Saints Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Martyrs: Common of several martyrs

The Office of Readings: 6^th Century

Rex glorióse mártyrum,

coróna confiténtium,

qui respuéntes térrea

perdúcis ad cæléstia,

Aurem benígnam prótinus

appóne nostris vócibus;

tropæa sacra pángimus,

ignósce quod delíquimus.

Tu vincis in martýribus

parcéndo confessóribus;

tu vince nostra crímina

donándo indulgéntiam.

O glorious King of martyrs, Crown of those who praise you, those who repudiate earthly things you lead to the things of heaven. Quickly in your generosity lend your ear to our voices; we sing of holy triumphs, forgive us the sins we have done. You are victorious in the martyrs by sparing those who confess you; triumph over our offenses by granting pardon.

Lauds: 10^th Century: attributed to St. Ambrose

Ætérna Christi múnera

et mártyrum victórias,

laudes feréntes débitas,

lætis canámus méntibus.

Ecclesiárum príncipes,

belli triumpháles duces,

cæléstis aulæ mílites

et vera mundi lúmina.

Terróre victo sæculi

pœnísque spretis córporis,

mortis sacræ compéndio

lucem beátam póssident.

Tortóris insáni manu

sanguis sacrátus fúnditur,

sed pérmanent immóbiles

vitæ perénnis grátia.

Devóta sanctórum fides,

invícta spes credéntium,

perfécta Christi cáritas

mundi triúmphat príncipem.

In his patérna glória,

in his volúntas Spíritus,

exsúltat in his Fílius,

cælum replétur gáudio.

Te nunc, Redémptor, quæsumus,

ut mártyrum consórtio

iungas precántes sérvulos

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

The eternal gifts of Christ and victories of the martyrs, bringing the praise we owe, let us sing with joyful minds.  Princes of the churches, triumphant commanders in the war, soldiers of the court of heaven and true lights of the world.  Conquering over the fear of the world, spurning the punishments of the body, profiting from a holy  death, they possess the blessed light. By the hand of the mad executioner holy blood was spilled, but they remained unmoved through the grace of eternal life. The devoted faith of the saints, the invincible hope of those who believe, the charity of Christ perfected triumphs over the prince of this world. In them the Father’s glory, in them the will of the Spirit, in them the Son endlessly rejoices,  and heaven is filled with joy. To you now, O Redeemer, we beseech you that the company of martyrs might be joined to your servants as we pray through eternal ages. Amen.

Vespers: Rabanus Maurus

Magentius Rabanus Maurus is the commanding figure among the ecclesiastics of his age, a great Churchman and the first German theologian….In a world of change, it appeared to him that the written word alone had a chance of survival, and that knowledge had an abiding value not subect to vanity….His pupil Rudolf at any rate was admirer of Raban’s verses for he describes him as ‘sui temporis poetarum nulli secundus’” F.J.E. Rabus

Sanctórum méritis ínclita gáudia

pangámus, sócii, géstaque fórtia;

nam gliscit ánimus prómere cántibus

  victórum genus óptimum.

Hi sunt quos rétinens mundus inhórruit,

ipsum nam stérili flore peráridum

sprevére pénitus teque secúti sunt,

  rex, Christe, bone cælitum.

Hi pro te fúrias sævaque sústinent;

non murmur résonat, non querimónia,

sed corde tácito mens bene cónscia

  consérvat patiéntiam.

Quæ vox, quæ póterit lingua retéxere

quæ tu martýribus múnera præparas?

Rubri nam flúido sánguine láureis

  ditántur bene fúlgidis.

Te, trina Déitas únaque, póscimus,

ut culpas ábluas, nóxia súbtrahas,

des pacem fámulis, nos quoque glóriam

 per cuncta tibi sæcula. Amen.

May we sing of the great happiness of the merits of the saints, O friends, and of their brave deeds; for the soul is raised up when we proclaim  in song this model of the greatest victory. These are those whom the world rejected and abhorred, for they wholly despised the dry soil of the world with its sterile flower, and followed you, O Christ the good King of the citizens of heaven. These are those who for your sake  endured anger and savage punishments but they did not grumble  or sound a complaint,  but with a quiet hear and a good conscience persevered in patience. What voice, what tongue can tell, Christ, the gifts you have prepared for the martyrs.  for the flow of red blood is well enriched with glimmering laurels. We pray you, O Godhead three and one, that you wash away our faults, lead us away from all that is dangerous, grant peace to your servants,  and also that we give glory to you through all ages. Amen.