.

In tirocínio ipso virtútum ómnium magíster habéri cœpit.  Exactíssima in eo erat legum étiam minimárum custódia, mundi contémptus singuláris, implacábile ódium sui ; Dei vero amor tam ardens, ut corpus étiam sensim absúmeret.  Jussus proptérea mentem a divínis rebus tantísper avértere, occurréntem sibi ubíque Deum írrito conátu fugiébat.  Mira étiam próximos caritáte ampléxus, in públicis, quibus alácriter ministrábat, nosocomíis, contagiósam luem traxit.  Qua lente consúmptus, die, quem prædíxerat, undécimo Kaléndas Júlii, ætátis anno quarto et vigésimo jam inchoáto, cum ántea flagéllis cædi atque humi stratus mori postulásset, migrávit in cælum.  Ibi eum sancta María Magdaléna de Pazzis tanta frui glória, Deo monstránte, vidit, quantam vix esse in cælo credidísset ; ipsúmque sanctimónia insígnem et caritáte Mártyrem incógnitum fuísse prædicávit.  Multis étiam magnísque cláruit miráculis.  Quibus rite probátis, Benedíctus décimus tértius Sanctórum fastis angélicum júvenum adscrípsit, atque innocéntiæ et castitátis exémplar simul et patrónum studiósæ præsértim juventúti dedit.

In his very novitiate he began to be held a master of all godliness.  His obedience to even the most trifling rules was absolutely exact, his indifference to the world extraordinary, and his hatred of self implacable.  His love of God was so keen that it gradually undermined his bodily strength .  Being commanded to give his mind some rest from thinking unceasingly of God, he struggled vainly to distract himself from him who met him everywhere.  From tender love toward his neighbour, he joyfully ministered to the sick in the public hospitals, and in the exercise of this charity he caught a deadly disease.  This sickness slowly wore him away, and soon after he had entered on the 24th year of his age, upon the 21st day of June, a day which he had himself foretold, after entreated that might be scourged, and laid upon the ground to die, he passed away to heaven.  What the glory is which he there enjoyeth holy Mary Magdalene of Pazzi was enabled, by the revelation of God, to behold, and she declared that it was such as she had hardly believed existed even in heaven, and that his holiness and love were so great that she should call him an unknown martyr of charity.  On earth God glorified him by many great miracles.  These being duly proved, Benedict  XIII inserted the name of this angelic youth in the Kalendar of the Saints, and commended him to all young scholars both as a pattern of innocency and purity, and as a patron.

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

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.
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.
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.

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.

Aloísius, Ferdinándi Gonzágæ Castelliónis Stiverórum marchiónis fílius, festináto propter vitæ perículum baptísmo, prius cælo quam terris nasci visus, primam illam grátiam tam constánter retínuit, ut in ea confirmátus crederétur.  Novénnis Floréntiæ ante aram beátæ Vírginis, quam paréntis loco semper hábuit, perpétuam virginitátem vovit ; eámque, insígni Dei beneficio, nulla mentis aut córporis pugna tentátam servávit, homo proptérea sine carne, aut ángelus in carne mérito appellátus.  Avíti principátus jure in fratrem transmísso, societáti Jesu Romæ se adjúnxit.  In tirocínio ipso ómnium virtútum magíster habéri cœpit.  In eo Dei amor erat tam ardens, ut corpus étiam sensim absúmeret.  Mira étiam próximos caritáte ampléxus, in públicis, quibus alácriter ministrábat, nosocomíis contagiósam luem traxit.  Qua lente consúmptus, undécimo Kaléndas Júlii, ætátis anno quarto et vigésimo jam inchoáto, migrávit in cælum.  Quem Benedíctus décimus tértius inter Sanctos rétulit, atque innocéntiæ et castitátis exémplar simul et patrónum studiósæ præsértim juventúti dedit.

Aloysius, son of Ferdinand Gonzaga, Marquis of Castiglióne delle Stiviere, was in danger of death while he was being born.  He was therefore baptized without delay, so that it seemed he was born to heaven even before he was born to earth.  He retained this first grace so faithfully that he was believed to have been confirmed in it.  When he was nine years old, he took a vow of virginity at Florence before the altar of the Blessed Virgin, whom he always thought of as his mother.  By a singular blessing of God, he kept this vow without any rebellion of mind or body so that he was deservedly called a man without a body or an angel in the flesh.  He handed over the right of succession to his brother and joined the Society of Jesus in Rome.  Even in the novitiate he began to be considered a master of all the virtues.  So ardent was the love of God in him that he would be rapt out of his body.  Possessed by a wonderful charity for his neighbour, he zealously served in the public hospitals, and as a result he contacted a contagious fever.  After slowly wasting away, he went to heaven on the 21st day of June, having just entered his twenty-fourth year.  Benedict XIII enrolled him among the Saints and gave him to students as both a model of innocency and charity and their heavenly Patron.

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.
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 : Respóndens Jesus ait Sadducæis : Errátis nesciéntes Scriptúras neque virtútem Dei.  In resurrectióne enim neque nubent neque nubéntur, sed erunt sicut Angeli Dei in cælo.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus answered and said unto the Sadducees : Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God ; for in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Virgínitas est bona : id ego quoque fáteor.  Atqui núptiis étiam mélior ; et istud tibi ascéntior : ac si libet, illud adjúngam, tanto núptiis eam præstáre, quanto homínibus Angeli antecéllunt ; ac, si quid prætérea addéndum est, étiam magis.  Nam, si neque nubunt Angeli, neque uxórem ducunt, non étiam carne et sánguine coagmentáti sunt ; in terris prætérea non commorántur, non cupidatátum aut libídinum perturbatiónibus sunt obnóxii, non cibi índigent aut potus ; non sunt ejúsmodi, ut eos dulcis sonus aut cantus mollis aut præclára spécies possit allícere ; nulla dénique ejus géneris illécebra capiúntur.

This I say, that virginity is good.  And in this I agree likewise, that it is better than marriage.  And I will even add, that it is as much more excellent than marriage, as heaven is more noble than earth, or Angels than men, and indeed, if I must say more, even more so.  For if Angels neither marry nor are given in marriage, at least, they are not creatures of flesh and blood, they dwell not upon earth, they are exposed to no restless troublings of desire or lust, they need neither meat nor drink, they are not such that sweet sound, or soft song, or the delight of beauty can charm them ; there is nothing of this sort to take hold on them and draw them away.

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.
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.

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.
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.

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.

At humánum genus, cum natúra beátis illis méntibus inférius sit, omni vi studióque conténdit, ut, quoad ejus fíeri potest, illas assequátur.  Quómodo?  Non nubunt Angeli ; at neque étiam virgo.  Assisténtes illi semper ad Deum, eídem insérviunt ; et istud ipsum virgo.  Quod si vírgines, quámdiu córporis ónere deprimúntur, quemádmodum Angeli in cælum néqueunt ascéndere ; illud eo vel máximo solátio compénsant, quod modo spíritu et córpore sancti sint, cæli Regem recípiunt.  Vidésne virginitátis præstántiam? quómodo terrárum íncolas sic affíciat, ut qui córpore vestíti sunt, eos incorpóreis méntibus exǽquet.

But the human nature which striveth its utmost to follow them, is not so exalted as that of these blessed intelligences.  How?  Angels marry not nor are given in marriage ; neither doth a virgin.  Angels stand ever before God, and serve him ; and so doth a virgin.  But if a virgin, still weighed down with this body, and unable, like the Angels, to ascend to heaven, doth make it his one great comfort here to be holy in body and in spirit, and to open his heart for a home for the King of heaven―dost thou not see wherein a virgin is higher than an Angel?  The excellence of virginity in men over virginity in Angels lieth in this, that it maketh them which are yet earth-dwellers and body-burdened equal to intelligences unshackled by bodies.

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

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

R.  Sint lumbi vestri præcíncti, et lucérnæ ardéntes in mánibus vestris: * Et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis.
V.  Vigiláte ergo, quia nescítis qua hora Dóminus vester ventúrus sit.
R.  Et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis.

R.  Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning: * And be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding.
V.  Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
R.  And be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding.

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.

Qua enim, quæso, re differébant ab Angelis Elías, Eliséus, Joánnes, veri hi virginitátis amatóres?  Nulla, nisi quod mortáli natúra constábant.  Nam cétera si quis diligénter inquírat, hi níhilo minus affécti reperiéntur, quam beátæ illæ mentes : et idípsum quo inferióre conditióne vidéntur esse, in magna est eórum laude ponéndum.  Ut enim terrárum íncolæ, et ii qui essent mortáli natúra, possent ad illam virtútem vi et contentióne perveníre ; vide quanta eos fortitúdine, quanta vitæ ratióne prǽditos fuísse opórteat!

In what respect, I ask, differed Elijah, Elisha, and John, those great lovers of virginity, from Angels?  In nothing, except that their faithfulness was exercised in a dying body.  For the rest, if we look carefully, their minds were no otherwise than those of the blessed spirits, and their crown of glory is this that they attained the same honour under conditions less favourable.  For consider of what manliness, of what superiority of reason over feeling they must have been possessed, to enable them bravely to fight their way, earth-dwellers and dying creatures as they were, to the bright summit of grace which was theirs.

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.
Cæléstium donórum distribútor, Deus, qui in angélico júvene Aloísio miram vitæ innocéntiam pari cum pœniténtia sociásti : ejus méritis et précibus concéde ; ut, innocéntem non secúti, pœniténtem imitémur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, the giver of all spiritual gifts, who in the angelic youth of thy blessed Saint Aloysius didst unite a wondrous penitence to a wondrous innocence of life : grant, by his merits and intercession ; that although we have not followed the pattern of his innocence, yet we may imitate the example of his penitence.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Vespers from the Chapter onwards of the following day.  Commemoration of the preceding.