Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Double

mtv
unless First Vespers be said, whether entire, or even from the Chapter onwards

Common

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

At Second Vespers of St. Peter-in-Chains

Ant:  O Doctor óptime, Ecclésiæ sanctæ lumen, beáte Alfónse María, divínæ legis amátor, deprecáre pro nobis Fílium Dei.

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

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.

Oremus.
Deus, qui per beátum Alfónsum Maríam Confessórem tuum atque Pontíficem, animárum zelo succénsum, Ecclésiam tuam nova prole fœcundásti : quæsumus ; ut, ejus salutáribus mónitis edócti et exémplis roboráti, ad te perveníre felíciter valeámus.  (Per Dóminum.)

Let us pray.
O God, who didst inflame blessed Alphonsus, thy Confessor and Bishop, with zeal for the salvation of souls, and didst thereby increase thy Church with a new offspring : grant, we pray thee ; that we may in such wise be taught by his wholesome counsels, and strengthened by his ensample, that we may be counted worthy to attain in gladness unto thee.  (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 Stéphanum 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 Stephen, 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

Sunday Compline

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 Doctors,  Sapientiam.

Scripture Lessons before the First Sunday of August

Scripture Lessons after the First Sunday of August

Lessons from Common of Doctors

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.

Alfónsus María de Ligório, Neápoli nobílibus paréntibus natus, ab ineúnte ætáte non obscúra præbuit sanctitátis indícia.  Eum adhuc infántem cum paréntes obtulíssent sancto Francísco de Hierónymo e societáte Jesu, is bene precátus edíxit eúmdem ad nonagésimum usque annum perventúrum, ad episcopálem dignitátem evéctum iri, maximóque Ecclésiæ bono futúrum.  Jam tum a puerítia, a ludis abhórrens, nóbiles ephébos ad christiánam modéstiam verbo et exémplo componébat.  Adoléscens, dato piis sodalitátibus nómine, in públicis nosocomíis ægrótis inservíre, jugi in templis oratióni vacáre, ac sacra mystéria frequénter obíre in delíciis habébat.  Pietátem litterárum stúdiis ádeo conjúnxit, ut séxdecim vix annos natus utriúsque juris láuream in pátria universitáte fúerit assecútus.  Patri obtémperans, causárum patrocínia suscépit ; in quo múnere obeúndo, etsi magnam sibi laudem comparásset, fori tamen perícula expértus, ejúsmodi vitæ institútum ultro dimísit.  Spreto ígitur præcláro conjúgio sibi a patre propósito, avíta primogenitúra abdicáta, et ad aram Vírginis de Mercéde ense suspénso, divínis ministériis se mancipávit.  Sacérdos factus, tanto zelo írruit in vítia, ut apostólico múnere fungens, huc illuc pérvolans, ingéntes perditórum hóminum conversiónes perágeret.  Páuperum præsértim et ruricolárum miserátus, congregatiónem Presbyterórum instítuit sanctíssimi Redemptóris, qui, ipsum Redemptórem secúti, per agros, pagos, et castélla paupéribus evangelizárent.

Alphonsus Mary Liguori was born of a noble family at Naples.  From his earliest days he gave no dark signs of holiness.  When he was but a babe, his parents carried him to holy Francis de Geronimo, of the Society of Jesus, and holy Francis, after long prayer, said that the child would live to ninety years of age, that he would become a Bishop, and that he would be a great blessing to the Church.  From his childhood, he had a strong distaste to games, and by his entreaty and example, induced the noble pages to conduct themselves with Christian decency.  As a young man, he became a member of divers godly guilds, and made it among his delights to nurse the sick in the hospitals, to spend much time in prayer in the Churches, and often to receive the Holy Sacraments.  With his godliness he so joined zeal for learning, that when he was scarcely sixteen years of age he took degrees in Canon and Civil Law in the University of Naples.  In obedience to the wish of his father, he adopted the profession of an advocate, in which he gained great credit, but, finding dangers in the practice of the law, he entirely gave it up.  He declined a very brilliant marriage which was proposed to him by his father, resigned his family inheritance as an eldest son, hung up his sword at the Altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary, styled of Ransom, and surrendered himself altogether to the service of God.  He became a Priest, and made so zealous an onslaught on sin, running hither and thither in the office of an Apostle, that he accomplished the conversion of multitudes of lost creatures.  The poor and the country-people most chiefly roused his compassion, and he founded the Congregation of Priests called that of the Most Holy Redeemer, to follow the Redeemer's footsteps by preaching the Gospel to the poor throughout the fields, villages, and hamlets.

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

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

R.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.
V.  Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei.
R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

R.  I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast.
V.  The enemy shall not be able to do him violence ; the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
R.  My hand shall hold him fast.

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.

Ne autem a propósito umquam divérteret, perpétuo se voto obstrínxit nullam témporis jactúram faciéndi.  Hinc animárum zelo succénsus, tum divíni verbi prædicatióne, tum scriptis sacra eruditióne et pietáte refértis, ánimas Christo lucrifácere et ad perfectiórem vitam addúcere stúduit.  Mirum sane quot ódia exstínxerit, quot dévios ad rectum salútis iter revocáverit.  Dei Genitrícis cultor exímius, de illíus láudibus librum édidit, ac de iis dum fervéntius concionándo dísserit, a Vírginis imágine, in eum immísso miro splendóre, totus fácie coruscáre et in éxtasim rapi coram univérso pópulo non semel visus est.  Dominicæ passiónis et sacræ Eucharístiæ contemplátor assíduus, ejus cultum mirífice propagávit.  Dum vero ad ejus aram oráret vel Sacrum fáceret, quod numquam omísit, præ amóris veheméntia, vel seráphicis liquescébat ardóribus, vel insólitis quatiebátur mótibus, vel abstrahebátur a sénsibus.  Miram vitæ innocéntiam, quam nulla umquam letháli labe fœdávit, pari cum pœniténtia sócians, corpus suum inédia, férreis caténulis, cilíciis cruentáque flagellatióne castigábat.  Inter hæc prophetíæ, scrutatiónis córdium, bilocatiónis et miraculórum donis incláruit.

That he might not turn aside from his work, he bound himself by a vow never to lose any time.  Inflamed with the love of souls, he toiled to gain them to Christ and to amend their lives, not only by preaching of the word of God, but also by writings full of holy learning and godliness.  It is a marvel how many hatreds he stilled, and how many backsliders he led again into the paths of salvation.  He was eminently devoted to the Mother of God, published a book on her glories, and when he was earnestly speaking thereof in his sermons, it happened more than once that all the people openly saw a strange brightness fall upon him from her image, till all his countenance shone, and he was rapt in an ecstasy.  The sufferings of the Lord and the Holy Eucharist were ever before his eyes, and to them he spread abroad a wonderful love.  When he was praying before the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament, or celebrating the Holy Liturgy, which he never failed to do every day, through the seraphic violence of his love, he wept burning tears, or shook with strange movements, or became altogether beside himself.  He joined a wonderful innocence and purity, which he never polluted by the stain of deadly sin, to a wonderful depth of repentance, and chastised his body with hunger, iron chains, hair-cloth, and scourgings even to blood-shedding.  Among all these things he was remarkable for the gift of prophecy, the power of seeing into the hearts of men, the ability to be in more places than one at the same time, and other miracles.

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

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

R.  Pósui adjutórium super poténtem, et exaltávi eléctum de plebe mea : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.
V.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum.
R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

R.  I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people. * My hand shall hold him fast.
V.  I have found David, my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him.
R.  My hand shall hold him fast.

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.

Ab ecclesiásticis dignitátibus sibi oblátis constantíssime abhórruit ; at, Cleméntis décimi tértii Pontíficis auctoritáte coáctus, sanctæ Agathæ Gothórum ecclésiam gubernándum suscépit.  Epíscopus, extérnum dumtáxat hábitum, non autem sevéram vivéndi ratiónem immutávit.  Eadem frugálitas, summus christiánæ disciplínæ zelus, impénsum in vítiis coërcéndis arcendísque erróribus, et in réliquis pastorálibus munéribus obeúndis stúdium.  Liberális in páuperes, omnes ecclésiæ provéntus iísdem distribuébat, ac, urgénte annónæ caritáte, ipsam domésticam supelléctilem in aléndis famélicis erogávit.  Omnibus ómnia factus, sanctimoniáles ad perfectiórem vivéndi formam redégit, suæque congregatiónis moniálium monastérium constituéndum curávit.  Episcopátu ob graves habitualésque morbos dimísso, ad alúmnos suos, a quibus pauper discésserat, revértitur pauper.  Demum, quamvis senio laboribúsque, diutúrna arthrítide aliísque gravíssimis morbis fractus córpore, spíritu tamen alácrior, de cæléstibus rebus disseréndi aut scribéndi finem numquam adhíbuit, donec nonagenárius, Kaléndis Augústi, anno millésimo septingentésimo octogésimo séptimo, Nucériæ Paganórum, inter suórum alumnórum lácrimas, placidíssime exspirávit.  Eum, inde virtútibus et miráculis clarum, Pius séptimus Póntifex máximus anno millésimo octingentésimo décimo sexto Beatórum fastis ; novísque fulgéntem signis, Gregórius décimus sextus in festo sanctíssimæ Trinitátis, anno millésimo octingentésimo trigésimo nono, solémni ritu, Sanctórum catálogo accénsuit.  Tandem Pius nonus Póntifex máximus, ex sacrórum Rítuum Congregatiónis consúlto, universális Ecclésiæ Doctórem declarávit.

He firmly and perseveringly refused all high places in the Church which were offered him, but Pope Clement XIII absolutely commanded him to take the Bishoprick of the Church of Santa Agata dei Goti.  On becoming a Bishop, the only change which he made in the hardness of his life was that of his outer raiment.  There remained, too, the same simplicity of meats, the same strong zeal for Christian discipline, the same determined will to put down sin and keep out false doctrines, and the same earnestness in all the duties of a shepherd of souls.  In his tenderness to the poor, he spent among them all the revenues of his Church, and in a year of famine sold the furniture of his own house to feed his starving people.  He was all things to all men ; and brought nuns to lead a more perfect life, while he saw to it that a monastery was opened for nuns attached to his own Congregation.  On account of grievous and continual sickness, he resigned his Bishoprick, and poor as when he had left them, poor he returned among his disciples.  On the 1st day of August, in the year 1787, he peacefully died at Nocera-dei-Pagani, amid the tears of his followers.  He was then ninety years of age ; his body was worn out with old age and hard work, and with chronic gout, and other painful maladies, but the freshness of his mind never failed to the last, in talking and writing on heavenly things.  In the year 1816 Pope Pius VII, finding him famous on account of his good works and miracles, enrolled his name among those of the Blessed.  God still glorified him by new signs and wonders, and on the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, in the year 1839, Gregory XVI, with solemn pomp, numbered him among the Saints of the Church.  Lastly, Pope Pius IX, in accordance with a resolution of the Congregation of Sacred Rites, gave him the title of 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.

R.  Iste est, qui ante Deum magnas virtútes operátus est, et omnis terra doctrína ejus repléta est : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
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.  He was a man who despised the life of the world and attained unto the kingdom of heaven.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the 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.

Alfónsus María de Ligório, Neápoli nobílibus paréntibus natus, vix ut adolévit, ægrótis in públicis nosocomíis inservíre ac jugi in templis oratióni vacáre in delíciis habébat.  Patri obtémperans, causárum patrocínia suscépit ; fori tamen perícula expértus, ejúsmodi vitæ institútum ultro dimísit.  Avíta primogenitúra abdicáta, et sacerdótio initiátus, tanto zelo írruit in vítia, ut ingéntes perditórum hóminum conversiónes perágeret.  Páuperum præsértim et ruricolárum miserátus, congregatiónem Presbyterórum sanctíssimi Redemptóris ad eórum evangelizatiónem instítuit.  Ne autem a propósito umquam divérteret, perpétuo se voto obstrínxit nullam témporis jactúram faciéndi.  Domínicæ passiónis et sacræ Eucharístiæ contemplátor assíduus, atque Dei Genitrícis cultor exímius, non semel cæléstis ejus protectiónis signis est recreátus.  Multa édidit sacra eruditióne ac pietáte reférta, quibus ánimas Christo lucrifácere stúduit.  Ab ecclesiásticis dignitátibus sibi oblátis constantíssime abhórruit ; apostólica tamen auctoritáte coáctus, sanctæ Agathæ Gothórum ecclésiam gubernándum suscépit.  Liberális in páuperes, ómnibus ómnia factus, sanctimoniáles ad perfectiórem vivéndi formam redégit.  Episcopátu ob graves habitualésque morbos dimísso, ad suos revértitur.  Tandem nonagenárius, innocéntia vitæ et pœniténtia fulgens, anno millésimo septingentésimo octogésimo séptimo placidíssime exspirávit.  Eum Pius Papa nonus Ecclésiæ universális Doctórem declarávit.

Born at Naples of noble parents, Alphonsus Mary Liguori as very young man took delight in caring for the sick in the public hospitals and in devoting his spare time to prayer in churches.  In obedience to his father he became a lawyer ; but when he had experienced the dangers of this kind of career, he abandoned the profession.  He renounced his right of inheritance as oldest son and became a priest, attacking vice with such zeal that he obtained the conversions of  a great number of sinners.  He took special pity on the poor and those living in rural districts and founded the Congregation of Priests of the Most Holy Redeemer to preach the Gospel to them.  Lest anything should turn him from his determination, he bound himself by a perpetual vow never to waste any time.  Constant in contemplating the Passion of the Lord and the holy Eucharist, he was outstanding in his devotion to the holy Mother of God, being more than once refreshed by signs of her heavenly protection.  He wrote many books of religious instruction and of devotion by which he strove to gain souls for Christ.  He consistently refused the ecclesiastical honours offered to him, but was compelled by the Holy See to accept the Bishoprick of the Church of Santa Agáta dei Goti, where he was generous to the poor and made himself all things to all men.  He also brought nuns back to a more perfect form of life.  Serious chronic illnessses led him to resign the episcopal office and return to his disciples.  Finally, at the age of ninety years, radiant with innocence of life and penance, he died a most peaceful death in the year 1787.  Pope Pius IX 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 body of St. Alphonsus at Scala, Italy

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 : Designávit Dóminus et álios septuagínta duos : et misit illos binos ante fáciem suam, in omnem civitátem et locum, quo erat ipse ventúrus.  Et réliqua.

At that time : The Lord appointed other seventy also : and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Dóminus et Salvátor noster, fratres caríssimi, aliquándo nos sermónibus, aliquándo vero opéribus ádmonet.  Ipsa étenim facta ejus præcépta sunt ; quia, dum áliquid tácitus facit, quid ágere debeámus innotéscit.  Ecce enim binos in prædicatiónem discípulos mittit ; quia duo sunt præcépta caritátis, Dei vidélicet amor et próximi, et minus quam inter duos cáritas habéri non potest.  Nemo enim próprie ad semetípsum habére caritátem dícitur ; sed diléctio in álterum tendit, ut cáritas esse possit.

Dearly beloved brethren, our Lord and Saviour doth sometimes admonish us by words, and sometimes by works.  Yea, his very works do themselves teach us : for that which he doth silently his example still moveth us to copy.  Behold how he sendeth forth his disciples to preach by two and two : since there are two commandments to love, that is, a commandment to love God, and a commandment to love our neighbour : and where there are not two, the one, being alone, hath not whereon to do the Lord's commandment.  And no man can properly be said to love himself : for love tendeth outward toward our neighbour, if it be the love whereto the Gospel doth oblige us.

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 put upon him the breastplate of faith, and 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 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.

Ecce enim binos ad prædicándum discípulos Dóminus mittit ; quátenus hoc nobis tácitus ínnuat, quia, qui caritátem erga álterum non habet, prædicatiónis offícium suscípere nullátenus debet.  Bene autem dícitur, quia misit eos ante fáciem suam in omnem civitátem et locum, quo erat ipse ventúrus.  Prædicatóres enim suos Dóminus séquitur : quia prædicátio prævénit, et tunc ad mentis nostræ habitáculum Dóminus venit, quando verba exhortatiónis præcúrrunt, atque per hoc véritas in mente suscípitur.

Behold, the Lord sendeth forth his disciples to preach by two and two : and thus doing, he doth silently teach us that whosoever loveth not his neighbour, such an one it behoveth not to take upon him the office of a preacher.  Well also is it said that he sent them before his face into every city and place whither he himself would come.  The Lord followeth his preachers : first cometh preaching, and then the Lord himself cometh to the house of our mind, whither the word of exhortation hath come before : and so cometh the truth into our mind.

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.
V.  Jucunditátem et exsultatiónem thesaurizávit super eum.
R.  Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.

R.  In the midst of the congregation he opened his mouth : * And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.
V.  He shall find joy, and a crown of gladness.
R.  And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.
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..

For St. Stephen 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.

Stéphanus Románus pontificátum gessit Valeriáno et Galliéno imperatóribus.  Instítuit ut sacerdótes et diáconi nusquam sacris véstibus, nisi in ecclésia, uteréntur.  Baptizátos ab hæréticis, íterum baptizári vétuit, rescríbens sancto Cypriáno verbis illis : Nihil innovétur, nisi quod tráditum est.  Multos étiam ad Christum convértit, in iis Olympium tribúnum cum uxóre Exsupéria et fílio Theodúlo, item Nemésium tribúnum cum tota família, óculis Lucíllæ ejus fíliæ restitútis : qui omnes Jesu Christi Mártyres fuérunt.  Sed, veheméntius jam ingravescénte persecutióne imperatórum, Stéphanus, convocáto clero, ad martyrium suos hortabátur, in cryptísque Mártyrum assídue Missas et concília celebrábat.  Qui, cum aliquándo raptus esset ab infidélibus ad templum Martis ut ei sacrificáret, líbere negávit se dæmónibus eum honórem velle tribúere, qui uni Deo deberétur.  Quibus in verbis Martis státua terræmótu cóncidit templúmque contrémuit.  Quare ómnibus aufugiéntibus qui Stéphanum tenébant, Póntifex ad suos revértitur in cœmetérium Lucínæ ; quos, divínis præcéptis ínstruens, sacraménto córporis Christi communicávit ; ibíque, dum Missárum solémnia pérficit ; adveniéntibus íterum imperatórum satellítibus, ei in sua sede caput abscínditur.  Corpus, cum eádem sede conspérsa Mártyris sánguine, a cléricis sepúltum est in cœmetério Callísti, quarto Nonas Augústi.  Vixit in pontificátu annos tres, menses tres, dies vigínti duos.  Hábuit ordinatiónes duas mense Decémbri, quibus creávit presbyteros sex, diáconos quinque, epíscopos tres.

Stephen was a Roman, and exercised the Popedom in the reign of the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus.  It was his ordinance  which forbade priests and deacons ever to use their hallowed garments except in the Church.  He forbade a re-baptism of such as had been baptized by heretics, writing to St. Cyprian in these words : Let us have no innovations, but only what hath been handed down unto us.  He turned many to Christ, and, among them, the Tribune Olympius, with his wife Exuperia, and his son Theodulus, and the Tribune Nemesius, to whose blind daugher he had given sight, along with all his household.  All these were martyrs for Jesus Christ.  When the persecution of the Emperors was waxing dreader and more dread, Stephen gathered together the clergy, and exhorted them to be brave in lifting up their testimony, and himself celebrated Masses and Councils in the Catacombs.  He was caught by some unbelievers, and haled to the temple of Mars to do sacrifice to that idol, but he boldly said he would never pay to devils an honour which it behoved to give to God only.  As he spake these words an earthquake made the image of Mars to fall down, and all the temple to tremble.  All they that held Stephen fled, and the Pope went back to his own people in the cemetery of Lucina.  He there delivered to them a discourse full of the Word of God, and gave them the Communion of the Sacrament of the Body of Christ.  While he was finishing the Mass, the soldiers of the Emperor again brake in upon them, and his head was cut off as he sat in his chair.  The relicks of the Martyr, along with the chair stained with his blood, were buried by the clergy in the cemetery of Callistus, upon the 2nd day of August.  He lived as Pope three years, three months, and twenty-two days.  He held two ordinations in the month of December, and in them ordained six Priests, five Deacons, and three Bishops.

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

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

Lauds

Church of St. Alphonsus and the Redemptorist Mother House in Rome

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, dicit Dóminus.

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, saith the Lord.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, qui per beátum Alfónsum Maríam Confessórem tuum atque Pontíficem, animárum zelo succénsum, Ecclésiam tuam nova prole fœcundásti : quæsumus ; ut, ejus salutáribus mónitis edócti et exémplis roboráti, ad te perveníre felíciter valeámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who didst inflame blessed Alphonsus, thy Confessor and Bishop, with zeal for the salvation of souls, and didst thereby increase thy Church with a new offspring : grant, we pray thee ; that we may in such wise be taught by his wholesome counsels, and strengthened by his ensample, that we may be counted worthy to attain in gladness unto thee.  Through.

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

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

V.  Justus ut palma florébit.
R.  Sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur.

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 Stéphanum 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 Stephen, 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

Second Vespers

The Redemptorist Church at Mount St. Alphonsus Retreat House, New York State

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

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

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Deus, qui per beátum Alfónsum Maríam Confessórem tuum atque Pontíficem, animárum zelo succénsum, Ecclésiam tuam nova prole fœcundásti : quæsumus ; ut, ejus salutáribus mónitis edócti et exémplis roboráti, ad te perveníre felíciter valeámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who didst inflame blessed Alphonsus, thy Confessor and Bishop, with zeal for the salvation of souls, and didst thereby increase thy Church with a new offspring : grant, we pray thee ; that we may in such wise be taught by his wholesome counsels, and strengthened by his ensample, that we may be counted worthy to attain in gladness unto thee.  Through.

Commemoration of the following day