Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Double

Common

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:  O Doctor óptime, * Ecclésiæ sanctæ lumen, beáte Augustíne, divínæ legis amátor, deprecáre pro nobis Fílium Dei.

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

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Adésto supplicatiónibus nostris, omnípotens Deus : et, quibus fidúciam sperándæ pietátis indúlges, intercedénte beáto Augustíno Confessóre tuo atque Pontífice consuétæ misericórdiæ tríbue benígnus efféctum.  Per Dóminum nostrum.

Let us pray.
Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications : that we, whom thou dost suffer to put our trust and confidence in thy mercy ; may, at the intercession of blessed Augustine thy Confessor and Bishop, obtain of thy goodness the wonted effects of thy compassion.  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 per sanctum Joséphum Confessórem tuum, ad erudiéndam spíritu intelligéntiæ ac pietátis juventútem, novum Ecclésiæ tuæ subsídium providére dignátus es : præsta, quæsumus ; nos, ejus exémplo et intercessióne, ita fácere et docére, ut præmia consequámur ætérna.  (Per Dóminum.)

Let us pray.
O God, who for the teaching of youth in the spirit of understanding and godliness didst through thy blessed Confessor Saint Joseph vouchsafe to provide thy Church with a new succour : grant, we pray thee ; that by his example and intercession we may learn so to do and to teach, that we may be found worthy to attain to the reward of everlasting felicity.  (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.
Deus, qui beátum Hermétem Mártyrem tuum virtúte constántiæ in passióne roborásti : ex ejus nobis imitatióne tríbue ; pro amóre tuo próspera mundi despícere, et nulla ejus advérsa formidáre.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who didst endue thy blessed Martyr Hermes with the strength of constancy in all his sufferings : grant, we pray three ; that, after his example we may learn to despise the prosperity of this world, and to endure stedfastly all its adversities.  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 Doctors,  Sapientiam.

Scripture Lessons

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.

Augustínus, Tagáste in Africa honéstis paréntibus natus ac puer docilitáte ingénii æquáles longe súperans, brevi ómnibus doctrína antecélluit.  Adoléscens, dum esset Carthágine, in Manichæórum hæresim íncidit.  Póstea Romam proféctus, inde Mediolánum missus ut rhetóricam docéret, cum ibi frequens Ambrósii epíscopi esset audítor, ejus ópera incénsus stúdio cathólicæ fídei, annos natus trigínta tres ab ipso baptizátur.  Revérsus in Africam, cum religióne vitæ sanctimóniam conjúngens, a Valério, notæ sanctitátis epíscopo Hipponénsi, présbyter factus est.  Quo témpore famíliam instítuit religiosórum, quibúscum victu commúni eodémque cultu utens, eos ad apostólicæ vitæ doctrinæque disciplínam diligentíssime erudiébat.  Sed, cum vigéret Manichæórum hæresis, veheméntius in illam ínvehi cœpit, Fortunatúmque hæresiárcham confutávit.

Augustine was born of honourable parents at Tagaste in Africa.  As a boy his great intelléctual sharpness caused him to distance all his companions in learning.  When he was living at Carthage as a young man, he fell into the heresy of the Manicheans.  He afterwards went to Rome, and was thence sent to Milan to teach rhetorick.  At Milan he often went to hear the sermons of Bishop Ambrose, by whose labours he was drawn to the Catholic Church, and by whom he was baptized at the age of thirty-three.  After his return to Africa, Valerius, the illustrious and saintly Bishop of Hippo, finding him to unite holiness of life with Catholic profession, made him a Priest.  At this time he founded a sort of family of godly men, who lived and worshipped in common with him, and whom he earnestly formed upon the model of the Apostolic life and teaching.  The Manichean heresy flaming forth with violence, he began strongly to attack it, and confounded the arch-heretic Fortunatus.

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.

Hac Augustíni pietáte commótus Valérius, eum adjutórem adhíbuit episcopális offícii.  Nihil illo fuit humílius, nihil continéntius.  Lectus ac vestítus moderátus ; vulgáris mensa, quam semper sacra vel lectióne vel disputatióne condiébat.  Tanta benignitáte fuit in páuperes, ut, cum non esset ália facúltas, sacra vasa frángeret ad eórum inópiam sustentándam.  Feminárum, et in eis soróris, et fratris fíliæ, contubérnium familiaritatémque vitávit ; quippe qui díceret, etsi propínquæ mulíeres suspéctæ non essent, tamen quæ ad eas ventitárent, posse suspiciónem effícere.  Nullum finem fecit prædicándi Dei verbum, nisi gravi morbo oppréssus.  Hæréticos perpétuo insectátus et coram et scriptis, ac nullo loco passus consístere, Africam a Manichæórum, Donatistárum, Pelagianórum aliorúmque prætérea hæreticórum erróre magna ex parte liberávit.

Valerius, moved by the godly zeal of Augustine, joined him with himself as an assistant in his duties of Bishop.  He was lowly and pure in the highest degree.  His furniture and dress were plain, and his food of the commonest sort, which he always seasoned when at table by either reading some religious book, or arguing upon some religious subject.  His tenderness to the poor was such that, failing all other resources, he broke up the hallowed vessels to relieve their wants.  It was his rule not to dwell or be very close friends with any woman, a rule which he did not relax even in the case of his sister and niece, for he was accustomed to say, that although no scandal could arise in the case of such near kinswomen, yet it might arise concerning the women friends who sought their company.  He never ceased to preach the Word of God, until he was disabled by heavy sickness.  He was always an hard follower after heretics, and by his words and his writings never them suffered them to rest anywhere.  In great measure he purged Africa of the Manicheans, Donatists, Pelagians, and other heretics.

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.

Tam multa pie, subtíliter et copióse scripsit, ut christiánam doctrínam máxime illustrárit.  Quem in primis secúti sunt, qui póstea theológicam disciplínam via et ratióne tradidérunt.  Wándalis Africam bello vastántibus et Hippónem tértium jam mensem obsidéntibus, in febrim íncidit.  Itaque, cum discéssum e vita sibi instáre intellígeret, Psalmos David qui ad pœniténtiam pértinent, in conspéctu pósitos, profúsis lácrimis legébat.  Solébat autem dícere, néminem, etsi nullíus scéleris sibi cónscius esset, commíttere debére ut sine pœniténtia migráret e vita.  Ergo sénsibus íntegris, in oratióne defíxus, astántibus frátribus, quos ad caritátem, pietátem virtutésque omnes erat adhortátus, migrávit in cælum.  Vixit annos septuagínta sex, in episcopátu ad trigínta sex.  Cujus corpus, primum in Sardíniam delátum, deínde a Luitprándo, Longobardórum rege, magno prétio redémptum, Ticínum translátum est ibíque honorífice cónditum.

He wrote so much, and that with such godliness and understanding, that he is to be held among the very chiefest of them by whom the teachings of Christianity have been shewn forth.  He is one of the first of those whom later theologians have followed, in method, and in argument.  He fell sick of a fever what time the Vandals were laying Africa waste, and when they were busy in the third month of besieging Hippo.  When he understood that his departure from this present life was at hand, he caused the Psalms of David which most speak the language of repentance to be placed before him, and read them with tears, for he was wont to say that even if a man's conscience were to accuse him of no sin, he should not dare to leave this world except as a penitent.  His senses remained vigorous to the last, and it was while rapt in prayer, in the presence of the brethren whom he had exhorted to love, godliness, and all goodness, that he departed for heaven.  He lived 76 years, whereof he had been a Bishop nearly thirty-six.  His body was first carried to Sardinia, but Luitprand, King of the Lombards, afterwards bought it for a great price, and took it to Pavia, where it is honourably buried.

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

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

Reliquary of St. Augustine, containing his effigy and relic of his elbow

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.

Augustínus, Tagáste in Africa honéstis paréntibus natus, brevi æquálibus ómnibus doctrína præstitit.  Adoléscens, dum esset Carthágine, in Manichæórum hæresim íncidit.  Póstea Romam proféctus, inde Mediolánum missus ut rhetóricam docéret, cum ibi, suadénte Mónica, pientíssima ejus matre, frequens Ambrósii epíscopi esset audítor, ejus ópera incénsus stúdio cathólicæ fídei, annos natus trigínta tres ab ipso baptizátur.  Revérsus in Africam, cum religióne vitæ sanctimóniam conjúngens, a Valério, notæ sanctitátis epíscopo Hipponénsi, présbyter factus est.  Quo témpore famíliam instítuit religiosórum, quibúscum victu commúni eodémque cultu utens, eos ad apostólicæ vitæ doctrinæque disciplínam diligentíssime erudiébat.  Hac Augustíni pietáte commótus Valérius, eum adjutórem adhíbuit episcopális offícii.  Multa pie, subtíliter et copióse scripsit, ut hæreses profligáret et christiánam doctrínam illustráret.  Wándalis Africam bello vastántibus et Hippónem tértio jam mense obsidéntibus, febri corréptus, migrávit ad Dóminum, ætátis suæ anno septuagésimo sexto.  Ejus corpus, primo in Sardíniam, deínde Ticínum translátum, ibi honorífice cólitur.

Augustine was born of good parents at Tagaste in Africa, and in a short time surpassed all his companions in learning.  As a young man, when in Carthage, he fell into the Manichean heresy.  Later he went to Rome and was sent from there to Milan to teach rhetoric.  At Milan, he was persuaded by Monica, his most devout mother, to become a frequent listener to the Bishop Ambrose.  Ambrose brought it about that Augustine was fired with a desire for the Catholic faith, and baptized him when he was thirty-three years old.  Going back to Africa, Augustine led a life governed by religion and holiness, and was made priest by Valerius, Bishop of Hippo, renowned for his sanctity.  At this same period, he founded a religious community with whom he lived, taking part in their life and worship while he trained them very carefully to the apostolic life and to learning.  Moved by his devotion, Valerius made him his coadjutor bishop.  He wrote many works remarkable for their devotion, subtlety and diffuseness, to combat heresies and throw light on Christian teaching.  When the Vandals were laying Africa waste  and Hippo had been besieged for three months, he was taken with a fever and went to the Lord in the seventy-sixth year of his age.  His body was buried first in Sardinia and then in Pavia, where it is venerated with honour.

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

In the Third Nocturn, the Gospel Homily Vos estis sal terræ is read from the Common of Doctors, Series 1.

Gospel Homily from Common of Doctors
 

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, 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.
Adésto supplicatiónibus nostris, omnípotens Deus : et, quibus fidúciam sperándæ pietátis indúlges, intercedénte beáto Augustíno Confessóre tuo atque Pontífice consuétæ misericórdiæ tríbue benígnus efféctum.  Per Dóminum nostrum.

Let us pray.
Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications : that we, whom thou dost suffer to put our trust and confidence in thy mercy ; may, at the intercession of blessed Augustine thy Confessor and Bishop, obtain of thy goodness the wonted effects of thy compassion.  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.
Deus, qui beátum Hermétem Mártyrem tuum virtúte constántiæ in passióne roborásti : ex ejus nobis imitatióne tríbue ; pro amóre tuo próspera mundi despícere, et nulla ejus advérsa formidáre.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who didst endue thy blessed Martyr Hermes with the strength of constancy in all his sufferings : grant, we pray three ; that, after his example we may learn to despise the prosperity of this world, and to endure stedfastly all its adversities.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH