Bishop and Martyr

Double

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

Lyons

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.

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

Ant. on Magnif:  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.

Oremus.
Deus, qui beáto Irenæo Mártyri tuo atque Pontífici tribuísti, ut et veritáte doctrínæ expugnáret hæreses, et pacem Ecclésiæ felíciter confirmáret : da, quæsumus, plebi tuæ in sancta religióne constántiam ; et pacem tuam nostris concéde tempóribus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who didst bestow upon blessed Irenaeus thy Martyr and Bishop grace to overcome false doctrine by the teaching of the truth, and to stablish thy Church in peace and prosperity : we beseech thee, that thou wouldest give thy people constancy in thy true religion ; and grant us thy peace all the days of our life.  Through.

Ant:  Puer qui natus est nobis, plus quam prophéta est : hic est enim, de quo Salvátor ait : Inter natos mulíerum non surréxit major Joánne Baptísta.

Ant:  The child that is born unto us is more than a prophet, for this is he of whom the Saviour saith, Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.

V.  Iste puer magnus coram Dómino.
R.  Nam et manus ejus cum ipso est.

V.  This child shall be great in the sight of the Lord.
R.  For the hand of the Lord is with him.

Oremus.
Deus, qui præséntem diem honorábilem nobis in beáti Joánnis nativitáte fecísti : da pópulis tuis spirituálium grátiam gaudiórum ; et ómnium fidélium mentes dírige in viam salútis ætérnæ.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who hast made this day to be honourable in our eyes because of the Birth of the blessed John, graciously quicken thy people with spiritual joy, and order the minds of all the faithful in the way of everlasting salvation.  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 Martyr, A Mileto.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of a Martyr
 

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.

Irenæus, non longe ab urbe Smyrna in Asia proconsulári natus, jam inde a púero sese Polycárpo, Joánnis Evangelístæ discípulo eidémque epíscopo Smyrnæórum, tradíderat in disciplínam.  Hoc tam excellénti magístro, progréssus in doctrína præceptísque christiánæ religiónis insígnes fecit.  Polycárpo in cælum martyrii glória subláto, etsi erat Irenæus in sacris lítteris egrégie versátus, quod tamen incredíbili stúdio flagráret discéndi quæ dógmata depósiti loco custodiénda céteri accepíssent, quos Apóstoli institúerant ; horum quam pótuit plures convénit, quæque ab iísdem audívit, mémori mente ténuit, ea deínceps opportúne advérsus hæreses allatúrus, quas cum vidéret ingénti pópuli christiáni damno látius in dies manáre, diligénter copioséque reféllere cogitárat.  In Gállias inde proféctus, a Pothíno epíscopo présbyter est constitútus Ecclésiæ Lugdunénsis.  Quod munus sic laborándo in verbo et doctrína gessit, ut (téstibus sanctis Martyribus, qui, Marco Aurélio imperatóre, strénue pro vera pietáte certárant) æmulatórem sese præstíterit testaménti Christi.

Irenaeus was born in proconsular Asia, not far from the city of Smyrna.  There he had already as a boy entrusted himself to the teaching of Polycarp, disciple of John the Evangelist, and bishop of Smyrna.  Under such an excellent master, he made remarkable progress in learning and in the precepts of the Christian religion.  When Polycarp was taken up to heaven by a glorious martyrdom, although Irenaeus was eminently versed in sacred letters, nevertheless, he burned with an incredible zeal to learn what articles of belief the others who were instructed by the Apostles had received, to be preserved in the deposit of faith.  For this reason he brought together as many of those men as he could, and whatever things he heard from them, he carefully retained in his mind.  Thus he could advantageously bring them to bear in the future against those heresies, which he saw were being diffused more widely day by day to the great detriment of the Christian people, and he diligently planned thoroughly to confute them.  Then, having set out for Gaul, he was appointed as a priest of the church of Lyons by Pothinus the bishop.  And this office he discharged in such a manner, labouring both by word and by teaching, that (according to the testimony of the holy Martyrs who, when Marcus Aurélius was emperor, were engaged in a vigorous combat for the true religion) he distinguished himself as an imitator of the testament 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.

Smyrna

R.  Honéstum fecit illum Dóminus, et custodívit eum ab inimícis, et a seductóribus tutávit illum: * Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam.
V.  Descendítque cum illo in fóveam, et in vínculis non derelíquit eum.
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 went down with him into the pit, and left him not in bonds.
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.

Cum Mártyres ipsi clerúsque Lugdunénsis de pace Ecclesiárum Asiæ, quam Montanistárum fáctio turbárat, sollíciti cum primis essent, Irenæum, cujus esse potíssimum habéndam ratiónem prædicábant, unum ómnium máxime delegérunt, quem Romam ad Eleuthérium Pontíficem mítterent rogátum, ut novis sectáriis auctoritáte Sedis Apostólicæ reprobátis, discordiárum causa tollerétur.  Jam Pothínus epíscopus, martyr decésserat : huic Irenæus cum successísset, tam felíciter munus óbiit episcopátus, ut sapiéntia, oratióne, exemplóque suo non modo brevi cives Lugdunénses omnes, sed multos étiam aliárum Gálliæ úrbium íncolas superstitiónem atque errórem abjecísse, dedísseque christiánæ milítiæ nómina víderit.  Intérea, cum de die celebrándi Paschátis orta esset conténtio, ac Victor, Románus Póntifex, Asiános epíscopos ab collégis réliquis fere ómnibus dissidéntes aut prohibuísset communióne sacrórum, aut prohibére minátus esset, eum Irenæus, sequéster pacis, decénter mónuit, exemplísque usus Pontíficum superiórum indúxit, ut ne tot Ecclésias ob ritum quem a majóribus accepísse se dícerent, avélli ab unitáte cathólica paterétur.

These very Martyrs, together with the clergy of Lyons, began to be anxious concerning the peace of the churches of Asia, which the faction of the Montanists had disturbed.  And so they selected Irenaeus, whose person they considered of the greatest importance, as the one before all others whom they should send to Rome to Pope Eleutherius to ask, that, with the condemnation of the new dissidents by the authority of the Apostolic See, the cause of the dissensions might be removed.  Already the bishop Pothinus had died a martyr and Irenaeus succeeded him.  He applied himself so well to the duties of a bishop, that in a short time he saw not only all the citizens of Lyons, but also many of the inhabitants of other cities in Gaul cast aside their superstitions and errors, and enroll themselves in the Christian army.  Meanwhile, a dispute had arisen concerning the date of the celebration of Easter.  As the bishops of Asia were disagreeing with nearly all their fellow-bishops, the Roman Pontiff Victor had cut them off from the communion of the faithful.  Irenaeus, however, who was zealous for peace, admonished him in a becoming manner, and urged, by examples of the practice of previous Pontiffs, that he should not suffer so many Churches to be cut off from Catholic unity, on account of a rite which they said they had received from their ancestors.

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

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

R.  Desidérium ánimæ ejus tribuísti ei, Dómine, * Et  voluntáte labiórum ejus non fraudásti eum.
V.  Quóniam prævenísti eum in benedictiónibus dulcédinis, posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.
R.  Et  voluntáte labiórum ejus non fraudásti eum.

R.  Thou hast given him, O Lord, his heart's desire, * And hast not denied him the request of his lips.
V.  For thou hast prevented him with the blessings of goodness, and hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
R.  And hast not denied him the request of his lips.

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.

Multa scripsit, quæ Eusébius Cæsariénsis et sanctus Hierónymus mémorant, quorúmque pars magna intércidit injúria témporum.  Exstant ejus advérsus hæreses libri quinque, anno círciter centésimo octogésimo perscrípti, dum adhuc Eleuthérius rem christiánam públicam géreret.  In tértio libro vir Dei, ab iis edóctus quos auditóres constat fuísse Apostolórum, grave in primis atque præclárum de Romána Ecclésia, deque illíus episcopórum successióne, divínæ traditiónis fidéli, perpétua, certíssima custóde, testimónium dixit.  Atque ad hanc, dixit, Ecclésiam propter potiórem principalitátem necésse est omnem conveníre Ecclésiam, hoc est eos qui sunt úndique fidéles.  Postrémo una cum áliis prope innumerabílibus, quos ipse ad veram fidem frugémque perdúxerat, martyrio coronátus migrávit in cælum, anno salútis ducentésimo secúndo, quo témpore Septímius Sevérus Augústus eos omnes, qui constánter in colénda christiána religióne perstáre voluíssent, in summum cruciátum dari atque intérfici imperáverat.  Sancti Irenæi festum Benedíctus décimus quintus Póntifex máximus ad univérsam Ecclésiam exténdit.

