Apostle

Double of II Class

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

2nd Vespers

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

First Vespers

The first part of Vespers is in the Ordinary

Ant. on Magnif:  Thomas, because thou hast seen me, * thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Oremus.
Da nobis, quæsumus, Dómine, beáti Apóstoli tui Thomæ solemnitátibus gloriári: ut ejus semper et patrocíniis sublevémur; et fidem cóngrua devotióne sectémur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord, to glory in the solemn festival of blessed Thomas, thine Apostle, that we may both be helped continually by his patronage and imitate his faith with befitting devotion.  Through.

Ant.  O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israël ; qui áperis, et nemo claudit ; claudis, et nemo áperit : veni, et educ vinctum de domo cárceris, sedéntem in ténebris, et umbra mortis.

Ant.  O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel; that openest and no man shutteth, and shuttest and no man openeth: Come and bring the prisoners out of the prison-house, them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

Oremus.
Excita, quæsumus, Dómine, poténtiam tuam, et veni : et magna nobis virtúte succúrre; ut per auxílium grátiæ tuæ, quod nostra peccáta præpédiunt, indulgéntia tuæ propitiatiónis accéleret : Qui vivis.

Let us pray.
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy power, and come; make haste to our aid with thy great might ; that, by the help of thy grace, that which is hindered by our sins may be hastened by thy merciful forgiveness.  Who livest.

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 Common of Apostles, Sic nos existimet.

Lessons from Common of Apostles

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.

Thomas Apóstolus, qui et Dídymus, Galilæus, post accéptum Spíritum Sanctum in multas províncias proféctus est ad prædicándum Christi Evangélium : Parthis, Medis, Persis, Hyrcánis et Bactris christiánæ fídei et vitæ præcépta trádidit.  Postrémo ad Indos se cónferens, eos in christiána religióne erudívit.  Qui ad extrémum, vitæ doctrinæque sanctitáte et miraculórum magnitúdine, cum céteris ómnibus suis admiratiónem et Jesu Christi amórem commovísset ; illíus gentis regem, idolórum cultórem, magis ad iram accéndit : cujus senténtia condemnátus, telísque confóssus, Calamínæ apostolátus honórem martyrii coróna decorávit.

The Apostle Thomas, called Didymus, or the Twin, was a Galilean.  After the descent of the Holy Ghost, he went into many provinces to preach Christ's Gospel.  He gave knowledge of the rules of Christian faith and life to the Parthians, Medes, Persians, Hyrcanians, and Bactrians.  He went last to the East Indies.  Here he provoked the anger of one of the idolatrous kings, because the holiness of his life and teaching, and the number of his miracles, drew many after him, and brought them to the love of Christ Jesus.  He was therefore condemned, and slain with lances.  He crowned the dignity of the Apostleship with the glory of martyrdom, on the Coromandel coast, not far from Madras.

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

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

R.  Vidi conjúnctos viros, habéntes spléndidas vestes, et Angelus Dómini locútus est ad me, dicens: * Isti sunt viri sancti facti amíci Dei.
V.  Vidi Angelum Dei fortem, volántem per médium cælum, voce magna clamántem et dicéntem.
R.  Isti sunt viri sancti facti amíci Dei.

R.  I saw men standing together, clothed in raiment white and glistering, and the Angel of the Lord spake unto me saying, *  These men are holy, for they are the friends of God.
V.  And I saw a strong Angel of God flying in the midst of heaven, and the same did proclaim with a loud voice, saying:
R.  These men are holy, for they are the friends of God.

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.

Scriptum est : Spíritus Dómini ornávit cælos.  Ornaménta enim cælórum sunt virtútes prædicántium.  Quæ vidélicet ornaménta Paulus enúmerat, dicens : Alii datur per Spíritum sermo sapiéntiæ, álii sermo sciéntiæ secúndum eúmdem Spíritum, álteri fides in eódem Spíritu, álii grátia sanitátum in uno Spíritu, álii operátio virtútum, álii prophetía, álii discrétio spirítuum, álii génera linguárum, álii interpretátio sermónum.  Hæc autem ómnia operátur unus atque idem Spíritus, dívidens síngulis prout vult.

It is written : By his Spirit the Lord hath garnished the heavens.  Now the garniture of the heavens are the godly powers of preachers, and this garniture, what it is, Paul teacheth us thus:  To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

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

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

R.  Beáti estis, cum maledíxerint vobis hómines, et persecúti vos fúerint, et díxerint omne malum advérsum vos, mentiéntes, propter me: * Gaudéte et exsultáte, quóniam merces vestra copiósa est in cælis.
V.  Cum vos óderint hómines, et cum separáverint vos, et exprobráverint, et ejécerint nomen vestrum tamquam malum propter Fílium hóminis.
R.  Gaudéte et exsultáte, quóniam merces vestra copiósa est in cælis.

R.  Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake: * Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
V.  When men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake.
R.  Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

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.

Quot ergo sunt bona prædicántium, tot sunt ornaménta cælórum.  Hinc rursus scriptum est : Verbo Dómini cæli firmáti sunt.  Verbum enim Dómini, Fílius est Patris.  Sed eósdem cælos, vidélicet sanctos Apóstolos, ut tota simul sancta Trínitas ostendátur operáta, repénte de Sancti Spíritus divinitáte adjúngitur : Et Spíritu oris ejus omnis virtus eórum.  Cælórum ergo virtus de Spíritu sumpta est : quia : mundi hujus potestátibus contraíre non præsúmerent, nisi eos Sancti Spíritus fortitúdo solidásset.  Quales namque doctóres sanctæ Ecclésiæ ante advéntum hujus Spíritus fúerint, scimus ; et post advéntum illíus, cujus fortitúdinis facti sint, conspícimus.

So much power then as have preachers, so much garniture have the heavens.  Wherefore again it is written:  By the word of the Lord were the heavens made.  For the Word of the Lord is the Son of the Father.  But, to the end that all the Holy Trinity may be made manifest as the Maker of the heavens (that is, of the Apostles), it is straightway added touching God the Holy Ghost : and all the host of them by the Breath of his mouth.  Therefore the might of the same heavens is the might of the Spirit, for they had not braved the powers of this world, unless the strength of the Holy Ghost had comforted them.  For we know what manner of men the Teachers of the Holy Church were before the coming of this Spirit : and since he came we see in whose strength they are made strong.

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

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

R.  Isti sunt triumphatóres et amíci Dei, qui contemnéntes jussa príncipum, meruérunt præmia ætérna: * Modo coronántur, et accípiunt palmam.
V.  Isti sunt qui venérunt ex magna tribulatióne, et lavérunt stolas suas in sánguine Agni.
R.  Modo coronántur, et accípiunt palmam.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Modo coronántur, et accípiunt palmam.

R.  These are they which do celebrate an eternal triumph and are become the friends of God, who overcame the princes of this world in the service of him who rewardeth everlastingly : * And now they have crowns on their heads and palms in their hands.
V.  These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.
R.  And now they have crowns on their heads and palms in their hands.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And now they have crowns on their heads and palms in their hands.

The unimposing tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle in
Mylapore Cathedral, Madras, India

Third Nocturn

The Psalms and Antiphons for the Third Nocturn are taken from the Common

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 : Thomas unus ex duódecim, qui dícitur Dídymus, non erat cum eis quando venit Jesus.  Et réliqua.

At that time : Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  And so on, and that which followeth.

Quid, fratres caríssimi, quid inter hæc animadvértitis?  Numquid casu gestum créditis, ut eléctus ille discípulus tunc deésset, post autem véniens audíret, áudiens dubitáret, dúbitans palpáret, palpans créderet?  Non hoc casu, sed divína dispensatióne gestum est.  Egit namque miro modo supérna cleméntia, ut discípulus ille dúbitans, dum in magístro suo vúlnera palpáret carnis, in nobis vúlnera sanáret infidelitátis.  Plus enim nobis Thomæ infidélitas ad fidem, quam fides credéntium discipulórum prófuit ; quia dum ille ad fidem palpándo redúcitur, nostra mens, omni dubitatióne postpósita, in fide solidátur.

Dearly beloved brethren, what is it in this passage which particularly claimeth our attention?  Think ye that it was by accident  that this chosen Apostle was not with them when Jesus came? or, when he came, heard? or, when he heard, doubted? or, when he doubted, felt? or, when he had felt, believed?  All these things were not accidental, but Providential.  It was a wonderful provision of Divine mercy, that this incredulous disciple, by thrusting his fingers into the bodily Wounds of his Master, should apply a remedy to the spiritual wounds of unbelief in our souls.  The doubts of Thomas have done us more good than the faith of all the disciples that believed.  While he feeleth his way to faith, our minds are freed from doubt, and settled in faith.

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

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

R.  Isti sunt qui vivéntes in carne, plantavérunt Ecclésiam sánguine suo : * Cálicem Dómini bibérunt, et amíci Dei facti sunt.
V.  In omnem terram exívit sonus eórum, et in fines orbis terræ verba eórum.
R.  Cálicem Dómini bibérunt, et amíci Dei facti sunt.

R.  These are they who whilst yet in the flesh planted the Church in their own blood; *  Who drank of the Lord's cup, and so are become the friends of God.
V.  Their sound is gone out unto all the lands, and their words unto the ends of the world.
R.  Who drank of the Lord's cup, and so are become the friends of God.

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.

Sic quippe discípulum Dóminus post resurrectiónem suam dubitáre permísit, nec tamen in dubitatióne deséruit ; sicut ante nativitátem suam habére Maríam sponsum vóluit, qui tamen ad ejus núptias non pervénit.  Nam ita factus est discípulus dúbitans et palpans, testis veræ resurrectiónis, sicut sponsus matris fúerat custos integérrimæ virginitátis.  Palpávit autem, et exclamávit : Dóminus meus, et Deus meus.  Dicit ei Jesus : Quia vidísti me, credidísti.  Cum Paulus Apóstolus dicat, Est autem fides sperandárum substántia rerum, arguméntum non apparéntium ; profécto liquet quia fides illárum rerum arguméntus est, quæ apparére non possunt.  Quæ étenim appárent, jam fidem non habent, sed agnitiónem.

Even as the Lord before his birth willed that Mary should be espoused, and yet never lose her virginity, so, after his Resurrection, he willed that his disciple should doubt, and yet not lose his faith.  For, even as the espoused husband was the keeper of the virginity of the Mother, so was the disciple who doubted and felt, the witness of the truth of the Resurrection.  He felt, and cried out : My Lord and my God.  Jesus saith unto him : Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed.  When the Apostle Paul saith Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, he plainly meaneth that faith is the evidence of things that cannot be seen.  When they are seen, there remaineth not faith, but knowledge.

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

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

R.  Isti sunt viri sancti, quos elégit Dóminus in caritáte non ficta, et dedit illis glóriam sempitérnam: * Quorum doctrína fulget Ecclésia, ut sole luna.
V.  Sancti per fidem vicérunt regna : operáti sunt justítiam.
R.  Quorum doctrína fulget Ecclésia, ut sole luna.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Quorum doctrína fulget Ecclésia, ut sole luna.

R.  These men are holy, whom the Lord hath chosen in love unfeigned, to give them glory everlasting: * By whose doctrine the Church is made resplendent, even as the moon by the sun.
V.  These Saints through faith subdued kingdoms, and wrought righteousness.
R.  By whose doctrine the Church is made resplendent, even as the moon by the sun.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  By whose doctrine the Church is made resplendent, even as the moon by the sun.

If this day be an Ember Day, Lesson ix is of the Feria as follows.  Otherwise Lesson ix is as given below.

Gospel Homily for the Ember Day

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.

Dum ergo vidit Thomas, dum palpávit, cur ei dícitur : Quia vidísti me, credidísti?  Sed áliud vidit, áliud crédidit.  A mortáli quippe hómine divínitas vidéri non pótuit.  Hóminem ergo vidit, et Deum conféssus est, dicens : Dóminus meus, et Deus meus.  Vidéndo ergo crédidit, qui considerándo verum hóminem, hunc Deum, quem vidére non póterat, exclamávit.  Lætíficat valde quod séquitur : Beáti qui non vidérunt, et credidérunt.  In qua nimírum senténtia non speciáliter signáti sumus, qui eum, quem carne non vídimus, mente retinémus.  Nos signáti sumus ; sed si fidem nostram opéribus séquimur.  Ille étenim vere credit, qui exércet operándo quod credit.

Thomas, then, seeth, and believeth.  Why is it said to him : Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed?  The truth is, he saw one thing, and so believed another.  To mortal man it is not given to see God.  He therefore saw only the Manhood, and yet had faith in the Godhead : My Lord and my God.  This he said, seeing and believing, seeing Perfect Man, and yet believing in Perfect God, whom he could not see.  O what a comfort are the words which follow!  Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  These words are specially meant for us, who have not seen even the Flesh, and who yet do believe.  They are specially meant for us if we believe and do not, by our lives, give the lie to our belief.  He only hath a saving faith, whose faith beareth fruit.

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

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

Lauds

The first part of Lauds is in the Ordinary

Ant. on Bened:  Thomas, because thou hast seen me, * thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

THE BENEDICTUS

Ant:  Nolíte timére : quinta enim die véniet ad vos Dóminus noster.

Ant:  Be not afraid, for upon the fifth day our Lord shall come to you.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Second Vespers

The first part of Vespers is in the Ordinary

Cathedral Church of St. Thomas,
Mylapore, Madras, India

Ant. on Magnif:  Thomas, because thou hast seen me, * thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Sunday Compline