St. Martin the First

Pope and Martyr

Semidouble

Common

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Gregem tuum, Pastor ætérne, placátus inténde : et per beátum Martínum Mártyrem tuum atque Summum Pontíficem, perpétua protectióne custódi ; quem totíus Ecclésiæ præstitísti esse pastórem.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O eternal Shepherd, do thou look favorably upon thy flock, which we beseech thee to guard and keep for evermore through the Blessed Martin thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, whom thou didst choose to be the chief shepherd of the whole Church.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

At Second Vespers of St. Martin of Tours, BC

Ant:  Iste Sanctus pro lege Dei sui certávit usque ad mortem, et a verbis impiórum non tímuit ; fundátus enim erat supra firmam petram.

Ant:  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.

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

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Compline of Feria
 

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 Martyr, A Mileto.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of a Martyr
 

Second Nocturn

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 Fourth Lesson is used alone.

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.

Martínus, Tudérti in Umbria natus, inítio pontificátus, et lítteris et legatiónibus missis óperam dedit, ut Paulum Constantinopolitánum patriárcham a nefária hæresi ad cathólicæ fídei veritátem revocáret.  Qui, Constánte imperatóre hærético fretus, eo améntiæ progréssus fúerat, ut Sedis apostólicæ legátos várie in ínsulas relegárit.  Quo ejus scélere commótus Póntifex, coácto Romæ concílio centum quinque episcopórum, eum condemnávit.

Martin was born at Todi in Umbria.  At the beginning of his Popedom, he was careful to send an embassage with letters to Paul, Patriarch of Constantinople, to call upon him to return to the truth of the Catholic faith from the blasphemous heresy of the Monothelites.  But Paul, being backed up by the heretic Emperor Constans, had become so rabid, that he sent away the messengers of the Apostolic See into divers places in the islands.  This crime moved the Pope to gather together at Rome a council of one hundred and five Bishops, by whom Paul was condemned.

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.

Quæ causa fuit Constánti mitténdi in Italiam Olympium exárchum, ut Martínum Pontíficem interficiéndum aut ad se perducéndum curáret.  Igitur Olympius, Romam véniens, lictóri mandat ut Pontíficem, dum in basílica sanctæ Maríæ ad Præsépe Missárum solémnia celebráret, occíderet.  Quod ubi lictor aggréditur, cæcus repénte factus est.

Thereupon Constans sent Olympius into Italy as Exarch, straitly commanding him either to slay Pope Martin, or else to bring him into his Imperial presence.  Olympius therefore came to Rome and bade a lictor to kill the Pope while as he was celebrating the Liturgy solemnly in the Cathedral Church of St. Mary-at-the-Manger.  But when the lictor went thither, he was struck with blindness.

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.

Constánti autem imperatóri ex eo témpore multæ calamitátes incidérunt ; quibus níhilo mélior factus, Theodórum Callíopam ad Urbem mittens, ímperat ut Pontífici manus injíciat.  A quo per fraudem captus Martínus et Constantinópolim perdúctus, deínde in Chersonésum relegátus ; ibi ob cathólicam fidem ærúmnis conféctus, sextodécimo Kaléndas Octóbris cessit e vita, clarus miráculis.  Cujus corpus, Romam póstea translátum, in ecclésia cónditum est, quæ sanctórum Silvéstri et Martíni nómine dedicáta erat.  Præfuit Ecclésiæ  annos sex, mensem unum, dies vigínti sex.  Hábuit ordinatiónes duas mense Decémbri, quibus creávit presbyteros úndecim, diáconos quinque, epíscopos per divérsa loca trigínta tres.

From that time forth many evils befell the Emperor Constans ; but he repented not.  He sent the Exarch Theodore Calliopas to Rome, with command to lay hands on the Pope.  By him Martin was treacherously taken and brought to Constantinople, till he was sent to the Crimea.  There his sufferings for the Catholic faith utterly broke him down, and he left this life for a better, upon the 12th day of November.  He was famous for miracles.  His body was afterwards brought back to Rome and buried in the church dedicated under the names of St. Silvester and St. Martin.  He ruled the Church for six years, one month, and twenty-six days.  He held two ordinations in the month of December, wherein he made eleven Priests, five Deacons, and thirty-three Bishops for divers places.

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

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

The Church of San Silvestro e San Martíno ai Monti, Rome

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.

Martínus, Tudérti in Umbria natus, inítio pontificátus, et lítteris et legatiónibus missis óperam dedit, ut ad cathólicam veritátem revocáret Paulum Constantinopolitánum hæréticum, qui, Constánte imperatóre fretus, vel ipsos apostólicæ Sedis legátos várias in ínsulas relegáverat.  Hoc scélere commótus Póntifex, coácto Romæ concílio centum quinque episcopórum, eum condemnávit.  Quo duránte concílio, imperátor in Itáliam Olympium exárchum misit, qui summum Pontíficem extrúderet.  Verum cum Olympius nullum Martíno malum inferre potuísset, et mox misérrime decessísset ; Theodórus Callíopas, jussu imperatóris, basílica Lateranénsi proximísque pontificálibus ædibus occupátis, Martínum vi captum primo in ínsulam Naxum relegávit, dein Constantinópolim perdúxit.  Ibi sanctus Póntifex, in víncula conjéctus, ludíbria et contumélias expértus est, donec pulsus in Chersonésum, ob cathólicam fidem ærúmnis et inópia conféctus, cessit e vita, pontificátus sui anno octávo incépto.  Ejus corpus, Romam póstea translátum, in ecclésia cónditum est, quæ sanctórum Silvéstri et Martíni nómine dedicáta est.

Born at Todi in Umbria, Martin attempted at the beginning of his Popedom to recall Paul of Constantinople, a heretic, to the Catholic faith by sending letters and legates.  But Paul, supported by the Emperor Constans, banished the legates of the Apostolic See to various islands.  The Pope, aroused by this crime, gathered at Rome a council of one hundred and five Bishops, who condemned Paul.  During the council, the Emperor sent the Exarch Olympius to Italy to depose the Pope.  But Olympius soon died a miserable death, after failing to harm Martin in any way.  Then, on the the Emperor's orders, Theodore Calliopas took over the Lateran Basilica and the nearby residence of the Pope and arrested Martin, first sending him to the Island of Naxos and then bringing him to Constantinople.  Here the holy Pope was chained and suffered mockery and insults.  Exiled to the Crimea, he departed this life in the beginning of the eighth year of his pontificate, worn out with hardships and destitution for the sake of the Catholic faith.  His body was later taken to Rome and was buried in the church dedicated to Saints Silvester and Martin.

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

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

The Island of Naxos, where St. Martin was
held from June 653 until September 655

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

Absolutio: A vínculis peccatórum nostrórum absólvat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May the Lord Almighty and merciful break the bonds of our sins and set us free.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 7: Evangélica léctio sit nobis salus et protéctio.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 7:  May the Gospel's holy lection be our safeguard and protection.
R.  Amen.

In illo témpore : Venit Jesus in partes Cæsaréæ Philíppi, et interrogábat discípulos suos, dicens : Quem dicunt hómines esse Fílium hóminis?  Et réliqua.

At that time : When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  And so on, and that which followeth.

Cum, sicut evangélica lectióne reserátum est, interrogásset Dóminus discípulos, quem ipsum (multis divérsa opinántibus) créderent ; respondissétque beátus Petrus, dicens : Tu es Christus Fílius Dei vivi ; Dóminus ait : Beátus es, Simon Bar-Jona, quia caro et sanguis non revelávit tibi, sed Pater meus, qui in cælis est : et ego dico tibi, quia tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram ædificábo Ecclésiam meam, et portæ ínferi non prævalébunt advérsus eam.  Et tibi dabo claves regni cælórum : et quodcúmque ligáveris super terram, erit ligátum et in cælis : et quodcúmque sólveris super terram, erit solútum et in cælis.  Manet ergo disposítio veritátis, et beátus Petrus, in accépta fortitúdine petræ persevérans, suscépta Ecclésiæ gubernácula non relíquit.

When the Lord, as we read in the Gospel, asked his disciples who did men, amid their divers speculations, believe him the Son of Man to be, blessed Peter answered and said : Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And the Lord answered and said unto him : "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona : for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven : and I say also unto thee : That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it ; and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  But the dispensation of truth perdures, and blessed Peter, persevering in the strength of the rock which he hath received, hath not relinquished the position he assumed at the helm of the Church.

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

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

R.  Coróna áurea super caput ejus : * Expréssa signo sanctitátis, glória honóris et opus fortitúdinis.
V.  Quóniam prævenísti eum in benedictiónibus dulcédinis, posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.
R.  Expréssa signo sanctitátis, glória honóris et opus fortitúdinis.

R.  The Lord set a crown of gold upon his head, *  Wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, goodly and beautiful.
V.  For thou hast prevented him with the blessings of goodness, and hast set a crown of gold upon his head.
R.  Wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, goodly and beautiful.

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.

In univérsa namque Ecclésia, Tu es Christus Fílius Dei vivi, quotídie Petrus dicit ; et omnis lingua, quæ confitétur Dóminum, magistério hujus vocis imbúitur.  Hæc fides diábolum vincit et captivórum ejus víncula dissólvit.  Hæc érutos mundo, ínserit cælo, et portæ ínferi advérsus eam prævalére non possunt.  Tanta enim divínitus soliditáte muníta est, ut eam neque hærética umquam corrúmpere právitas, nec pagána potúerit superáre perfídia.  His ítaque modis, dilectíssimi, rationábile obséquio celebrétur hodiérna festívitas : ut in persóna humilitátis meæ ille intelligátur, ille honorétur, in quo et ómnium pastórum sollicitúdo, cum commendatárum sibi óvium custódia persevérat, et cujus étiam dígnitas in indígno heréde non déficit.

In the universal Church it is as if Peter were still saying  every day : Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  For every tongue which confesseth the Lord is taught that confession by the teaching of Peter.  This is the Faith that overcometh the devil and looseth the bonds of his prisoners.  This is the Faith which maketh men free of the world and bringeth them to heaven, and the gates of hell are impotent to prevail against it.  This is the rock which God hath fortified with such ramparts of salvation, that the contagion of heresy will never be able to infect it, nor idolatry and unbelief to overcome it.  And therefore, dearly beloved, we celebrate today's festival with reasonable obedience, that in my humble person he may be acknowledged and honoured who doth continue  to care for all the shepherds as well as sheep entrusted unto him, and who doth lose none of his dignity even in an unworthy successor.

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

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

R.  Dómine, prævenísti eum in benedictiónibus dulcédinis: * Posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.
V.  Vitam pétiit a te, et tribuísti ei longitúdinem diérum in sæculum sæculi.
R.  Posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Posuísti in cápite ejus corónam de lápide pretióso.

R.  Thou hast prevented him with the blessings of goodness; * Thou hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head, O Lord.
V.  He asked life of thee, and thou gavest him a long life, even for ever and ever.
R.  Thou hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head, O Lord.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Thou hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head, O Lord.

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.

Cum ergo cohortatiónes nostras áuribus vestræ sanctitátis adhibémus, ipsum vobis, cujus vice fúngimur, loqui crédite : quia et illíus vos afféctu monémus, et non áliud vobis, quam quod dócuit, prædicámus ; obsecrántes, ut succíncti lumbos mentis vestræ, castam et sóbriam vitam in Dei timóre ducátis.  Coróna mea, sicut Apóstolus ait, et gáudium vos estis, si fides vestra, quæ ab inítio Evangélii in univérso mundo prædicáta est, in dilectióne et sanctitáte permánserit.  Nam licet omnem Ecclésiam, quæ in toto est orbe terrárum, cunctis opórteat florére virtútibus ; vos tamen præcípue inter céteros pópulos decet méritis pietátis excéllere, quos in ipsa apostólicæ petræ arce fundátos, et Dóminus noster Jesus Christus cum ómnibus redémit, et beátus Apóstolus Petrus præ ómnibus erudívit.

When, therefore, we address our exhortations to your godly ears, believe ye that ye are hearing him speak whose office we are discharging.  Yea, it is with his love for you that we warn you.  And we preach unto you no other thing than that which he taught, entreating you as did he : Gird up the loins of your mind ; be sober ; be ye holy in all manner of living ; pass the time of your sojourning here in the fear of God.  My disciples, dearly beloved, ye are to me as the disciples of the Apostle Paul were to him, namely : My crown and joy; if so be that your faith, abide, still in all lowliness and holiness, like unto the first times of the Gospel.  For although the whole Church, which is in all the world, should indeed abound in all the virtues, it becometh especially you among all others to excel in acts of piety, founded as ye be on the very citadel of the Apostolic Rock―ye who have not only been redeemed with the rest of men by our Lord Jesus Christ, but who have been instructed by the blessed Apostle Peter far beyond all others.

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

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

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

Oremus.
Gregem tuum, Pastor ætérne, placátus inténde : et per beátum Martínum Mártyrem tuum atque Summum Pontíficem, perpétua protectióne custódi ; quem totíus Ecclésiæ præstitísti esse pastórem.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O eternal Shepherd, do thou look favorably upon thy flock, which we beseech thee to guard and keep for evermore through the Blessed Martin thy Martyr and Supreme Pontiff, whom thou didst choose to be the chief shepherd of the whole Church.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

SUFFRAGE OF ALL SAINTS

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Vespers from the Chapter onwards of the following day.  Commemoration of the preceding day.