Duke and Martyr

Semidouble

Common

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

First Vespers

Statue of St. Wenceslas in Wenceslas Square, Prague

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.

St. Wenceslas Chapel, Prague

Oremus.
Deus, qui beátum Wencesláum per martyrii palmam a terréno principátu ad cæléstem glóriam transtulísti : ejus précibus nos ab omni adversitáte custódi ; et ejúsdem tríbue gaudére consórtio.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who through the victory of martyrdom didst exalt thy blessed Saint Wenceslas from his earthly principálity to the glory of thy heavenly kingdom : we pray thee, at his intercession, to defend us against all adversities ; and to suffer us to rejoice in his eternal fellowship.  Through.

Ant:  Gaudent in cælis ánimæ Sanctórum, qui Christi vestígia sunt secúti, et, quia pro ejus amóre sánguinem suum fudérunt, ídeo cum Christo exsúltant sine fine.

Ant:  In the heavenly kingdom the souls of the Saints are rejoicing, even such as walked in the footsteps of Christ, for love of whom they shed their very life-blood; therefore with Christ they now do reign for ever and ever.

V.  Exsultábunt Sancti in glória.
R.  Lætabúntur in cubílibus suis.

V.  Let the Saints be joyful with glory.
R.  Let them rejoice in their beds.

Oremus.
Præsta, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus : ut, qui sanctórum Mártyrum tuórum Cosmæ et Damiáni natalítia cólimus, a cunctis malis imminéntibus, eórum intercessiónibus, liberémur.  (Per Dóminum.)

Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that we, who observe the heavenly birthday of blessed Cosmas and Damian, thy Martyrs, may be their intercession be delivered from all evils that beset us.  (Through.)

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

SUFFRAGE OF ALL SAINTS

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 several Martyrs, Fratres, Debitores, with Responds from Common of one Martyr not a Bishop therein noted.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Several Martyrs

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.

Wencesláus Bohémiæ dux, Wratisláo patre christiáno, Drahomíra matre gentíli natus, ab ávia Ludmílla fémina sanctíssima pie educátus, omni virtútum génere insígnis, summo stúdio virginitátem per omnem vitam servávit illibátam.  Mater, per nefáriam Ludmíllæ necem regni administratiónem assecúta, ímpie cum junióre fílio Bolesláo vivens, concitávit in se prócerum indignatiónem ; quare, tyránnici et ímpii regíminis pertæsi, utriúsque excússo jugo, Wencesláum in urbe Pragénsi regem salutárunt.

Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, was the son of a Christian father, Duke Wratislas I, and an heathen mother named Drahomira.  He had for his grandmother a most holy woman, named Ludmilla, who trained him up in godliness.  He was a man eminent in all graces, and one who carefully held his virginity unsullied throughout the whole course of his life.  His mother seized the supreme power by the foul murder of Ludmilla, and lived foully with her younger son Boleslas, and the nobles roused thereby to indignation, and wearied with her tyranny and wicked government, cast off the yoke of both of them, and hailed Wenceslas in the city of Prague as their King.

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

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

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.

Ille, regnum pietáte magis quam império regens, órphanis, víduis, egénis tanta caritáte subvénit, ut própriis húmeris aliquándo ligna indigéntibus noctu comportárit, paupéribus humándis frequénter affúerit, captívos liberárit, carcéribus deténtos nocte intempésta visitárit, pecúniis et consílio sæpíssime consolátus.  Miti ánimo princeps veheménter dolébat quémpiam, etsi reum, morti adjudicári.  Summa religióne sacerdótes venerátus, suis mánibus tríticum serébat et vinum exprimébat, quibus in Missæ sacrifício uteréntur.  Nocte nudis pédibus super nivem et glaciem circuíbat ecclésias, sanguínea et terram calefaciéntia post se relínquens vestígia.

He ruled his kingdom by his virtues rather than by force.  To the orphaned, the widowed, and the destitute he was very charitable, so that some whiles in the winter he carried firewood to the needy on his own shoulders.  He helped oftentimes to bury the poor, he set captives free, and went many times to the prisons at the dead of night to comfort with money and advice them that were detained therein.  To a Prince of so tender an heart it was a great grief to be behoven to condemn any to death, however guilty.  For Priests he had a most earnest respect, and with his own hands sowed the corn and pressed the grapes for the bread and wine which they were to use for the Sacrifice.  He would walk around the Church at night with bare feet upon the snow and ice, leaving behind him bloody footprints that warmed the ground.

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.

Angelos hábuit sui córporis custódes.  Cum enim ad singuláre certámen advérsus Radisláum, ducem Curiménsem, eo fine accéderet, ut suórum salúti prospíceret, visi sunt Angeli arma ministrásse et dixísse adversário : Ne férias.  Pertérritus hostis, venerabúndus prócidens véniam exorávit.  Cum in Germániam proféctus esset, imperátor, conspéctis duóbus Angelis áurea cruce ad se accedéntem ornántibus, e sólio prosíliens bráchiis excépit, régiis insígnibus decorávit, eíque sancti Viti bráchium donávit.  Nihilóminus ímpius frater, matre hortánte, convívio excéptum et póstea in ecclésia orántem, parátæ sibi mortis præscium, adhíbitis scéleris comítibus, interfécit.  Sanguis per paríetes aspérsus adhuc conspícitur, et, Deo víndice, matrem inhumánam terra absórbuit, interfectóres váriis modis mísere periérunt.

For his Bodyguard he had angels.  For when Radislas, Prince of Gurinna, invaded Bohemia, and Wenceslas, to save the effusion of his people's blood, went out to meet him in single combat, two angels  were seen serving him with arms, and heard to say to the adversary : Strike not.  Therefore, his enemy was stricken with terror, fell down in reverence before him, and begged his forgiveness.  When he went to Germany, the Emperor saw two angels carrying a golden Cross before him as he drew night him, and arose from his throne, embraced him in his arms, created him a King, and gifted him with the arm of the holy Martyr Vitus.  Nevertheless, his godless brother, at the exhortation of their mother, bade him to a feast, and when Wenceslas, with a foreboding of the death prepared for him, went afterwards into the Church, and was praying there, Boleslas followed him thither, together with some accomplices of his crime, and when they had wounded him, despatched him with a lance.  The stains of his blood may still be seen upon the walls.  By the judgment of God, his unnatural mother was swallowed up by the earth, and his murderers, in divers ways, perished miserably.

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

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

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

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.

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.

Emperor Charles IV receiving presents from the city of Paris
as Wenceslas IV, Duke of Bohemia looks on

Wencesláus, Bohémiæ dux, Wratisláo patre Christiáno, Drahomíra matre gentíli natus, ab ávia Ludmílla fémina sanctíssima pie educátus, omni virtútum génere insígnis, summo stúdio virginitátem per omnem vitam servávit illibátam.  Mater, per nefáriam Ludmíllæ necem regni administratiónem assecúta, ímpie cum junióre fílio Bolesláo vivens, concitávit in se prócerum indignatiónem ; quare, ímpii regíminis pertæsi, utriúsque excússo jugo, Wencesláum in urbe Pragénsi regem salutárunt.  Qui regnum pietáte magis quam império gubernávit, in egénis et afflíctis sublevándis solers et assíduus.  Summa religióne sacerdótes venerátus, suis ipse mánibus tríticum serébat et vinum exprimébat, in Missæ sacrifício adhibénda.  Cum vero ab imperatóre régiis insígnibus decorátus fuísset, ab ímpio fratre, matris suásu, orans in ecclésia interféctus est.  Sanguis ejus per paríetes aspérsus adhuc conspícitur.

Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, was the son of Wratislas, who was a Christian, and Drahomira, a pagan, and was brought up in a devout way by his grandmother, Ludmilla, a most holy woman.  He was famed for all kinds of virtue and took great care to keep his virginity intact throughout his life.  The brutal murder of his grandmother, Ludmilla, left his mother secure in the administration of the kingdom.  The irreligious life of Drahomira and her younger son, Boleslas, aroused the indignation of the nobles.  Weary of this godless rule, they threw off the yoke of Drahomira and Boleslas and hailed Wenceslas as ruler in the city of Prague.  He ruled the kingdom more by love than by power, and was careful and constant in relieving the needy and the afflicted.  He honoured Priests with the highest veneration, and with his own hands sowed the wheat and pressed the wine to be used for the Sacrifice of the Mass.  When he had been decorated by the Emperor with royal insígnia, his wicked brother, at the instigation of his mother, killed him while he was praying in a church.  His blood may still be seen sprinkled upon the walls.

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 Nolite arbitrari is read from the Common of a Martyr, Series 3.

Gospel Homily from Common of a Martyr

St. Wenceslas enthroned

Lauds

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

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

SUFFRAGE OF ALL SAINTS

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH