Advent Collects Week II

 

Sunday II

Omnípotens et miséricors Deus, in tui occúrsum Fílii festinántes nulla ópera terréni actus impédiant, sed sapiéntiæ cæléstis erudítio nos fáciat eius esse consórtes.

 

Almighty and merciful God, may no works of earthly actions imped us from hastening to the coming of your Son, but rather may the instruction of heavenly wisdom make us co-heirs with him.

 

Monday

Dirigatur, quaesumus, Domine, in conspectu tuo nostrae petitionis oratio, ut ad magnum incarnationis Unigeniti tui mysterium nostrae vota servitutis illibata puritate perveniant.

 

We beseech you, O Lord, that the prayer of our petition may be in your sight, that the intentions of our service may be blameless and pure before the great mystery of the incarnation of your Only-Begotten Son.

 

Tuesday

Deus, qui salutáre tuum cunctis terræ fínibus declarásti, tríbue, quǽsumus, ut nativitátis eius glóriam lætánter præstolémur.

 

O God, who declared your salvation to the ends of the earth, grant, we beseech you, that we may gladly proclaim the joy of your nativity.

 

Wednesday

Omnípotens Deus, qui nos prǽcipis iter Christo Dómino præparáre, concéde propítius, ut nullis infirmitátibus fatigémur, qui cæléstis médici consolántem præséntiam sustinémus.

 

Almighty God, who command us to prepare the way for Christ the Lord, graciously grant that we may not be wearied by any infirmity, we, who are sustained by the consoling presence of the heavenly physician.

 

Thursday

Excita, Dómine, corda nostra ad præparándas Unigéniti tui vias, ut, per eius advéntum, purificátis tibi méntibus servíre mereámur.

 

Stir up, O Lord, our hearts, to prepare the ways of your Only-Begotten, that through his advent we may be made worthy to serve you with purified minds.

 

Friday

Concéde, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus, plebi tuæ advéntum Unigéniti tui cum summa vigilántia exspectáre, ut, sicut ipse dócuit auctor nostræ salútis, accénsis lampádibus in eius occúrsum vigilántes properémus.

 

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that with great vigilance your people may await the coming of your Only-Begotten, that as he himself, the author of our salvation, taught, with lamps lighted, we watching, might hasten to his coming.

 

Saturday

Oriátur, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus, in córdibus nostris splendor glóriæ tuæ, ut, omni noctis obscuritáte subláta, fílios nos esse lucis Unigéniti tui maniféstet advéntus.

 

We beseech you, Almighty God, that the glory of your splendor may arise in our hearts, that with all the darkness of night having been taken away, the advent of your Only-Begotten Son may reveal us to be sons of light.

St. Lawrence Brindisi: Immaculate Conception

St. Lawrence Brindisi: Immaculate Conception

The root of humanity, bedchamber of God, and pure water: This is Mary, therefore Immaculate.

 

Great was the happiness of human nature in paradise before original sin, so long as man remained in the state of innocence and original justice. Then was human nature like that tree seen by King Nabuchodonosor in his dreams: tall, with its top touching heaven; wide, with its branches filling the whole world; adorned with the loveliest fronds and flowers and the best of fruits in greatest abundance. But soon, by virtue of the sentence executed by the Angel, this tree was despoiled of its goods, and, with branches and trunk cut off, was reduced to nothing—almost, except for the command that a root with a shoot be preserved safe and intact (cfr. Daniel 4,7-12). On account of sin, humanity tumbled from maximum good fortune to maximum misfortune; light was changed into darkness, the bright day into the cloudiest of nights, a full moon went into eclipse.

 

But from the contagion of that sin, the shoot, that is, Christ, was preserved, as well as the root (Mary) from which that shoot was to rise...We see in Genesis the root with its shoot preserved; for before a penalty for sin was inflicted on man, it was said to the serpent: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; she will crush your head (Gen. 3,15).

 

When a king builds some palace to be a proper and rightful dwelling for himself and his family, he constructs it wholly magnificent, and adorns it royally as befits his majesty. In such wise did Solomon build his house (III Kings 7,1-12). Such a king will especially adorn with the greatest magnificence and riches his own chamber, where the throne of his majesty is to be placed. So too does God build His holy Church, the living Temple of God: Behold, the tabernacle of God with men (Apoc. 21,3); You are the temple of God (II Cor. 6,16), a temple made of living stones, the whole constructed with divine magnificence, as the temple of Solomon (cfr. III Kings 6,1-18). But above all, God adorned His own chamber, which is the most holy Virgin. He did so just as did Solomon adorn the holy of holies, the dwelling place of God (III Kings 6,19-36).

 

You are all fair, my love, and the stain is not in you (Cant. 4,7). The Hebrew reads: the stain not in you—without the verb is. Similarly, the verb is does not appear in Deuteronomy 32,4 when Moses said of God: A faithful God and without any iniquity. David said: Because You are a God that wills not iniquity (Ps. 5,5); yet the Hebrew for that actually reads: not a God willing iniquity You. The latter means: You never were, are not, nor will be willing iniquity; there never was, is not, nor will be iniquity in God. So too, the statement the stain not in you means that the stain never was, is not, nor will be in you. Thus must be understood (not limited to the present tense only) the statement the stain not in you.

 

One only is my dove, one my perfect one (Cant. 6,7). The Hebrew reads: my immaculate one. There are three words in Hebrew very similar: tham, thamah, and thamim, of which the first means simple, the second immaculate, and the last perfect. The Hebrew text here, however, uses the second. For this reason, therefore, the all-holy Virgin is unique above all queens... and young maidens (Cant. 6,7) because She is immaculate, like the purest dove, like the sun itself, which was made full of light. Hence it is written: you all fair, my love; and the stain not in you. The singular for you is used: You all (tota tu); not in you; this denotes the uniquely singular grace of Mary.

 

The soul of the Virgin Mother of God was in Her conception like the bush with Moses, entirely intact in the midst of the flames, not consumed, unharmed (Ex. 3,2). 

Immaculate Conception

 

 

At I & II Vespers: 18^th Century

 

Connelly: Benedict XIV in 1751 approved this hymn for use at Matins in the Office of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin in Portugal but this does not prove he wrote the hymn.

 

Præclára custos vírginum

Deíque mater ínnuba, (1)

cæléstis aulæ iánua,

spes nostra, cæli gáudium;

 

Inter rubéta lílium,  (2)

colúmba formosíssima, (3)

e stirpe virga gérminans

nostro medélam vúlneri;

 

Turris dracóni impérvia, (4)

amíca stella náufragis, (5)

defénde nos a fráudibus

tuáque luce dírige.

 

Erróris umbras díscute,

syrtes dolósas ámove,

fluctus tot inter, déviis

tutam reclúde sémitam.

 

Quæ labe nostræ oríginis

intácta splendes única,

serpéntis artes æmuli

elúde vindex ínclita.

 

Patri sit et Paráclito

tuóque Nato glória,

qui sanctitátis únicæ

te munerárunt grátia. Amen.

 

1.       Innuba this line read originally intacta mater numinis; innuba ‘unmarried’ is a much weaker word than intacta but probably what is rejected here is the classicalism in the mode of Urban VIII.

2.      rubeta thorns, the red unripe fruit of bramble bushes.

3.      Canticle of Canticles 2.10, 5.2.

4.      The tower of David, Cant. 4.4.

5.      ‘a welcome star to the shipwrecked’.

