Bishop, Confessor

Double

Common

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

Commemoration of the Feria.

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 Bishop Confessor, Series 1,  Fidelis sermo.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Bishop 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.

Nicoláum, illústri loco Pátaræ in Lycia natum, paréntes a Deo précibus impetrárunt.  Cujus viri sánctitas quanta futúra esset, jam ab incunábulis appáruit.  Nam infans, cum réliquos dies lac nutrícis frequens súgeret, quarta et sexta féria semel dumtáxat, idque vésperi sugébat : quam jejúnii consuetúdine in réliqua vita semper ténuit.  Adoléscens paréntibus orbátus, facultátes suas paupéribus distríbuit.  Cujus illud insígne est christiánæ benignitátis exémplum, quod cum ejus civis egens tres filias jam núbiles in matrimónio collocáre non posset, earúmque pudicítiam prostitúere cogitáret ; re cógnita, Nicoláus noctu per fenéstram tantum pecúniæ in ejus domum injécit, quantum uníus vírginis doti satis esset : quod cum íterum et tértio fecísset, tres illæ vírgines honéstis viris in matrimónium dátæ sunt.

Nicholas was born at the famous city of Patara in Lycia.  His parents obtained him from God by prayer, and the holiness of his life was marked even from the cradle.  When he was at the breast he never would suck more than once on Wednesdays and Fridays, and that always after sunset, though he sucked freely on other days.  This custom of fasting he never broke through during his whole life.  While he was still a young man he lost both his father and mother, after which he gave his whole property away to the poor.  One particular example is given of his Christian charity.  There was a certain needy man in the city who had three marriageable daughters, for whom he could not get husbands, and so thought to make them harlots.  When Nicholas heard of it, he went to the house by night and threw in by the window such a sum of money as made a dowry for one of them.  This he did a second and a third time, and thus by his charity they were honourably given in marriage.

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

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

R.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.
V.  Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei.
R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

R.  I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast.
V.  The enemy shall not be able to do him violence ; the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
R.  My hand shall hold him fast.

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.

Cum vero se totum Deo dedísset, in Palæstínam proféctus est, ut loca sancta víseret, et præsens venerarétur.  Qua in peregrinatióne navem conscéndens seréno cælo et tranquíllo mari, horríbilem nautis tempestátem prædíxit ; moxque ortam, cum essent omnes in summo perículo, orans mirabíliter sedávit.  Unde cum domum revérsus singuláris sanctitátis ómnibus documénta præbéret, Dei admónitu Myram, quæ Lyciæ metrópolis erat, venit ; quo témpore ejus urbis epíscopo mórtuo, provinciáles epíscopi de successóre deligéndo consultábant.  Itaque in ea deliberatióne divínitus admóniti sunt, ut eam elígerent, qui postrídie mane primus in ecclésiam ingrederétur, Nicoláus nómine.  Qua observatióne adhíbita, in ecclésiæ jánua deprehénsus est  Nicoláus, et summo ómnium consénsu Myræ epíscopus creátur.  In episcopátu castitátem, quam semper colúerat, gravitátem, oratiónis assiduitátem, vigílias abstinéntiam, liberalitátem et hospitalitátem, in adhortándo mansuetúdinem, in reprehendéndo severitátem perpétuo adhíbuit.

When he had given himself entirely to God he set forth for Palestine, that he might see the Holy Places, and worship therein.  During this pilgrimage he embarked once on board a ship when the sky was clear and the sea calm, but he foretold a great storm, which afterwards arose and raged until the sailors were afraid ; and then the saint by prayer stilled the tempest.  After he had returned home, and his holy life was known to all men, God bade him to to Myra, which is the chief city of Lycia, at a time when the Bishop had just died and the Bishops of the Province were called together to choose a successor.  While they deliberated, they received a warning from heaven to choose that Nicholas who should first come into the church in the morning.  In obedience to that warning, Nicholas was seized at the door of the church, and with universal consent consecrated Archbishop.  In his great office he was an unceasing model of purity, as he had always been, of gravity, of regularity in prayer, of watching, of abstinence, of charity, of hospitality, of meekness in exhortation, and of sternness in rebuke.

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

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

R.  Pósui adjutórium super poténtem, et exaltávi eléctum de plebe mea : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.
V.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum.
R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

R.  I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people. * My hand shall hold him fast.
V.  I have found David, my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him.
R.  My hand shall hold him fast.

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.

Víduis et órphanis pecúnia, consílio, ópera non défuit ; oppréssos adeo sublevávit, ut étiam tres tribúnos, per calúmniam a Constantíno Augústo condemnátos, qui se propter famam ejus miraculórum oratiónibus longíssime absénti commendárant, adhuc vivens, cum imperatóri, mináciter eum terrens, apparuísset, liberáverit.  Cum vero contra edíctum Diocletiáni et Maximiáni christiánæ fídei veritátem Myræ prædicáret, ab imperatórum satellítibus comprehénsus, et longíssime abdúctus, in cárcerem conjéctus est ; ubi fuit usque ad Constantínum imperatórem, cujus jussu ex custódia eréptus, Myram rédiit.  Mox ad Nicænum concílium se cóntulit ; ubi cum trecéntis illis decem et octo Pátribus Ariánam hærésim condemnávit.  Inde revérsus ad episcopátum, non ita multo post, instánte morte, suspíciens in cælum, cum Angelos sibi occurréntes intuerétur, illo Psalmo pronuntiáto, In te Dómine, sperávi ; usque ad eum locum, In manus tuas comméndo spíritum meum ; in cæléstem pátriam migrávit.  Ejus corpus Bárium in Apúlia translátum, ibídem summa celebritáte ac veneratióne cólitur.

He was the comforter of widows and orphans by money, by advice, and by labour.  He was the deliverer of the oppressed, so mightily, that it is related that the Emperor Constantine once unjustly condemned three Tribunes to death, and these unhappy men called upon Nicholas, though living and absent, to save them, who yet appeared in a vision to the Emperor, and forced him by threats to set them free.  When the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian published their edict against Christianity, Nicholas did not cease to preach the truth at Myra, wherefore he was seized by the soldiers of the Emperors, carried away from his See, and thrown into prison, where he remained until the accession of Constantine.  This Prince set him free, and he returned to Myra.  He betook himself to the first Council of Nicea, where he was one of the 318 Bishops who condemned the heresy of Arius.  He returned thence to his Bishoprick, and, not long after, became aware of the approach of death.  When his last moment was come, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and, when he saw the Angels coming to meet him, he began to recite the thirtieth Psalm, In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, and when he had said, Into thy hands I commend my spirit, he passed to the heavenly Fatherland.  His body was finally removed to Bari in Apulia, where it is kept with great fame and honour.

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 omnis terra doctrína ejus repléta est : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
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.  He was a man who despised the life of the world and attained unto the kingdom of heaven.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the 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.

Nicoláus, illústri loco Pátaræ in Lycia natus, quarta et sexta féria ab infántia jejunávit ; quam quidem consuetúdinem réliqua vita semper ténuit.  Adoléscens paréntibus orbátus, facultátes suas paupéribus distríbuit.  Cujus illud insígne est caritátis exémplum, quod tribus puéllis periclitántibus, congruénti pecúniæ vi in dotem constitúta, succúrrerit.  In Palæstínam peregrinátus, Dei admónitu Myram, Lyciæ metrópolim, venit ; ubi a provinciálibus epíscopis, Myrénsi epíscopo vita functo, præter ómnium opiniónem, miro consénsu, sufféctus est.  Eo in múnere ómnium virtútum se exémplar præbuit.  Cum autem contra Diocletiáni et Maximiáni edíctum christiánæ fídei veritátem prædicáret, in cárcerem conjéctus est, ubi fuit usque ad Constantínum imperatórem.  Nicæno Concílio intérfuit, in quo Ariána hæresis damnáta est.  Ad suos revérsus, Myræ sanctíssime óbiit.  Ejus corpus Bárium in Apúlia translátum, ibídem summa celebritáte cólitur.

Nicholas was born in the famous city of Patara in Lycia.  From his childhood he fasted every Wednesday and Friday, and maintained this custom throughout his life.  Deprived of his parents in early youth, he distributed his possessions to the poor.  One example of his marvellous charity was this : he came to the aid of three girls whose virtue was endangered, by providing a sum of money sufficient for their dowries.  While on a pilgrimage to Palestine, he went at God's command to Myra, the metropolitan see of Lycia, where the Bishop had died.  Here, contrary to all expectation, he was elected to the see by a marvellous consénsus of all the assembled Bishops of the province.  In the work of his episcopate, he stood out as an example of all virtues.  But when he defied the edict of Diocletian and Maximian by continuing to preach the truth of the Christian faith, he was thrown into prison, where he remained until Constantine became emperor.  He took part in the Council of Nicea, at which the Arian heresy was condemned.  Returning to his own country, he died a very holy death in Myra.  His body was transferred to Bari in Apulia, and is there venerated a s most famous relic.

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

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

Crypt of the Church of St. Nicholas, Bari

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 Homo peregre is read from the Common of Bishop Confessors, Series 1.

Gospel Homily from Common of Bishop Confessors

Lauds

BENEDICTUS

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

Commemoration of the Feria.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH