Priest, Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Double

Common

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

At Second Vespers of St. Michael Archangel

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

Ant:  O Doctor right excellent, O light of Holy Church, O blessed Jerome, 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 Ecclésiæ tuæ in exponéndis sacris Scriptúris beátum Hierónymum, Confessórem tuum, Doctórem máximum providére dignátus es : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, ejus suffragántibus méritis, quod ore simul et ópere dócuit, te adjuvánte, exercére valeámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who for the exposition of thy holy Scriptures didst bestow upon thy Church the wondrous teachings of blessed Jerome thy Confessor and Doctor : grant, we beseech thee ; that by the intercession of his merits, we may of thee be enabled to perform those things which he taught in word and deed.  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

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.

Hierónymus, Eusébii fílius, Stridóne in Dalmátia, Constántio imperatóre, natus, Romæ adoléscens est baptizátus, et in liberálibus disciplínis a Donáto et áliis viris doctíssimis erudítus.  Tum discéndi stúdio Gálliam peragrávit ; ubi pios áliquot et in divínis lítteris erudítos viros cóluit, multósque sacros libros sua manu descrípsit.  Mox se in Græciam cónferens. Philosophía et eloquéntia instrúctus, summórum theologórum consuetúdine flóruit.  In primis vero Gregório Nazianzéno Constantinópoli óperam dedit ; quo doctóre se sacras lítteras dídicísse profitétur.  Tum religiónis causa visit Christi Dómini incunábula, totámque lustrávit Palæstínam ; quam peregrinatiónem, adhíbitis Hebræórum eruditíssimis, ad sacræ Scriptúræ intelligéntiam sibi multum profuísse testátur.

Jerome was the son of one Eusebius, and was born at Sdrigni in Dalmatia, in the reign of the Emperor Constantius.  He was baptized at Rome when a young boy, and studied there, under the instruction of Donatus and other very learned personages.  He travelled in Gaul for the sake of improving his mind, and there sought the friendship of divers godly men learned in the Scriptures, and made with his own hand many copies of the holy books.  He afterwards betook himself to Greece, where he attained eminence as a philosopher and orator, in the following of the most famous theologians.  At Constantinople, in especial, he sat at the feet of Gregory of Nazianzus, from whom he professeth himself to have learnt his theology.  Then, for godliness' sake, he went to see the home of the Lord Christ, and so throughout all Palestine.  He witnesseth that this pilgrimage, where he got the help of the most learned of the Jews for the understanding of the Holy Scriptures, did him much good.

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.  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.

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.

Deínde secéssit in vastam Syriæ solitúdinem ; ubi quadriénnium in lectióne divinórum librórum cælestísque beatitúdinis contemplatióne consúmpsit, assídua se abstinéntia, vi lacrimárum et córporis afflictatióne discrúcians.  Présbyter a Paulíno epíscopo Antiochíæ factus, Romam de controvérsiis quorúmdam episcopórum cum Paulíno et Epiphánio ad Dámasum Pontíficem proféctus, ejus ecclesiásticis epístolis scribéndis adjútor fuit.  Verum, cum prístinæ solitúdinis desidério tenerétur, in Palæstínam revérsus, Béthlehem ad Christi Dómini præsépe, in monastério quod a Paula Romána exstrúctum erat, cæléstem quamdam vitæ ratiónem instítuit ; et, quamquam várie morbis doloribúsque tentarétur, tamen córporis incómmoda piis labóribus et perpétua lectióne ac scriptióne superábat.

He withdrew himself into the wild deserts of Syria, where he passed four years in studying the Holy Scriptures and in considering the blessedness of heaven, afflicting his body by alway denying himself, by bitter tears, and by chastisement of the flesh.  He was ordained Priest by Paulinus, Patriarch of Antioch.  He went to Rome on account of the quarrelling of certain Bishops with Paulinus and Epiphanius, and there helped Pope Damasus in the writing of his letters upon Church affairs.  But the longing for his old solitude came upon him, and he went back to Palestine, where, in the monastery at Bethlehem, built beside the cradle of the Lord Christ by the Lady Paula of Rome, he set himself to enter on earth upon the life of heaven, serving God in reading and writing without ceasing, regardless of the sufferings of a body tormented by divers diseases and pains.

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 hath put on him the breast-plate of faith, and hath adorned him.
R.  And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.

The Rooms of St. Jerome in the Caves of Bethlehem

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.