He wrote many works, which are mentioned by Eusebius of Caesarea and by St. Jerome, a great part of which have perished through the ravages of time.  There are extant five books of his against heresies, written down about the year 180, while Eleutherius was still ruling the Christian commonwealth.  In the third book, the man of God, instructed by those who, it is certain, had been hearers of the Apostles, gives to the Roman Church and to the succession of her bishops a testimony surpassing all others in weight and brilliancy, when he calleth her the faithful, perpetual, and most assured guardian of divine tradition.  For he said, that with this Church it is necessary that the whole Church (that is, those in all places who are of the faithful) should agree, because of its more powerful preeminence.  At length with almost countless others, whom he had himself brought over to the true faith and its practice, being crowned with martyrdom he passed to heaven in the year of salvation 202.  At that time Septimius Severus Augustus had commanded that all those who wished to remain constantly steadfast in the practice of the Christian religion should be condemned to the most cruel torments and to death.  The supreme Pontiff Benedict XV extended the feast of St. Irenaeus to 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.

Lyons

R.  Stola jucunditátis índuit eum Dóminus : * Et corónam pulchritúdinis pósuit super caput ejus.
V.  Cibávit illum Dóminus pane vitæ et intelléctus : et aqua sapiéntiæ salutáris potávit illum.
R.  Et corónam pulchritúdinis pósuit super caput ejus.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et corónam pulchritúdinis pósuit super caput ejus.

R.  The Lord hath put on him a robe of honour, * And hath put about his head a crown of joy.
V.  With the bread of life and understanding the Lord hath fed him, and hath given him the water of wisdom to drink.
R.  And hath put about his head a crown of joy.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And hath put about his head a crown of joy.

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 : Dixit Jesus discípulis suis : Nolíte timére eos qui occídunt corpus, ánimam autem non possunt occídere ; sed pótius timéte eum qui potest et ánimam et corpus pérdere in gehénnam.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus said unto his disciples : Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
  And so on, and that which followeth.

Sciébat Dóminus eos qui persecutiónem passúri essent ; sciébat et eos qui flagellári et occídi habérent propter eum.  Erat ergo sermo ejus, adhortántis étiam illos : Nolíte timére eos qui occídunt corpus, ánimam autem non possunt occídere.  Timéte autem magis eum qui habet potestátem et corpus et ánimam míttere in gehénnam, et serváre eas quæ essent ad eum confessiónes.  Etenim ipse confessúrum se promittébat coram Patre suo eos, qui confiteréntur nomen suum coram homínibus ; negatúrum autem eos qui negárent eum, et confusúrum qui confunderéntur contra confessiónem ejus.  Et, cum hæc ita se hábeant, ad tantam temeritátem progréssi sunt quidam, ut étiam Mártyres spernant, et vitúperent eos qui propter Dómini confessiónem occidúntur, et sústinent ómnia a Dómino prædícta, et secúndum hoc conántur vestígia ássequi passiónis Dómini, passíbilis Mártyres facti ; quos et concédimus ipsis Martyribus.  Cum enim inquirétur sanguis eórum, et glóriam consequéntur, tunc a Christo confundéntur omnes qui inhonoravérunt eórum martyrium.

The Lord knew both those who would suffer persecution ; and he knew those who would be scourged and slain for his sake.  His words are indeed those of exhortation : Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul.  Rather fear him which hath power to cast both body and soul into hell, and to preserve whomsoever should confess him.  For indeed he hath promised to confess before his Father those who should confess his name before men ; and to deny those who should deny him, and to be ashamed of those who should be ashamed to confess him.  Yet for all this, some have gone so far in audacity, as to scorn even the Martyrs, and to revile those who have been put to death for confessing the Lord, and who endure all that the Lord foretold, and so far endeavour to follow in the footsteps of the Lord's Passion, being made Martyrs of one who was capable of suffering ; but these we leave to the Martyrs themselves.  For when their blood shall be required, and they shall obtain glory, then all those who have dishonoured their martyrdom will be put to confusion by Christ.

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

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

R.  Coróna áurea super caput ejus, * Expréssa signo sanctitátis, glória honóris, et opus fortitúdinis.
V.  Quóniam prævenísti eum in benedictiónibus dulcédinis, posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.
R.  Expréssa signo sanctitátis, glória honóris, et opus fortitúdinis.

R.  The Lord set a crown of gold upon his head, * Wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, goodly and beautiful.
V.  For thou hast prevented him with the blessings of goodness, and hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
R.  Wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, goodly and beautiful.

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.

Hoc autem idem et illis occúrrit, qui dicunt eum putatíve passum.  Si enim non vere passus est, nulla grátia ei, cum nulla fúerit pássio ; et nos, cum incipiémus vere pati, sedúcens vidébitur, adhórtans nos vapuláre, et álteram præbére maxíllam, si ipse illud non prior in veritáte passus est.  Et, quemádmodum illos sedúxit, ut viderétur eis ipse hoc quod non erat ; et nos sedúcit, adhórtans perférre ea quæ ipse non pértulit.  Erimus autem et super Magístrum, dum pátimur et sustinémus quæ neque passus est, neque sustínuit Magíster.  Sed, quóniam solus vere magíster Dóminus noster, et bonus vere Fílius Dei ; et pátiens Verbum Dei Patris, fílius hóminis factus.  Luctátus est enim et vicit ; erat enim homo pro pátribus certans, et per obediéntiam inobediéntiam persólvens.  Alligávit enim fortem, et solvit infírmos, et salútem donávit plásmati suo, déstruens peccátum.  Igitur qui dicunt eum putatíve manifestátum, neque in carne natum, neque vere hóminem factum, adhuc sub véteri sunt damnatióne.

This also meeteth the objection of those who say that Christ only appeared to be suffering.  For if he did not really suffer, no gratitude is due unto him, when there was no suffering ; and when we begin really to suffer, he would seem to be deceiving us, when exhorting us to receive blows and to turn the other cheek, if he himself had not first suffered in reality.  And as he deceived them, so as to appear to them what he was not ; so also he misleadeth us, exhorting us to endure things which he himself did not endure.  And so we should even be higher than the Master, when we suffer and endure things, which the Master neither suffered nor endured.  But, whereas our Lord alone is truly the master, he is also truly the Son of God, good and kind, the Word of God the Father made Son of Man.  For he strove, and he conquered ; for he was a man contending for his fathers and paying the debt of disobedience by his obedience.  For he hath bound the strong man, and, he unbindeth the weak, and he hath given salvation to his creature by destroying sin.  Therefore, those who say he is manifested only in appearance, and not born in the flesh, nor really made man, are still under the old condemnation.

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

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

R.  Hic est vere Martyr, qui pro Christi nómine sánguinem suum fudit: * Qui minas júdicum non tímuit, nec terrénæ dignitátis glóriam quæsívit, sed ad cæléstia regna pervénit.
V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas, et osténdit illi regnum Dei.
R.  Qui minas júdicum non tímuit, nec terrénæ dignitátis glóriam quæsívit, sed ad cæléstia regna pervénit.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Qui minas júdicum non tímuit, nec terrénæ dignitátis glóriam quæsívit, sed ad cæléstia regna pervénit.

R.  This is indeed a Martyr who for the Name of Christ poured forth his life-blood; * Who feared not the judgment of the world, nor clung to any earthly honours; but set his heart on a heavenly reward.
V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God.
R.  Who feared not the judgment of the world, nor clung to any earthly honours; but set his heart on a heavenly reward.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Who feared not the judgment of the world, nor clung to any earthly honours; but set his heart on a heavenly reward.

For the Vigil of Ss. Peter and Paul, Apostles :

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

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

Benedíctio 9: Per evangélica dicta deleántur nostra delícta.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 9: By the Gospel words today may our sins be done away.
R.  Amen.

In illo témpore : Dixit Jesus Simóni Petro : Simon Joánnis, díligis me plus his?  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus said unto Simon Peter : Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? And so on, and that which followeth.

Rédditur negatióni trinæ trina conféssio, ne minus amóri lingua sérviat quam timóri, et plus vocis elicuísse videátur mors ímminens quam vita præsens.  Sit amóris offícium páscere Domínicum gregem, si fuit timoris indícium negáre Pastórem.  Qui hoc ánimo pascunt oves Christi, ut suas velint esse non Christi, se convincúntur amáre non Christum ; vel gloriándi, vel dominándi, vel acquiréndi cupiditáte, non obediéndi, et subveniéndi, et Deo placéndi caritáte.

The threefold denial of Peter is now paid back by his threefold confession, that his tongue may serve love no less than it had served fear ; and that impending death may not appear to have had more power than a present life in drawing forth the word of faith.  Let it be the duty of love to feed the Lord's flock, even as it was the sign of fear to deny the Shepherd.  They that feed the flock of Christ for the purpose of making the sheep their own rather than Christ's stand convicted of loving themselves, and not Christ.  Yea, they stand convicted of the desire for self-glorification, or of wielding power, or of seeking worldly profit, for they shew not forth the love of obeying, serving, and pleasing God.

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

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

But if in any place Lesson ix is not to be said of any commemorated Office, the following Lesson is said instead.

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.

Nos autem precámur non perseveráre eos in fóvea quam ipsi fodérunt, sed legítime eos generári convérsos ad Ecclésiam Dei, et formári Christum in eis, et cognóscere eos fabricatórem et factórem hujus universitátis solum verum Deum et Dóminum ómnium.  Hæc precámur de illis, utílius eos diligéntes quam ipsi semetípsos putant dilígere.  Quæ enim est a nobis diléctio, cum sit vera, salutáris est eis, si quidem eam recípiant.  Est enim austéro medicámini símilis, absúmens improbiórem ac supérfluam vúlneris carnem ; elatiónem enim illórum et inflatiónem evácuat.  Quaprópter testántes omni virtúte manum porrígere eis, non tædébit nos.

But we pray that they may not remain in the pit which they have themselves dug, but that, by conversion, they may be lawfully begotten to the Church of God, and that Christ may be formed in them, and that they may know the builder and maker of this universe to be the only true God and Lord of all.  We ask these blessings for them, for we love them more profitably than they love themselves.  For such is our love for them, since it is true and for their salvation, if indeed, they will receive it.  For it is like a drastic remedy which consumeth the diseased and useless flesh of a wound ; for it freeth them of all their pride and self-exaltation.  And so we do not weary of trying, with all our might, to stretch out our hand to them.

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

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

Lauds

Ad Bened. Ant:  Qui odit * ánimam suam in hoc mundo, in vitam ætérnam custódit eam.

Ant. on Bened:  He that hateth his life * in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, qui beáto Irenæo Mártyri tuo atque Pontífici tribuísti, ut et veritáte doctrínæ expugnáret hæreses, et pacem Ecclésiæ felíciter confirmáret : da, quæsumus, plebi tuæ in sancta religióne constántiam ; et pacem tuam nostris concéde tempóribus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who didst bestow upon blessed Irenaeus thy Martyr and Bishop grace to overcome false doctrine by the teaching of the truth, and to stablish thy Church in peace and prosperity : we beseech thee, that thou wouldest give thy people constancy in thy true religion ; and grant us thy peace all the days of our life.  Through.

Ant:  Apértum est os Zacharíæ, et prophetávit dicens : Benedíctus Deus Israël.

Ant:  The mouth of Zacharias was opened, and he prophesied saying, Blessed be the God of Israel.

V.  Iste puer magnus coram Dómino.
R.  Nam et manus ejus cum ipso est.

V.  This child shall be great in the sight of the Lord.
R.  For the hand of the Lord is with him.

Oremus.
Deus, qui præséntem diem honorábilem nobis in beáti Joánnis nativitáte fecísti : da pópulis tuis spirituálium grátiam gaudiórum ; et ómnium fidélium mentes dírige in viam salútis ætérnæ.  (Per Dóminum.)

Let us pray.
O God, who hast made this day to be honourable in our eyes because of the Birth of the blessed John, graciously quicken thy people with spiritual joy, and order the minds of all the faithful in the way of everlasting salvation.  (Through.)

Then is made Commemoration of the Vigil of Ss. Peter & Paul, Apostles.  Antiphon and Verse from the current weekday as in the Psalter.

Oremus.
Præsta, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus : ut nullis nos permíttas perturbatiónibus concúti ; quos in apostólicæ confessiónis petra solidásti.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
We humbly beseech thee, Almighty God : that like as thou hast stablished us on the rock of the confession of thy holy Apostles ; so thou wouldest in all our trials and adversities preserve us stedfast in the same.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH