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Second Nocturn |
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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. |
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V.
Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere. |
V. Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing. |
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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. |
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Lesson iv |
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Ex Commentáriis sancti Bonaventúræ Epíscopi |
The Lesson is taken from the Commentaries of St. Bonaventure the Bishop |
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Legenda S. Francisci cap. 13 |
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Fidélis revéra fámulus et miníster Christi, Francíscus, biénnio
ántequam spíritum rédderet cælo, cum
in loco excélso seórsum, qui mons Alvérniæ dícitur, quadragenárium ad
honórem Archángeli Michaélis jejúnium inchoásset, supérnæ contemplatiónis
dulcédine abundántius sólito superfúsus ac cæléstium desideriórum
ardentióri flamma succénsus, supernárum cœpit immissiónum cumulátius dona
sentíre. Dum ígitur seráphicis desideriórum ardóribus sursum
agerétur in Deum, et afféctus compassíva teneritúdine in eum
transformarétur, cui ex caritáte nímia crucifígi complácuit ; quodam mane
circa festum Exaltatiónis sanctæ Crucis, in látere montis orans, vidit
quasi spéciem uníus Séraphim, sex alas tam fúlgidas quam ignítas habéntem,
de cælórum sublimitáte descéndere. Qui, volátu celérrimo ad áëris
locum viro Dei propínquum pervéniens, non solum alátus, sed et crucifíxus
appáruit ; manus quidem et pedes habens exténsos et cruci affíxos, alas
vero sic miro modo hinc inde dispósitas, ut duas supra caput erígeret,
duas ad volándum exténderet, duábus vero réliquis totum corpus
circumplecténdo veláret. Hoc videns veheménter obstúpuit, mixtúmque
dolóri gáudium mens ejus incúrrit, dum et in gratióso ejus aspéctu, sibi
tam mirabíliter quam familiáriter apparéntis, excessívam quamdam
concipiébat lætítiam, et dira conspécta crucis affíxio ipsíus ánimam
compassívi dolóris gládio pertransívit. |
Francis being indeed a faithful servant and minister of
Christ, about the space of two years before he gave back his spirit to
heaven, withdrew himself into an high mountain apart, even that mountain
which is called Mount Alverno, and began to fast for forty days to the
honour of the Archangel Michael. To think of the things above gave
him sweeter comfort than beforetime he was wont, and the hot longing for
heaven was kindled in him, so that he began to feel that the gifts from
above were poured forth upon him in such fulness as he had never felt
before. The burning of his desire made his heart rise towards God
like the heart of a seraph, and his tender answering love yearned to be
changed into the likeness of him who hath so loved us that he was content
to bear the Cross. And it was so that one morning early, about the
time of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, he was praying upon
the side of the mountain, and there appeared to him as it had been one of
the Seraphim, having six wings, glorious and fiery, flying to him from
heaven. It came therefore very swiftly, and stood in the air, hard
by the man of God. He beheld then the appearance thereof that it was
not winged only, but crucified also. His hands and feet were
stretched forth and nailed to a Cross. Twain of his wings were
lifted up and joined one to the other over his head, and twain were
stretched forth to fly withal, and with twain he wrapped around his body.
When Francis saw it, he was sore amazed, and his soul was filled with
sorrow and gladness, for the eyes of him that appeared were full of
strange love and tenderness, so that he conceived great rejoicing thereat,
but the nailing to the Cross was so exceedingly dreadful, that as he saw
it, a sword of sorrow pierced his soul. |
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V.
Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R. Deo grátias. |
V.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God. |
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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. |
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V.
Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere. |
V. Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing. |
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Benedíctio
5: Christus perpétuæ
det nobis gáudia vitæ.
R. Amen. |
Benediction
5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal.
R. Amen. |
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Lesson v |
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Intelléxit quidem, illo docénte intérius qui et
apparébat extérius, quod, licet passiónis infírmitas cum immortalitáte
spíritus seráphici nullátenus
conveníret, ídeo tamen hujúsmodi vísio suis fúerat præsentáta
conspéctibus, ut amícus ipse Christi prænósceret, se, non per martyrium
carnis sed per incéndium mentis, totum in Christi Jesu crucifíxi expréssam
similitúdinem transformándum. Dispárens ítaque vísio, post arcánum
ac familiáre collóquium, mentem ipsíus seráphico intérius inflammávit
ardóre ; carnem vero Crucifíxo confórmi extérius insignívit effígie,
tamquam si ad ignis liquefactívam virtútem præámbulam sigillatíva quædam
esset impréssio subsecúta. Statim namque in mánibus et pédibus ejus
apparére cœpérunt signa clavórum, ipsórum capítibus in inferióri parte
mánuum et superióri pedum apparéntibus, et eórum acumínibus exsisténtibus
ex advérso. Dextrum quoque latus, quasi láncea transfíxum, rubra
cicatríce obdúctum erat, quod sæpe, sánguinem sacrum effúndens, túnicam et
femorália respergébat. |
Then he whom he beheld with his bodily eyes, began to
speak silently unto him in his heart, and he understood that albeit the
deathless Séraphim cannot suffer or faint, this vision was nevertheless
therefore set before him, that he might know that as a friend of Christ he
was to be all changed into the likeness of Christ Jesus crucified, not by
the martyrdom of the body, but by the fervour of the soul. Then they
held together some sweet converse, as of a man with his friend, and the
vision passed from him, but his heart was kindled inwardly with the fire
of the Seraphim, and his body was outwardly changed into the likeness of
him who was crucified, even as wax is softened by the fire and taketh the
impression of the seal. From thenceforth there were in his hands and
feet the marks of the nails. The heads of the nails were seen in the
palms of his hands and on the insteps of his feet, and the points came out
on the backs of his hands and the soles of his feet. In his right
side also was a long raw wound, as though he had been pierced with a
spear, from which wound his holy blood oftentimes ran and stained his
shirt and breeches. |
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V.
Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R. Deo grátias. |
V.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God. |
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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. |
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V.
Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere. |
V. Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing. |
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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. |
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Lesson vi |
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Postquam ígitur novus homo Francíscus novo et stupéndo
miráculo cláruit, cum singulári privilégio retroáctis sæculis
non concésso insignítus appáruit, sacris vidélicet Stigmátibus decorátus,
descéndit de monte secum ferens Crucifíxi effígiem, non in tábulis
lapídeis vel lígneis manu figurátam artíficis, sed in cárneis membris
descríptam dígito Dei vivi. Quóniam sacraméntum regis seráphicus vir
abscóndere bonum esse óptime norat, secréti regális cónscius, signácula
illa sacra pro víribus occultábat. Verum, quia Dei est ad glóriam
suam magna reveláre quæ facit, Dóminus ipse, qui signácula illa secréte imprésserat,
mirácula quædam apérte per ipsa monstrávit ; ut illórum occúlta et mira
vis Stígmatum manifésta patéret claritáte signórum. - Porro rem
admirábilem ac tantópere testátam atque in pontifíciis diplomátibus
præcípuis láudibus et favóribus exaltátam, Benedíctus Papa undécimus
anniversária solemnitáte celebrári vóluit ; quam póstea Paulus quintus
Póntifex máximus, ut corda fidélium in Christi crucifíxi accenderéntur
amórem, ad univérsam Ecclésiam propagávit. |
Thereafter Francis was a new creature, famous for a new
and awful sign. The holy marks of the Lord Jesus, whereon living man
for twelve centuries had not been allowed to look, were his adornment.
He came down from the mount bearing in himself the form of Jesus
Crucified, not pourtrayed upon tables of stone or wood by the hand of any
earthly craftsman, but drawn upon his flesh by the finger of the living
God. The dying Seraph knew well that it is good to keep close the
secret of a king, and knowing the secret of his King, he strove as far as
in him lay to keep the sacred marks hidden from men. Nevertheless,
forasmuch as it is the will of the Lord God for his own glory to make
manifest the greatness of his own works, he openly shewed forth divers
wonders through these wounds which he had himself made in secret, so that
the hidden and wondrous power of the marks might become known by the fame
of the miracles. - The foregoing marvellous but thoroughly witnessed
facts, which were already spoken of in Papal documents with especial
praise and joy, were made, by the pleasure of Pope Benedict XI, the
subject of a yearly memorial, which was afterwards extended by Paul V to
the whole Church, in the hope of fanning in the hearts of the faithful the
love of Christ Crucified. |
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V.
Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R. Deo grátias. |
V.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God. |
The death of St. Francis |
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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. |
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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. |
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Francíscus singulári privilégio
retroáctis sæculis non
concésso insignítus appáruit, cum sacris Stigmátibus decorátus descéndit
de monte, secum ferens Crucifíxi effígiem, non in tábulis lapídeis vel
lígneis manu figurátam artíficis, sed in cárneis membris descríptam dígito
Dei vivi. Quóniam sacraméntum regis seráphicus vir abscóndere bonum
esse óptime norat, secréti regális cónscius, signácula illa sacra pro
víribus occultábat. Verum, quia Dei est ad glóriam suam magna
reveláre quæ facit, Dóminus ipse, qui signácula illa secréte imprésserat, mirácula quædam apérte per ipsa monstrávit ; ut illórum
occúlta et mira vis Stígmatum manifésta patéret claritáte signórum. -
Porro rem admirábilem ac tantópere testátam atque in pontifíciis
diplomátibus præcípuis láudibus et favóribus exaltátam, Benedíctus Papa
undécimus anniversária solemnitáte celebrári vóluit ; quam póstea Paulus
quintus Póntifex máximus, ut corda fidélium in Christi crucifíxi
accenderéntur amórem, ad univérsam Ecclésiam propagávit. |
Francis, by a singular privilege,
was adorned with the holy marks of the Lord Jesus, whereon living man for
twelve centuries had not been allowed to look. He came down from the
mount bearing in himself the form of Jesus Crucified, not pourtrayed upon
tables of stone or wood by the hand of any earthly craftsman, but drawn
upon his flesh by the finger of the living God. The dying Seraph
knew well that it is good to keep close the secret of a king, and knowing
the secret of his King, he strove as far as in him lay to keep the sacred
marks hidden from men. Nevertheless, forasmuch as it is the will of
the Lord God for his own glory to make manifest the greatness of his own
works, he openly shewed forth divers wonders through these wounds which he
had himself made in secret, so that the hidden and wondrous power of the
marks might become known by the fame of the miracles. - The foregoing
marvellous but thoroughly witnessed facts, which were already spoken of in
Papal documents with especial praise and joy, were made, by the pleasure
of Pope Benedict XI, the subject of a yearly memorial, which was
afterwards extended by Paul V to the whole Church, in the hope of fanning
in the hearts of the faithful the love of Christ Crucified. |
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V.
Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R. Deo grátias. |
V.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God. |
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TE DEUM LAUDAMUS |
TE DEUM |
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After the conclusion of the
Second Nocturn, the Third Nocturn is begun according to the current
weekday, as given in the table below. |
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