Christ the King: St. Ambrose: Commentary on St. Luke 23:35-43

Two thieves were hanged with Him, as I said, in mockery even of the passion which brings salvation to the whole world: but of these, the one, it says, resembled in his conduct the impiety of the Jews, belching forth the same words as they did, and giving free utterance to blasphemous expressions. "For if, says he, You be the Christ, save Yourself, and us." But the other, following a different course, is justly worthy of our admiration: for he believed in Him: and while suffering so bitter a punishment, he rebuked the vehement outcries of the Jews, and the words of him who was hanging with him. He "confessed his sin, that he might be justified:" he became the accuser of his own wicked ways, that God might remit his guilt; for it is written, "I said that I will confess of myself my iniquity to the Lord, and You forgave the wickedness of my heart." He bore to Christ a blameless testimony, and reproved the Jewish want of love to God, and condemned the sentence of Pilate: "for This Man, he says, has done nothing that is hateful." O how beautiful is this confession! how wise the reasonings, and how excellent the thoughts! He became the confessor of the Savior's glory, and the accuser of the pride of those who crucified Him. What reward therefore did he receive? Of what honors was he counted worthy? Or what benefit did the thief gain who was the first to profess faith? He lit upon a treasure worth the having: he became rich unexpectedly, and possessed of every blessing: he won the inheritance of the saints, and to have his name written above, in heaven: he was in the book of life who was bearing the sentence of death, and is numbered with the dwellers in the city that is above.

Monastic Breviary: St. Cecilia: Homily by S. John Chrysostom Horn. 78, or 79, on Matt.

Monastic Breviary: St. Cecilia: Homily by S. John Chrysostom Horn. 78, or 79, on Matt. 

WHY does the Lord set forth this parable under the subject of virgins instead of referring to all people without this discrimination? For he had spoken great things concerning virginity, saying: There be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. Nor was he unaware that virginity counted for much among the people, being, indeed, a thing higher than nature: and this is plain from the fact that in the Old Testament it was not practiced by those holy men of old, and that in the New it is not ordered by any obligation of law. Whence also Paul says: Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore that it is good for a man so to be.

THEREFORE because virginity is so great a thing, and is esteemed so highly among many people, he sets forth this parable, lest anyone should think that he has done all, and should neglect other matters; to show that virginity, even though it may have all else, will yet be cast out with the fornicators, if it lack the virtue of mercy. And deservedly does he reckon it with them when it is unfeeling and lacking in mercy. For the fornicator is bound by lust for bodies, but the other by lust for riches.

NOW bodily lust and the lust for riches are not on the same level, but bodily lust is a much more grievous and bitter thing. Therefore, those who wrestle with a weaker enemy are less deserving of pardon if they are overcome. For that reason, moreover, he called them foolish, for after they had won a great contest, they lost everything in an easier one. Now in this place the gift of virginity goes by the name of lamps; and by the oil is meant kindness, almsgiving, and giving aid to the needy.

WHILE the Bridegroom, tarried, they all slumbered and slept. For the purpose of leading the disciples away from the idea that they held, from expecting that his kingdom was soon to come, he showed the interval to be no short space of time. For they were hoping that it would be short. Therefore, he often used to call them away from this manner of thinking. For this reason, he also shows that death is a kind of sleep. They all slept, he says, and at midnight there was a cry made: either that he may continue with the same parable, or else he shows that the Resurrection will take place in the night. Paul also makes mention of the cry, saying: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.

S. Cecilia: Common of a virgin martyr

Lauds

O castitátis sígnifer

et fortitúdo mártyrum,

utrísque reddens præmia,

audi benígnus súpplices.

Hæc virgo magni péctoris,

beáta sorte dúplici

bináque palma nóbilis,

hic tóllitur præcóniis.

Hæc te fatéri pértinax,

tortóris acre brácchium

armávit in se strénue

tibíque fudit spíritum.

Sic sæviéntis vúlnera

et blandiéntis víncere

mundi docens illécebram,

fidem docet nos íntegram.

Huius favóre débita

nobis remíttas ómnia,

foménta tollens críminum

tuámque subdens grátiam.

O Standard Bearer of chastity and strength of martyrs, bearing the rewards of both, kindly hear our prayers.  This virgin great in heart and blessed by a double portion, ennobled with a twofold palm, extolled by proclamations.  This woman resolute in confessing you,  obstinately  provoked the bitter arm of the torturer and poured out her spirit for you. In this way teaching us to conquer both the wounds of the cruel and the alluring flattery of the world, taught us integrity. By her merit forgive us all our sins,  taking away the attraction of sin and giving us your grace.

The Office of Readings: 9^th Century

O Christe, flos convállium,

te láudibus extóllimus,

quod hanc ornásti vírginem

palmis quoque martýrii.

Hæc prudens, fortis, sápiens,

fidem proféssa líbere,

pro te dira supplícia

excépit impertérrita.

Sic spreto mundi príncipe,

tuo ditáta múnere,

cruénto parta prœlio,

ætérna tulit præmia.

Huius, Redémptor, méritis

nos pius adde sócios,

ut, mente pura, frúctibus

tui fruámur sánguinis.

O Christ, flower of the valleys, we raise our praises to you, because you have adorned this virgin also with the palms of martyrdom.  Prudent, strong and wise, professing openly the faith, she fearlessly endured severe punishments for your sake.  In this way, spurning the prince of this world, enriched by your gifts, dying in the bloody battle, she attained eternal rewards. By her merits, O holy Redeemer, make us her companions, that with pure minds we may enjoy the fruits of your blood.

Vespers: 9^th Century

Vírginis Proles opiféxque Matris,

Virgo quem gessit peperítque Virgo,

vírginis festum cánimus tropæum:

  áccipe votum.

Hæc tua virgo, dúplici beáta

sorte dum gestit frágilem domáre

córporis sexum, dómuit cruéntum

  córpore sæclum.

Inde nec mortem nec amíca mortis

sæva pœnárum génera pavéscens,

sánguine fuso méruit sacrátum

  scándere cælum.

Huius obténtu, Deus alme, nostris

parce iam culpis, vítiis revúlsis,

quo tibi puri résonet per ævum

  péctoris hymnus. Amen.

Off spring of the Virgin and Mother of the Creator, the Virgin who gave birth and remained a Virgin, we sing the festal triumph of a virgin: receive our prayer. This your virgin was twice blessed by lot: while she fought to conquer the bodily fragility of her sex, she triumphed also with her body the cruelty of the world.   Therefore fearing not death, nor the savage punishments that come with death, she was found worthy through the shedding of her blood to scale up to holy heaven. By her intercession, O gracious God, now forgive us our sins, uproot our vices, that this hymn from a pure heart may resound through the ages. Amen.

Hebdomada I, Feria III ad Laudes (Gelasian Sacramentary)

Matutína súpplicum vota, Dómine, propítius intuére et occúlta cordis nostri remédio tuæ clarífica pietátis, ut desidéria tenebrósa non téneant, quos lux cæléstis grátiæ reparávit. Per Dominum.

Graciously attend to our morning prayers of supplication, O Lord, and shine with the remedy of your love upon the hidden places of our hearts, that dark desires may not hold those whom light has restored to heavenly grace. Through our Lord.

Monastic Breviary: In Dedicatione Basilicarum Ss. Petri & Pauli

Among the holy places which have been held in honor among Christians from the beginning, one of the foremost has always been the Confession of St. Peter in the Vatican, made sacred by the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles. Here Constantine the Great is said to have prostrated himself on the ground and, with pick and shovel, to have marked but the place for the basilica, which he built at his own expense. This basilica was dedicated on November 18 by Pope St. Sylvester. It was at that time that he decreed that henceforth altars were to be made only of stone. Eventually, having deteriorated with age this basilica was rebuilt from its foundations with greater magnificence. The loving care of several successive popes saw to the long task of rebuilding, and in 1626 Pope Urban VIII solemnly dedicated the new basilica on the anniversary of the original dedication. In the same way, the basilica of St. Paul on the Ostian Way was very richly built by Emperor Constantine and consecrated by St. Sylvester. Then, after it had been destroyed by a great fire, it was rebuilt more splendidly than before by the untiring devotion of four popes. And Pius IX, surrounded by a solemn assembly of bishops, consecrated it on the auspicious occasion of the definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

NOVEMBER 21: THE FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Sermon of St. Tarasius, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, from 25 December 784 until his death on 25 February 806.

The Blessed Virgin is prepared for her mission by her hidden life.

Today heaven and earth make common celebration, and together they praise the Maker of all things who chose a girl (God's daughter) from the race of mortals to be his dwelling-place. Today is made ready the home of that mystery prepared before all ages to appear at the end of time. Today the daughter born by promise to Joachim and Anne is offered by them as a most precious gift to him who at a later time will deign to be born of her. Today she who took away the curse of sterility is offered as a gift to the Holy of holies. Who does not stand amazed before such a wonder? Who is not struck with admiration for this miracle?

This is the start of God's union with us. This is the pattern of man's future intercourse with angels. This is the first copy to be hammered out of our renewal. This is our firm deliverance from a life of thorns and our former sentence, where it was said: The ground through thy act is under a curse: thorns and thistles it shall yield thee; and: Thou shalt earn thy bread with the sweat of thy brow.  And this is our redemption from that punishment: Many are the pangs, many are the throes I will give thee, and: With pangs thou shalt give birth to children.

And what was the Blessed Virgin doing in the Holy of holies? Preserving her virginity like an immaculate dove she prayed to him who had made the temple and the heavens and the earth, and with gratitude she opened her heart and said: "I sing to thee, highest and almighty one, for you have taken from me the reproach of Eve my first mother. And through your mercy which is beyond all telling you mean to send your only begotten Son on to this earth that he may converse with men, and for that reason I shall become his dwelling-place, pure and undefiled."

But we who are God's people, children of grace, celebrate the Virgin's entry into the temple with pure hearts, unsoiled lips, and many sounding tongues and cry out with reverence and a holy joy, that Hail of the angel Gabriel: Hail delight of the Father, through whom the knowledge Of God has stretched to the ends of the earth. Hail dwelling of the Son, from whom he came forth clothed in the flesh. Hail ineffable home of the Holy Spirit. Hail unutterable joy of the world. Hail Patron Queen Of peace. Hail spotless glory of mothers. Hail wide throne Of the Word. Hail strong staff of age. Hail divine leader of the young. Hail shining bulwark of children. Hail mediator of all who dwell under heaven. Hail restorer of all the world. Hail heaven and earth's great holiday. Hail full of Grace, the Lord is with thee, the Lord who is before thee, and from thee and lives with us.

Office of Readings: Common of Virgins

The Office of Readings: Common of one virgin

Dulci deprómat cármine

devóta plebs sollémnia,

dum in cælórum cúlmine

hæc virgo micat glória.

Virgo, quæ Christi láudibus

vacávit iam viríliter,

sanctórum nunc agmínibus

coniúngitur felíciter.

Vicit per pudicítiam

infírmæ carnis vítium;

sprevit mundi blandítiam

Christi sequens vestígium.

Per hanc nos, Christe, dírige

servans a cunctis hóstibus;

culpárum lapsus córrige

nos ímbuens virtútibus.

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

qui natus es de Vírgine,

cum Patre et almo Spíritu,

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

The devout people celebrate this solemnity with a sweet hymn, while in the heights of heaven this virgin shines in glory. The virgin, who once was free bravely to sing the praises of Christ, now is happily joined to the company of the saints. She conquered through purity the faults of weak flesh, she spurned the flattery of the world, following in the steps of Christ.  Through her, O Christ, direct us, saving us from all enemies, correct our lapses into sin, filling us with the virtues. Jesus, to you be glory, born of a Virgin, with the Father and loving Spirit, through eternal ages. Amen.

The Office of Readings: Common of many virgins

Gaudentes festum colimus

sanctarum Christi virginum,

quæ puro corde Dominum

secutæ sunt in laudibus.

O castitatis lilium,

rex virginum sanctissime,

tu, custos pudicitiæ,

fraudes repelle dæmonum.

Qui castis in visceribus

placaris clementissime,

nostros reatus dilue,

dimittens quæ peccavimus.

Grates precantes agimus;

erramus, viam dirige;

tu pater indulgentiæ,

nobis succurre, quæsumus.

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,

qui natus es de Virgine,

cum Patre et almo Spiritu,

in sempiterna sæcula. Amen.

Rejoicing we celebrate the feast of the holy virgins of Christ, who pure in heart followed the Lord with praises. O Lily of chastity, most holy King of virgins, you who are the guardian of purity, repel the fraud of the demons. Chaste within, most merciful, be pleased to blot out our guilt, forgiving what sins we have committed.  Praying we give you thanks, we have strayed, direct us on the way; you, O Father of mercy, we beseech you, hasten to help us.  Jesus to you . . .