Tamquam ad oráculum, ex ómnibus orbis terræ pártibus, ad ipsum divínæ Scriptúræ quæstiónes explicándæ referebántur.  Illum Dámasus Póntifex, illum sanctus Augustínus de locis Scriptúræ difficíllimis sæpe consúluit, propter ejus singulárem doctrínam, et linguæ non solum Latínæ et Græcæ, sed Hebráicæ étiam et Chaldáicæ, intelligéntiam ; et quod omnes pene scriptóres, ejúsdem Augustíni testimónio, légerat.  Hæréticos acérrimis scriptis exagitávit ; piórum et catholicórum patrocínium semper suscépit.  Vetus Testaméntum ex Hebræo convértit ; novum, jussu Dámasi, Græcæ fídei réddidit, magna étiam ex parte explicávit.  Multa prætérea Latíne réddidit scripta doctórum virórum, et ipse áliis próprii ingénii monuméntis christiánam disciplínam illustrávit.  Qui, ad summam senectútem pervéniens, sanctitáte et doctrína illústris, Honório imperatóre, migrávit in cælum.  Cujus corpus, ad Béthlehem sepúltum, póstea Romam in basílicam sanctæ Maríæ ad Præsépe translátum est.

Hard questions upon the interpretation of the Holy Scripture were sent to him from all parts of the earth, as to an oracle.  He was oftentimes consulted by Pope Damasus and by the holy Augustine upon the meaning of the most obscure passages of the Scripture, because of his extraordinary learning, and that he knew not the Latin and Greek tongues only, but also the Hebrew and Chaldee, and, as the same Augustine testifieth, had read nearly all writers.  He attacked heretics with keen publications, and ever undertook the defence of the godly and Catholic.  He translated the Old Testament from Hebrew into Latin, and, at the command of Damasus, reformed, according to the original Greek, the existing version of the New.  Upon great part of the Scriptures he wrote commentaries.  He translated likewise into Latin the works of many learned men, and himself contributed to the Christian life many monuments of his own wit.  He lived to an extreme old age, and passed away to heaven, famous for learning and holiness, in the reign of the Emperor Honorius.  His body was buried at Bethlehem, but hath since been brought to Rome, where it lieth in the Church of St. Mary-at-the-Manger.

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

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

St. Jerome passed away to heaven upon the
30th day of September in the year of our Lord 420

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.

St. Mary Major, Rome

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.

Hierónymus, Stridóne in Dalmátia natus, Romæ adoléscens est baptizátus, et liberálibus disciplínis a Donáto et áliis viris doctíssimis erudítus.  Religiónis causa, totam lustrávit Palæstínam.  Deínde secéssit in vastam Syriæ solitúdinem, ubi quadriénnium in lectióne divinórum librórum cælestísque beatitúdinis contemplatióne consúmpsit.  Présbyter a Paulíno epíscopo Antiochíæ factus et in Palæstínam revérsus, Béthlehem ad Christi Dómini præsépe cæléstem quamdam vitæ ratiónem instítuit, et diáboli insídias piis labóribus ac perpétua lectióne et scriptióne superávit.  Tamquam ad oráculum, úndique ad ipsum divínæ Scriptúræ quæstiónes explicándæ referebántur.  Illum Dámasus Románus Póntifex et sanctus Augustínus de locis Scriptúræ difficíllimis sæpe consuluérunt propter ejus singulárem doctrínam et linguæ non solum Latínæ et Græcæ, sed Hebráice étiam et Chaldáicæ intelligéntiam.  Vetus Testaméntum ex Hebræo convértit ; novum, jussu Dámasi, Græcæ fídei rédditum, magna étiam ex parte explicávit.  In summa senectúte migrávit in cælum.  Ejus corpus, ad Béthlehem sepúltum, póstea Romam delátum, in basílica sanctæ Maríæ majóris cónditum fuit.

Jerome, born at Stridon in Dalmatia, was baptized at Rome as a young man and studied the liberal arts with Donatus and other very learned men.  In the service of religion, he travelled all over Palestine.  Then he retired to the vast Syrian desert, where he spent four years in reading sacred Scripture and in the contemplation of the blessedness of heaven.  Ordained priest by Paulinus, Bishop of Antioch, he went back to Palestine.  There, near the crib of the Lord Christ in Bethlehem, he led a life patterned after that of heaven itself.  He conquered the wiles of the devil with works of devotion and continual reading and writing.  Questions on Holy Scripture were referred for explanation to him as to an oracle, being sent to him from all over the world.  Pope Damasus and St. Augustine often consulted him on difficult passages in Scripture because of his singular learning and his knowledge not only of Latin and Greek but also of Hebrew and Chaldaic.  He translated the Old Testament from the Hebrew ; and by command of Pope Damasus, he revised the translation of the New Testament to make it faithful to the Greek text and explained a great part of it.  In extreme old age, he made the journey to heaven.  His body was buried at Bethlehem and later taken to Rome and buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

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 illo témpore : Dixit Jesus discípulis suis:   Vos estis sal terræ.  Quod si sal evanúerit, in quo saliétur?  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus said unto his disciples:  Ye are the salt of the earth : But if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  And so on, and that which followeth.

Sal appellántur Apóstoli et Doctóres ; quia per illos univérsum hóminum condítur genus.  Quod si sal evanúerit, in quo saliétur?  Si doctor erráverit, a quo álio doctóre emendábitur?  Ad níhilum valet ultra, nisi ut mittátur foras, et conculcétur ab homínibus.  Exémplum de agricultúra sumptum est.  Sal étenim, sicut in cibórum condiméntum et ad siccándas carnes necessárium est, ita álium usum non habet.  Certe légimus in Scriptúris urbes quasdam, ira victórum, sale seminátas, ut nullum in ipsis germen orirétur.

Apostles and teachers are called salt, for it is by them that the whole mass of mankind is seasoned.  But if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  If the teacher have gone astray, by what other teacher is he to be corrected?  It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  This is a figure taken from farming.  Salt is used to savour food withal, and to preserve meat, but it hath no other use.  In sooth, we read in the Scriptures of some cities which were sown with salt in the fury of their conquerors, that no bud of life might ever spring there again.

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 de omni corde suo laudávit Dóminum : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Ecce homo sine queréla, verus Dei cultor, ábstinens se ab omni ópere malo, et pérmanens in innocéntia sua.
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.  Behold a man without blame, a worshipper of God in truth, keeping himself clean from every evil work, and abiding still in his innocency.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.

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.

Cáveant ergo doctóres et epíscopi, et vídeant Poténtes poténter torménta sustinére ; nihílque esse remédii, sed majórum ruínam ad tártarum dúcere.  Vos estis lux mundi.  Non potest cívitas abscóndi supra montem pósita ; neque accéndunt lucérnam, et ponunt eam sub módio, sed super candelábrum, ut lúceat ómnibus qui in domo sunt.  Docet fidúciam prædicándi, ne Apóstoli abscondántur ob metum, et sint símiles lucérnæ sub módio ; sed tota libertáte se prodant, ut, quod audiérunt in cubículis, prædicent in tectis.

Let teachers and Bishops, then, look well to it, seeing that mighty men shall be mightily tormented.  And there is no help for them, but they fall into hell with a great crash.  Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that it may give light unto all that are in the house.  Here he teacheth boldness in preaching, lest the Apostles should shrink away from fear, and be like unto candles under a bushel ; but contrariwise should come forward with all freedom, and should proclaim upon the house-tops that which had been spoken in the ear in closets.

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..

If Lesson ix is to be taken from an occurring Feast or Sunday, it is given in its proper place, as announced in the Ordo.

Alternate Ninth Lesson

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.

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

Nolíte putáre quóniam veni sólvere legem aut prophétas ; non veni sólvere legem aut prophétas ; non veni sólvere, sed adimplére.  Sive quod de se per álios prophetáta compléverit, sive quod ea, quæ ante propter infirmitátem audiéntium rúdia et imperfécta fúerant, sua prædicatióne compléverit, iram tollens et vicem talliónis exclúdens et occúltam in mente concupiscéntiam damnans.  Donec tránseat cælum et terra.  Promittúntur nobis cæli novi et terra nova, quæ factúrus est Dóminus Deus.  Si ergo nova creánda sunt, consequénter vétera transitúra.

Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets ; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  The meaning is, either that he was to come to fulfil those things which others had prophesied concerning him, or that he was come to give the full measure of those things which had been spoken darkly and imperfectly on account of the weakness of their hearers, making away with anger, forbidding to take eye for eye and tooth for tooth, and condemning the secret lusting of the heart.  Till heaven and earth pass.  But there are promised unto us new heavens and a new earth, which the Lord God shall make.  And if new things are to be created, old things must pass away.

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

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

Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome

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, intra in gáudium Dómini tui.

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: enter into the joy of thy Lord.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, qui Ecclésiæ tuæ in exponéndis sacris Scriptúris beátum Hierónymum, Confessórem tuum, Doctórem máximum providére dignátus es : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, ejus suffragántibus méritis, quod ore simul et ópere dócuit, te adjuvánte, exercére valeámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who for the exposition of thy holy Scriptures didst bestow upon thy Church the wondrous teachings of blessed Jerome thy Confessor and Doctor : grant, we beseech thee ; that by the intercession of his merits, we may of thee be enabled to perform those things which he taught in word and deed.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Second Vespers

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 Hierónyme, divínæ legis amátor, deprecáre pro nobis Fílium Dei.

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

Oremus.
Deus, qui Ecclésiæ tuæ in exponéndis sacris Scriptúris beátum Hierónymum, Confessórem tuum, Doctórem máximum providére dignátus es : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, ejus suffragántibus méritis, quod ore simul et ópere dócuit, te adjuvánte, exercére valeámus.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who for the exposition of thy holy Scriptures didst bestow upon thy Church the wondrous teachings of blessed Jerome thy Confessor and Doctor : grant, we beseech thee ; that by the intercession of his merits, we may of thee be enabled to perform those things which he taught in word and deed.  Through.