Martyr

Simple

Common

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

Invitatory and Hymn

The Nocturn
 

The Nocturn

The first two Lessons are taken from the occurrent Scripture.  Lesson iii is proper as given below.

Scripture Lessons
 

Gorgónius, Nicomedíæ natus, Diocletiáni imperatóris cubiculárius, Dorothéo colléga suo adjutóre, réliquos omnes cubículi minístros ad Christi fidem perdúxit.  Utérque autem, cum vidísset quodam die Mártyrem coram Diocletiáno acerbíssime cruciári, ejus exémplo martyrii amóre incénsus est.  Itaque ambórum hæc vox erúpit : Quid est, imperátor, quod hujus condemnáta senténtia, quæ nobis cum eo commúnis est, unum illum punis?  Istíus nostra étiam est fides, idem propósitum.  Eos ígitur vinctos imperátor flagéllis cóncidi jubet, ita ut toto córpore cutis dirumperétur, et in plagas acétum infúndi sale permíxtum ; mox revínctis in cratícula súbjici ímperat vim candéntium carbónum.  Dénique, várie torti, suspéndio necáti sunt.  Ac sancti Gorgónii corpus aliquándo Romam portátum, inter duas Lauros via Latína sepúltum, póstea a Gregório quarto summo Pontífice in basílicam Príncipis Apostolórum translátum est.

Gorgonius was a native of Nicomedia, and one of the chamberlains of the Emperor Diocletian.  He, with the help of a fellow-chamberlain named Dorotheus, brought all the other chamber-servants to believe in Christ.  Both of them one day saw a martyr hideously tortured in the presence of Diocletian, and the ensample of his testimony roused them both up to desire the same, and they both said : Why, O Emperor, dost thou punish this man only, by condemning an opinion which we share with him?  His belief is our belief.  Our will is the same.  The Emperor thereupon ordered them be bound and scourged till their bodies were perfectly flayed, and a mixture of vinegar and salt poured into the wounds. Soon after he commanded them to be bound again and grilled on bars over hot coals.  Finally, after a variety of tortures, they were hanged.  The body of the holy Gorgonius was some time brought to Rome, and buried between the two laurel-trees upon the Latin Way, but, afterwards, during the Pontificate of Gregory IV, it was brought into the Church of the Prince of the Apostles.

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

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

Lauds

The Abbey Church at Gorze, final resting place of the relics of St. Gorgonius

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.

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.
Sanctus tuus, Dómine, Gorgónius sua nos intercessióne lætíficet : et pia fáciat solemnitáte gaudére.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
We beseech thee, O Lord : that thy blessed Martyr Gorgonius may at all times gladden us with his intercession ; and cause us ever to rejoice in the devout observance of his festival.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

SUFFRAGE OF ALL SAINTS

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