 

Glorious guardian of virgins, pure Mother of God, door of the heavenly courts, our Hope, the joy of heaven.  Lily among thorns, most beautiful dove, a branch springing from the rod of Jesse, the cure for our wound. Tower impervious to the dragon, friendly star to the shipwrecked, defend us from deceit, and direct us by your light. Dispel the shadows of darkness, remove the treacherous shoals, in the midst of so many waves show to the lost a safe path. You who alone shine brightly, free from the fall of our origin; an illustrious vindicator you escape the envious arts of the serpent.  Glory to the Father and to the Paraclete and to your Son, who granted you the grace of a singular holiness. Amen.

 

 

At the Office of Readings: Leo XIII? (previously used at Matins: The Apparition of the Immaculate Virgin at Lourdes)

 

Te dícimus præcónio,

mater Dei puríssima; (1)

nostris benígna láudibus

tuam repénde grátiam.

 

Sontes Adámi pósteri, (2)

infécta proles gígnimur;

labis patérnæ néscia (3)

tu sola, Virgo, créderis.

 

Caput dracónis ínvidi

tu cónteris vestígio,

gerísque sola glóriam (4)

intaminátæ oríginis.

 

Nostræ decus propáginis,

quæ tollis Evæ oppróbrium,

tu nos tuére súpplices,

tu nos labántes érige. (5)

 

Serpéntis antíqui potens

astus retúnde et ímpetus,

ut cælitum perénnibus

per te fruámur gáudiis.

 

Patri sit et Paráclito

tuóque Nato glória,

qui sanctitátis únicæ

te munerárunt grátia. Amen.

 

1.       Original: intacta mater numinis; 2. Sontes: sons, guilty; 3. nescia: free from; 4. Original: et sola gloriam refers; 5. labentes: those who totter, waver;

 

Mother of God most pure, we sing your praise; kindly return our lauds with your grace. Sinners, the offspring of the posterity of Adam, are brought forth corrupted; you alone are believed to know no fall of this father. The head of the envious dragon you crushed under your feet and you alone have the glory of an uncontaminated beginning. The honor of our race who took away the shame of Eve: watch over us who pray to you and raise up those of us who have fallen. Powerfully blunt the wiles and attacks of the ancient serpent that through you we may enjoy the eternal happiness of heaven. Glory to the Father and to the Paraclete and to your Son, who granted you the grace of a singular holiness. Amen.

 

At Lauds:  15^th Century ?

 

In plausu grati cárminis

adsit nova lætítia,

dum Dei matris Vírginis

sumit vita princípia.

 

María, mundi glória,

lucis ætérnæ fília,

te præservávit Fílius

ab omni labe pénitus.

 

Originális mácula

cuncta respérsit sæcula;

sola post Natum vítiis

numquam contácta díceris.

 

Caput serpéntis cállidi

tuo pede contéritur;

fastus gigántis pérfidi

David funda devíncitur.

 

Colúmba mitis, húmilis,

fers, carens felle críminis,

signum Dei cleméntiæ,

ramum viréntis grátiæ.

 

Patri sit et Paráclito

tuóque Nato glória,

qui sanctitátis únicæ

te munerárunt grátia. Amen.

 

There is a new joy in striking up a song of thanks, when the Virgin Mother of God first begins her life. Mary, the glory of the world, the daughter of eternal light, your Son completely preserved you within from any fall.  The original stain has fallen on every generation; Only you with your Son are said to have never contracted sin. The head of the crafty snake is crushed under foot; with his sling, David conquered the pride of the pride of the perfidious giant. Gentle and humble dove, lacking the bitterness of sin, a sign of God’s mercy, bearing the branch of flourishing grace.  Glory to the Father and to the Paraclete and to your Son, who granted you the grace of a singular holiness. Amen.

 

At I & II Vespers: 18^th Century

 

Connelly: Benedict XIV in 1751 approved this hymn for use at Matins in the Office of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin in Portugal but this does not prove he wrote the hymn.

 

Præclára custos vírginum

Deíque mater ínnuba, (1)

cæléstis aulæ iánua,

spes nostra, cæli gáudium;

 

Inter rubéta lílium,  (2)

colúmba formosíssima, (3)

e stirpe virga gérminans

nostro medélam vúlneri;

 

Turris dracóni impérvia, (4)

amíca stella náufragis, (5)

defénde nos a fráudibus

tuáque luce dírige.

 

Erróris umbras díscute,

syrtes dolósas ámove,

fluctus tot inter, déviis

tutam reclúde sémitam.

 

Quæ labe nostræ oríginis

intácta splendes única,

serpéntis artes æmuli

elúde vindex ínclita.

 

Patri sit et Paráclito

tuóque Nato glória,

qui sanctitátis únicæ

te munerárunt grátia. Amen.

 

1.       Innuba this line read originally intacta mater numinis; innuba ‘unmarried’ is a much weaker word than intacta but probably what is rejected here is the classicalism in the mode of Urban VIII.

2.      rubeta thorns, the red unripe fruit of bramble bushes.

3.      Canticle of Canticles 2.10, 5.2.

4.      The tower of David, Cant. 4.4.

5.      ‘a welcome star to the shipwrecked’.

 

Glorious guardian of virgins, pure Mother of God, door of the heavenly courts, our Hope, the joy of heaven.  Lily among thorns, most beautiful dove, a branch springing from the rod of Jesse, the cure for our wound. Tower impervious to the dragon, friendly star to the shipwrecked, defend us from deceit, and direct us by your light. Dispel the shadows of darkness, remove the treacherous shoals, in the midst of so many waves show to the lost a safe path. You who alone shine brightly, free from the fall of our origin; an illustrious vindicator you escape the envious arts of the serpent.  Glory to the Father and to the Paraclete and to your Son, who granted you the grace of a singular holiness. Amen.

 

 

At the Office of Readings: Leo XIII? (previously used at Matins: The Apparition of the Immaculate Virgin at Lourdes)

 

Te dícimus præcónio,

mater Dei puríssima; (1)

nostris benígna láudibus

tuam repénde grátiam.

 

Sontes Adámi pósteri, (2)

infécta proles gígnimur;

labis patérnæ néscia (3)

tu sola, Virgo, créderis.

 

Caput dracónis ínvidi

tu cónteris vestígio,

gerísque sola glóriam (4)

intaminátæ oríginis.

 

Nostræ decus propáginis,

quæ tollis Evæ oppróbrium,

tu nos tuére súpplices,

tu nos labántes érige. (5)

 

Serpéntis antíqui potens

astus retúnde et ímpetus,

ut cælitum perénnibus

per te fruámur gáudiis.

 

Patri sit et Paráclito

tuóque Nato glória,

qui sanctitátis únicæ

te munerárunt grátia. Amen.

 

1.       Original: intacta mater numinis; 2. Sontes: sons, guilty; 3. nescia: free from; 4. Original: et sola gloriam refers; 5. labentes: those who totter, waver;

 

Mother of God most pure, we sing your praise; kindly return our lauds with your grace. Sinners, the offspring of the posterity of Adam, are brought forth corrupted; you alone are believed to know no fall of this father. The head of the envious dragon you crushed under your feet and you alone have the glory of an uncontaminated beginning. The honor of our race who took away the shame of Eve: watch over us who pray to you and raise up those of us who have fallen. Powerfully blunt the wiles and attacks of the ancient serpent that through you we may enjoy the eternal happiness of heaven. Glory to the Father and to the Paraclete and to your Son, who granted you the grace of a singular holiness. Amen.

 

At Lauds:  15^th Century ?

 

In plausu grati cárminis

adsit nova lætítia,

dum Dei matris Vírginis

sumit vita princípia.

 

María, mundi glória,

lucis ætérnæ fília,

te præservávit Fílius

ab omni labe pénitus.

 

Originális mácula

cuncta respérsit sæcula;

sola post Natum vítiis

numquam contácta díceris.

 

Caput serpéntis cállidi

tuo pede contéritur;

fastus gigántis pérfidi

David funda devíncitur.

 

Colúmba mitis, húmilis,

fers, carens felle críminis,

signum Dei cleméntiæ,

ramum viréntis grátiæ.

 

Patri sit et Paráclito

tuóque Nato glória,

qui sanctitátis únicæ

te munerárunt grátia. Amen.

 

There is a new joy in striking up a song of thanks, when the Virgin Mother of God first begins her life. Mary, the glory of the world, the daughter of eternal light, your Son completely preserved you within from any fall.  The original stain has fallen on every generation; Only you with your Son are said to have never contracted sin. The head of the crafty snake is crushed under foot; with his sling, David conquered the pride of the pride of the perfidious giant. Gentle and humble dove, lacking the bitterness of sin, a sign of God’s mercy, bearing the branch of flourishing grace.  Glory to the Father and to the Paraclete and to your Son, who granted you the grace of a singular holiness. Amen.

Antiphons: Common of Doctors

Præsta nobis, quǽsumus, Dómine, sancti Ioánnis, presbýteri, précibus adiuvári, ut vera fides, quam ille excellénter dócuit, sit semper lux et fortitúdo nostra.

 

Grant to us, we beseech you, O Lord, to be aided by the prayers of the holy priest John, that the true faith, which he excellently taught, might ever be our light and strength.  

 

Qui docti fúerint, fulgébunt quasi splendor firmaménti et, qui ad iustítiam erúdiunt multos, quasi stellæ in perpétuas æternitátes.

 

The learned will shine forth as the splendor of the firmament and those who instruct many in righteousness as the stars for ever.

 

O doctor óptime, Ecclésiæ sanctæ lumen, beáte N., divínæ legis amátor, deprecáre pro nobis Fílium Dei.

 

O great Doctor, the light of holy Church, blessed, N., lover of divine law, pray to the Son of God for us. 

St. Francis Xavier

 

St. Francis Xavier

Deus, qui beáti Francísci prædicatióne multos tibi pópulos acquisísti, da ut fidélium ánimi eódem fídei zelo férveant et ubérrima ubíque prole Ecclésia sancta lætétur.

O God, who by the preaching  of blessed Francis acquired many peoples for yourself, grant that the souls of  the faithful may be  fervent with the same zeal of faith and holy Church might rejoice everywhere in an abundance of offspring.

 

Common of Pastors: for a bishop

 

Common of Pastors: for a priest

 

Lauds: Orderic Vitalis (1075 – c. 1142)

 

As Oderic Vitalis noted, history should be sung like a hymn in honor of the creator God

Ancient and Medieval Memories: Studies in the Reconstruction of the Past, Janet Coleman

 

Inclitus rector pater atque prudens,

cuius insígnem cólimus triúmphum,

iste conféssor sine fine lætus

  regnat in astris.

 

Qui sacerdótis, ducis ac magístri

munus insúmpsit pópulis sacrátum,

præsul et vitæ sápiens parávit

  dona beátæ.

 

Nunc eum nisu rogitémus omnes,

ábluat nostrum pius ut reátum,

et sua ducat prece nos ad alta

  cúlmina cæli.

 

 

Sit Deo soli decus et potéstas,

laus in excélsis, honor ac perénnis,

qui suis totum móderans gubérnat

  légibus orbem. Amen.

 

Great ruler and wise father, whose distinguished triumph we celebrate, this confessor rejoicing without end rules among the stars. Who for the people received the sacred office of priest, ruler, and teacher: a wise prelate who manifested the gifts of a blessed life. Now with all our strength let us all ask him that in his holiness to absolve our guilt and by his prayer lead us to the heights of heaven. Dignity and power to God alone and eternal praise and honor in the highest, who directs and governs the whole world by his laws. Amen

 

Inclitus rector pater atque prudens,

cuius insígnem cólimus triúmphum,

iste conféssor sine fine lætus

regnat in astris.

 

Ipse dux clarus fuit et magíster,

éxhibens sacræ documénta vitæ

ac Deo semper sátagens placére

péctore mundo.

 

Nunc eum nisu rogitémus omnes,

ábluat nostrum pius ut reátum,

et sua ducat prece nos ad alta

cúlmina cæli.

 

Sit Deo soli decus et potéstas,

laus in excélsis, honor ac perénnis,

qui suis totum móderans gubérnat

légibus orbem. Amen.

 

Great ruler and wise father, whose distinguished triumph we celebrate, this confessor rejoicing without end rules among the stars. He was a glorious leader and teacher, revealing evidence of a holy life, and striving ever to please God with a clean heart.  Now with all our strength let us all ask him in his holiness to absolve our guilt and by his prayer lead us to the heights of heaven. Dignity and power to God alone and eternal praise and honor in the highest, who directs and governs the whole world by his laws. Amen

 

Office of Readings 15th Century

 

Christe, pastórum caput atque princeps,

géstiens huius celebráre festum,

débitas sacro pia turba psallit

  cármine laudes,

 

Strénuum bello púgilem supérni

chrísmatis pleno tuus unxit intus

Spíritus dono, posuítque sanctam

  páscere gentem.

 

Hic gregis ductor fuit atque forma,

lux erat cæco, mísero levámen,

próvidus cunctis pater omnibúsque

  ómnia factus.

 

Christe, qui sanctis méritam corónam

reddis in cælis, dócili magístrum

fac sequi vita, similíque tandem

  fine potíri.

 

 

Æqua laus summum célebret Paréntem

teque, Salvátor, pie rex, per ævum;

Spíritus Sancti résonet per omnem

  glória mundum. Amen.

 

O Christ, Head and Prince of pastors, eager to celebrate the feast of this pastor, the holy band sings due praise with a holy hymn.  Your bishop was anointed within by the gift of the Spirit’s grace from above as a strong fighter in the harsh battle and appointed to feed your holy people. He was the leader of the flock and example for it, a light to the blind, relief to the wretched, a watchful father in all things and doing all things for all his people. O Christ, who rewards the saints in heaven with a merited crown, make us follow this teacher in an obedient life and at last reach the same end. May equal praise celebrate the highest Father and thee, O Savior, though the age; May the glory of the Holy Spirit resound throughout the whole world. Amen.

 

Hunc tibi eléctum fáciens minístrum

ac sacerdótem sócians, dedísti

dux ut astáret pópulo fidélis

ac bonus altor.

 

Making for yourself a chosen minister, sharing in the priesthood, you made him a faithful leader and good provider to stand with the people.

 

Vespers New: Dom Anselmo?

 

Vir celse, forma fúlgida

virtútis, hymnum súscipe,

qui iure dum te prædicat,

Dei canit magnália.

 

 

Qui sempitérnus Póntifex

stirpem Deo mortálium

revínxit, atque réddidit

paci novo nos fœdere,

 

Te fecit ipse próvidus

sui minístrum múneris,

Patri datúrum glóriam

eiúsque vitam plébibus.

 

Bishop:

Virtúte factus dítior

te consecrántis Spíritus,

præsul, salútis pínguia

tu tradidísti pábula.

 

Priest:

Regális huius cúlminis

adéptus altitúdinem,

verbo fuísti et móribus

doctor, sacérdos, hóstia.

 

 

Locátus in cæléstibus,

sanctæ meménto Ecclésiæ,

oves ut omnes páscua

Christi petant felícia.

 

 

Sit Trinitáti glória,

quæ sancti honóris múnia

tibi minístro sédulo

dignis corónat gáudiis. Amen.

 

Noble man, shining example of virtue, receive the hymn, which while it rightly proclaims you sings the wonders of God. The eternal Pontiff united the race of men with God and gave us the new covenant of peace.  Providently he made you a minister of his gift, that glory be given to the Father and life to his People. The Spirit of consecration made you richer in virtue, O Prelate, and so you handed over to the people the abundant food of salvation. Now in heaven, remember the holy Church that all the sheep may seek the happy pastures of Christ. Glory to the Trinity, who gave to you, a faithful minister, the gift of the honor of a saint and crowned you with deserved joys. Amen.

 

Regális huius cúlminis

adéptus altitúdinem,

verbo fuísti et móribus

doctor, sacérdos, hóstia.

 

 

Having reached the height of this royal summit, you were in word and deeds, teacher, priest, sacrifice.

 

 

Saint Edmund Campion, Priest and Martyr (1 December)

 

ALMIGHTY and ever-living God, who gavest thy servant Edmund Campion courage to witness to the Gospel of Christ even to the point of giving his life for it: grant that, by his prayers, we may endure all suffering for love of thee, and may seek thee with all our hearts, for thou alone art the source of life; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

 

A reading from the Acts of Martyrdom of St Edmund Campion

He said that his commission was to preach the gospel of Christ Jesus freely and without all earthly interest, to administer the sacraments of the Catholic Church, to instruct the unlearned in the true ancient religion, to exhort the wicked from their sinful ways, to convince errors and heresies, to strengthen and confirm the good, and in one word to sound the sacred trumpet of spiritual and ghostly war against the tyranny of foul vice and proud ignorance wherewith a number of his dear countrymen were oppressed. [. . .]

 

Considering that this only was his end and cause of his coming, he desireth most humbly of their honours that they would vouchsafe for better informing themselves to hear him treat and dispute with all modesty of these important points in their presence as also in the presence of the learned Divines and lawyers of the land for that he did not doubt by the help and assistance of Almighty God that he should be able to show by all authority both of holy Scriptures, General Councils, holy Fathers, Ecclesiastical Histories and ancient laws which unto this day were in force within the land that the old Catholic faith of our forefathers was the only true faith and religion and all novelties raised up since Was nothing else but falsehood and vanity.

 

He desired their honours most humbly to pardon this earnest offer of trial and disputation for that it proceeded not of any confidence of his own ability which was the least of thousands of his brethren in the Catholic Church, and much less of arrogancy Of of vain worldly glory which he so much contemned as he had utterly renounced the world and was ready to cast himself at the feet of any for the service of his Master Jesus, whose only glory was that which had moved him to this enterprise, and the hope of his assistance gave him courage and confidence in the same, together with the known weakness and ignorance of the teachers of heresies, who the better they should come prepared to this trial the more glad he would be, for he the truth should better appear. [. . .]

 

Turning his speech to the Councilors themselves, he besought them as men of great wisdom and experience in worldly affairs to consider deeply this matter that so much concerned their souls and the salvation of infinite others that depended of them, that they should ponder the weak foundations which their new religion was grounded on, and why they had left the holy and honourable course of all their ancestors, kings, princes, and councilors of this realm since it was first converted to the Christian faith; that they should weigh with what love, zeal, and piety men of their own nation came hence from beyond the seas to teach and maintain this faith not respecting the danger of persecution and death but holding up their hands daily to God for their good and salvation and that it is impossible by temporal torments to extinguish this zealous offspring which every day increased and would by God's help continue to the end and that his Order of religious had fully purposed by the help of Jesus Christ to prosecute this most heavenly enterprise of doing good to England so long as they should have subjects to employ in the same which no doubt would never cease, and that the account of this was already made seeing the fine thereof was but paying of blood which would always be ready if the Queen and Council continued their persecution,

 

Lastly, he concluded, touching his own person, that if all these protestations, offers, and reasons would not serve to procure him grace nor grateful audience with them, then would he turn himself only to Almighty God that knew his thoughts and desires and would beseech him to take his cause and labours in protection and would extend his mercy to their honours until the last universal and great accounting day at what time they should well perceive with what integrity of mind and perfect love towards them, his prince, and country he had spoken then, and then there should be no memory of hatred nor suspicion of enmity between them.