St. Edward the Confessor

King and Confessor

Semidouble

mtv

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Deus, qui beátum regem Eduárdum, Confessórem tuum, æternitátis glória coronásti : fac nos, quæsumus ; ita eum venerári in terris, ut cum eo regnáre possímus in cælis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who didst bestow upon thy blessed King Edward the crown of everlasting glory : grant us, we pray thee ; so to venerate him on earth, that we may be found worthy to reign with him in heaven.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

Westminster Abbey, England

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Similábo eum * viro sapiénti, qui ædificávit domum suam supra petram.

Ant. on Magnif:  I will liken him * unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock.

Oremus.
Deus, qui beátum regem Eduárdum, Confessórem tuum, æternitátis glória coronásti : fac nos, quæsumus ; ita eum venerári in terris, ut cum eo regnáre possímus in cælis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who didst bestow upon thy blessed King Edward the crown of everlasting glory : grant us, we pray thee ; so to venerate him on earth, that we may be found worthy to reign with him in heaven.  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 a Confessor not a Bishop, Series 1,  Beatus vir.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Confessors
 

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.

Eduárdus, cognoménto Conféssor, nepos sancti Eduárdi Regis et Mártyris, Anglo-Sáxonum regum últimus, quem futúrum regem Brithuáldo viro sanctíssimo in mentis excéssu Dóminus demonstrávit, decénnis a Danis Angliam vastántibus quæsítus ad necem, exsuláre cógitur apud avúnculum, Normánniæ ducem.  Ubi in médiis vitiórum illécebris talem se exhíbuit integritáte vitæ morúmque innocéntia, ut ómnibus admiratióni esset.  Elúxit in eo vel tum mira píetas in Deum ac res divínas, fuítque ingénio mitíssimo atque ab omni dominándi cupiditáte aliéno.  Cujus ea vox fertur, Malle se regno carére, quod sine cæde et sánguine obtinéri non possit.

Edward, surnamed the Confessor, was the nephew of the holy King Edward the Martyr, and himself the last Anglo-Saxon King.  That he should succeed to the Kingdom was shewn by the Lord in a trance to a most holy man named Brithwald.  When he was ten years old the Danes, who were ravaging England, sought him, to put him to death, and he was driven into exile to dwell with his mother's brother, Richard II, Duke of Normandy, at whose Court he lived among all the allurements of vice a life of such uprightness and innocency as made all men to marvel.  He was a burning and shining light for love of God and the things of God, very gentle-hearted, and quite free from any lust for power.  Of him the saying is preserved, That he would liefer not be a King than win a kingdom through slaughter and blood.

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.

St. Edward was crowned King of England
in the year 1042, being then about forty years old

Exstínctis mox tyránnis qui frátribus suis vitam et regnum eripúerant, revocátur in pátriam.  Ubi, summis ómnium votis et gratulatióne, regno potítus, ad hostílium irárum delénda vestígia totum se convértit, a sacris exórsus ac Divórum templis, quorum ália a fundaméntis eréxit, ália refécit auxítque redítibus ac privilégiis ; in eam curam potíssimum inténtus, ut reflorésceret collápsa relígio.  Ab aulæ procéribus compúlsum ad núptias, constans est assértio scriptórum, cum vírgine sponsa virginitátem in matrimónio servásse.   Tantus in eo fuit in Christum amor et fides, ut illum aliquándo inter Missárum solémnia vidére merúerit, blando vultu et divína luce fulgéntem.  Ob profúsam caritátem, orphanórum et egenórum pater passim dicebátur, numquam lætior quam cum régios thesáuros exhausísset in páuperes.

When the Danish tyrants, who had robbed his brothers Edmund and Alfred of  life and kingdom, were passed away, Edward was called back into his own country and with the hearty good-will and rejoicing of all, took the kingdom.  He set himself to repair the breaches which wars had made, and began with the things of God.  Of the Churches of the Saints, he built some altogether, and renewed others and gifted them with incomes and privileges, being chiefly fain that religion should rise from the low estate whereinto it had fallen.  He was brought by the nobles of his Court to marry, but it is constantly said by all writers that in matrimony he remained a virgin with a virgin bride.  So great was his love toward Christ, and so strong his faith, that somewhiles when the Mass was in saying, he won to see him, with countenance full of grace, and glory of God's light.  By reason of the abundance of his charity he was styled everywhere the father of orphans and of the poor, and he was never happier than when he had spent upon the needy the whole of his kingly treasure.

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.

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.

Prophetíæ dono illústris, de Angliæ futúro statu multa cælitus prævídit ; et illud in primis memorábile, quod Sweýni Danórum regis, in mare demérsi, mortem, dum Angliam invadéndi ánimo classem conscénderet, eódem quo áccidit moménto, divínitus intelléxit.  Joánnem Evangelístam mirífice cóluit, nihil cuíquam, quod ejus nómine peterétur, negáre sólitus.  Cui olim sub lácera veste suo nómine stipem rogánti, cum nummi deéssent, detráctum ex dígito ánulum porréxit ; quem Divus non ita multo post Eduárdo remísit, una cum núntio secutúræ mortis.  Quare rex, indíctis pro se précibus, ipso ab Evangelísta prædícto die piíssime óbiit, Nonis vidélicet Januárii, anno salútis millésimo sexagésimo sexto.  Quem sequénti sæculo Alexánder Papa tértius, miráculis clarum, Sanctórum fastis adscrípsit.  At ejus memóriam Innocéntius undécimus Offício público per univérsam Ecclésiam eo die celebrári præcépit, quo annis ab óbitu sex et trigínta translátum ejus corpus, incorrúptum et suávem spirans odórem repértum est.

He was famous for the gift of prophecy, and foretold by inspiration from heaven many things that were to befall England.  Of this gift the following is a remarkable instance.  Sweyn, King of the Danes, was embarking on ship-board with the mind to invade England, when he fell into the sea and was drowned, and God made known his death to Edward at the very same moment that it happened.  He had a wonderful love toward John the Evangelist, so that he was used never to refuse anything for the which he was asked in his name.  The Evangelist appeared to him one while in tattered raiment, and, in his own name, asked him for an alms.  It befell that the King had no money, wherefore he took a ring from off his finger and gifted him therewith.  Not long afterward, the Evangelist sent the same ring back to him by a pilgrim, with a message concerning his death, which was then at hand.  The King therefore commanded that prayers should be made for him, and then fell blessedly asleep in the Lord, upon the very day which had been foretold to him by the Evangelist, that is to say, upon the 5th day of January, in the year of salvation 1066.  He was famous for miracles, and in 1161 Pope Alexander III numbered him among the Saints.  But Innocent XI commanded that his memory should be celebrated with a public Office throughout the whole Church, upon the 13th day of October, being that day whereon in the year 1102 his body had been lifted, and found uncorrupt and sweet-savoured.

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

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

The Shrine of St. Edward in Westminster Abbey

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.

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.

Eduárdus, cognoménto Conféssor, nepos sancti Eduárdi Regis et Mártyris, Anglo-Sáxonum regum últimus, decénnis a Danis Angliam vastántibus quæsítus ad necem, exsuláre cógitur apud avúnculum, Normánniæ ducem, ubi morum innocéntia ómnibus admiratióni fuit.  Exstínctis mox tyránnis, qui frátribus suis vitam et regnum eripúerant, revocátur in pátriam, ubi ad hostílium irárum delénda vestígia totum se convértit, a sacris exórsus templis.  Prophetíæ dono illústris, de Angliæ futúro statu multa cælitus prævídit.  Joánnem Evangelístam mirífice cóluit.  Ipso ab Evangelístam mirífice cóluit.  Ipso ab Evangelísta prædícto die piíssime óbiit, Nonis vidélicet Januárii, anno salútis millésimo sexagésimo sexto.  Quem Alexánder Papa tértius Sanctórum fastis adscríptis.

Edward, called the Confessor, nephew of St. Edward King and Martyr, was the last of the Saxon kings.  When he was ten years old, the Danes who were devastating England sought to kill him.  He was forced to go into exile at the court of his uncle, the Duke of Normandy.  There the innocency of Edward's life was the admiration of all.  With the destruction of the tyrants who had killed his brothers and usurped their kingdom, he was called back to his own country, where he devoted himself to wiping out all traces of the enemy's occupation.  He began with the restoration of the churches.  Famous for the gift of prophecy, he foresaw in a heavenly way a great deal about the future state of England.  He was wonderfully devoted to John the Evangelist and, on the day which the Evangelist had predicted to him, the 5th of January, 1066, he died a most holy death.  Alexander III enrolled him among the Saints.

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

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

The Shrine of St. Edward at Westminster Abbey

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 Sint lumbi vestri præcincti is read from the Common of a Confessor not a Bishop, Series 1.

Gospel Homily from Common of Confessors
 

Lauds

St. Edward the Confessor on the Bayeux Tapestry

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 beátum regem Eduárdum, Confessórem tuum, æternitátis glória coronásti : fac nos, quæsumus ; ita eum venerári in terris, ut cum eo regnáre possímus in cælis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who didst bestow upon thy blessed King Edward the crown of everlasting glory : grant us, we pray thee ; so to venerate him on earth, that we may be found worthy to reign with him in heaven.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

SUFFRAGE OF ALL SAINTS

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH