31st Sunday n Ordinary Time

Leonine/Veronese

Omnipotens et misericors Deus, de cuius munere venit, ut tibi a fidelibus tuis digne et laudabiliter serviatur, tribue, quaesumus, nobis, ut ad promissiones tuas sine offensione curramus. 

Almighty and merciful God, from whose gift it comes that you are served rightly and praise worthily by your faithful, grant that we may run to your promises without stumbling. 

St. Ambrose on Luke 19:1-10

Let us enter into favor with the rich: for we do not want to offend the rich, wanting, if it is possible, to cure everyone. Otherwise, clasped by the parable of the camel, left out faster than it is convenient in the person of Zacchaeus, they would have a right subject to be moved and offended. Let them learn that there is no fault of being rich, but of not knowing how to make use of wealth: for wealth, which is a hindrance to the wicked, is among the good resources for virtue. Yes, the rich Zacchaeus was chosen by Christ. But by giving the poor half of his property, even paying back four times what he had fraudulently stolen - because one of them is not enough, and the largesse has no value if the injustice subsists, expected that one does not ask for spoils, but gifts - he has received a reward more abundant than his largesse. And it is well that it is pointed out as the head of the publicans: who in fact could despair of himself, when the same one arrived, who drew his income from the fraud?

"And he was rich," he says: learn by this that the rich are not all greedy. How is it that Scripture did not mention the size of any other than this: "Because it was small? See if by chance he was small by malice, or small as to faith; for he had not yet promised anything when he ascended; he had not yet seen Christ; so, it is true that he was still small. John is great because he saw Christ, and the Spirit resting like a dove on Christ, as he himself says: "I saw the Spirit descending like a dove and rest on Him "(Jn, l, 32). As for the crowd, is it not the fray of an ignorant multitude, who could not see the heights of wisdom? So Zacchaeus, while he is in the crowd, does not see Christ; he rose above the crowd, and he saw: in other words, by going beyond popular ignorance, he managed to contemplate the One whom he desired. It was added, "Because the Lord was to come to this place," where was either the sycamore or the future believer: He thus observed the mystery and sowed grace; for He had come to pass from the Jews to the Gentiles. Thus, He saw Zacchaeus above, for henceforth the elevation of his faith made him emerge among the fruits of new works as on the summit of a fruitful tree. And since we have moved from the figure to the moral sense, it is nice to relax our soul on Sunday among the wills of so many believers, to share in the celebration. Zacchaeus in the sycamore is the new fruit of the new season; in him also is realized the text: "the fig tree gave its first fruits" (Cant., II, 13); because Christ came so that the trees give birth not to fruits, but to men. We read elsewhere: "When you were under the fig tree, I saw you" (Jn, I, 48). Nathanael is therefore under the tree, that is to say on the root - for it is right, and "the root is holy" (Rom., XI, 16) - but Nathanael is under the tree, because only under the law; Zacchaeus is on the tree, because above the law. One defends the Lord in secret, the other preaches publicly. One still sought Christ in the Law; the other, already higher than the Law, abandoned his property and followed the Lord.

All Souls: Commemoration of the Faithful Departed: Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham

A reading from Saint Thomas More, The Supplication of Souls

Consider you our pains, and pity them in your hearts, and help us with pilgrimages, and other almsdeeds: and of all things in special procure us the suffrages and blessed oblation of the Holy Mass, whereof no man living so well can tell the fruit, as we that here feel it. The comfort that we have here, except our continual hope in Our Lord God, comes at season from Our Lady, with such glorious saints, as either ourselves with our own devotion while we lived or ye with yours for us since our decease and departing have made intercessors for us.

And among other right especially be we beholden to the blessed spirits our own proper good angels, whom, when we behold coming with comfort to us, albeit that we take great pleasure and greatly rejoice therein, yet is it not without much confusion and shamefastness, to consider how little we regarded our good angels, and how seldom we thought upon them while we lived. They carry up our prayers to God and good saints for us, and they bring down from them the comfort and consolation to us with which, when they come and comfort us, only we and God know the joy it is to our hearts and how heartily we pray for you. And therefore, if God accept the prayer after his own favor borne towards him that prays, and the affection that he prays With, our prayer must needs be profitable, for we stand sure of his grace. And our prayer for you is so fervent, that ye can nowhere find any such affection on earth.

And therefore since we lie sore in pains and have in our great necessity so great need of your help, and that ye may so well do it whereby shall also rebound upon yourself an inestimable profit: let never any slothful oblivion raze us out of your remembrance, Of malicious enemy of ours cause you to be careless of us, or any greedy mind upon your good withdraw your gracious alms from us. Think how soon ye shall come hither to us; think what great grief and rebuke would then your unkindness be to you, what comfort on the contrary part when all we shall thank you, what help ye shall have here of your good sent hither.

Remember what kin ye and we be together, what familiar friendship has ere this been between us, what sweet words ye have spoken and what promise ye have made us. Let now your words appear and your fair promise be kept. Now, dear friends, remember how nature and Christendom binds you to remember us. If any point of your old favor, any piece of your old love, any kindness of kindred, any care of acquaintance, any favor of old friendship, any spark of charity, any tender point of pity, any regard of charity, any respect Of Christendom, be left in your breasts: let never the malice of a few fond fellows, a few pestilent persons borne towards priesthood, religion, and your Christian Faith raze out of your heart the care of all your kindred, all force of your old friends, and all remembrance of all Christian souls.

Remember our thirst while ye sit and drink, our hunger while ye be feasting, our restless watch while ye be sleeping, our sore and grievous pain while ye be playing, our hot burning fire while ye be in pleasure and sporting. So must God make your offspring after remember you: so God keep you hence, or not long here, but bring you shortly to that bliss, to which for Our Lord's love help you to bring us, and we shall set hand to help you thither to us.

IN COMMEMORATIONE OMNIUM FIDELIUM DEFUNCTORUM

Office of Readings: Novus

Qui vivis ante sæcula

vitæque fons es únicus,

nos, Deus, morti obnóxios

culpæque reos áspice.

Peccánti, Pater, hómini

pœnam sanxísti intéritum,

ut, pulvis datus púlveri,

se súbderet piáculum.

Vitále sed spiráculum

quod indidísti próvidus,

æternitátis pérmanet

germen immarcescíbile.

Hæc spes, hoc est solácium:

revirescémus, Dómine,

primúsque resurgéntium

ad te nos Christus rápiet.

Pro pluribus:

Hoc vitæ regno pérfrui

da fratres in te mórtuos,

quos Christi fides ímbuit,

quos almus unxit Spíritus.

Pro uno:

Hoc vitæ regno pérfrui
defúnctam præsta fámulam,
quam Christi fides ímbuit,
quam almus unxit Spíritus.

Hoc regnum nobis própera

e terris cum cessérimus,

ut concinámus ómnium

te finem, te princípium. Amen.

O God, you exist before the ages, the only source of life: behold us guilty and subject to the death of sin. O Father, you sentenced sinful man to the penalty of death that dust returned to dust might atone for crime.  But the living breath which you providentially bestowed upon man abides permanently as an incorruptible seed.  This is our hope; this is our consolation that we will be raised and Christ the Lord, the first born of those who rise, will seize us and take us to you.  (For several departed): Grant that our departed brothers, whom faith in Christ filled and the Holy Spirit anointed, may enjoy this kingdom of life. (For one departed):  Grant that our departed brother, whom faith in Christ filled and the Holy Spirit anointed, may enjoy this kingdom of life. When we pass away from earth grant us this kingdom that we may sing to you, the end and

beginning of all things. Amen.

 At Lauds: Novus

Spes, Christe, nostræ véniæ,

tu vita, resurréctio;

ad te sunt corda et óculi

cum mortis dolor íngruit.

Tu quoque mortis tædia

passus dirósque stímulos,

Patri, inclináto cápite,

mitis dedísti spíritum.

Vere nostros excípiens

languóres, pastor míserens,

tecum donásti cómpati

Patrísque in sinu cómmori.

Apértis pendens brácchiis,

in cor transfíxum pértrahis

quos moritúros ággravat

morbus vel mæror ánxius

Qui portis fractis ínferi

victor pandísti cælicas,

nos nunc doléntes érige,

post óbitum vivífica.

Sed et qui frater córpore

nunc dormit pacis réquie,

iam te beánte vígilet

tibíque laudes réferat. Amen.

Sed et qui fratres córpore

nunc somno pacis dórmiunt,

iam te beánte vígilent

tibíque laudes réferant. Amen.

O Christ, the hope of our pardon, the life and resurrection, hearts and eyes are set upon you, when the sorrow of death finds us. You also suffered the grief, the harsh pangs of death, when with bowed head you gently commended your spirit to the Father.  Truly you took our sorrows, merciful Shepherd, and granted that we might share with you the comfort of the Father’s bosom. With open and outstretched arms you take to your wounded heart those weighted down by death, the sick and those anxious with sorrow.  You, the Conqueror, when the gates of hell were broken, opened heaven; now raise up the sorrowful and give us life after death. (for one departed): Also may the brother, who now bodily sleeps in the rest of peace, watch for the blessed vision of you and offer you praise. Amen. (for several departed): Also may the brothers, who now bodily sleep in the rest of peace, watch for the blessed vision of you and offer you praise. Amen.

At Terce, Sext, None: Novus

Qui lacrimátus Lázarum

geménsque cum soróribus,

ipsum fecísti præpotens

illárum reddi stúdiis:

Qui petivísti sóntibus

benígnus indulgéntiam,

ac verba miserántia

dixísti pœnæ sócio:

Qui, móriens, discípulo

matrem donásti Vírginem,

tuórum quæ fidélium

agóni adésset último:

Da nobis, Christe Dómine,

tuo redémptis sánguine,

duræ mortis tristítiam

in vitæ verti gáudium.

Tuósque voca fámulos,

ex hoc proféctos sæculo,

ut ubi mors iam déerit

te vitæ canant príncipem. Amen.

You, who wept for Lazarus and mourned with his sisters, powerfully returned him to his eager sisters. You who mercifully sought forgiveness for the guilty and spoke merciful words to the one who shared your punishment:  As you were dying you gave the Virgin Mother to the disciple, she who comes to the aid of your faithful in their final agony: Grant to us, redeemed by your blood, Lord Christ, sadness in the bitterness of death, turned to  happiness in life. Call your departed servants from this world that when death takes them they may sing to you, the Ruler of Life. Amen.

Vespers 

Imménsæ rex poténtiæ,

Christe, tu Patris glóriam

nostrúmque decus móliens,

mortis fregísti iácula.

Infírma nostra súbiens

magnúmque petens prœlium,

mortem qua serpens vícerat,

victor calcásti móriens.

Surgens fortis e túmulo,

pascháli nos mystério

peccáto rursus mórtuos

ad vitam semper ínnovas.

Vitam largíre grátiæ,

ut, sponsus cum redíeris,

ornáta nos cum lámpade

iam promptos cælo invénias.

In lucem nos et réquiem

serénus iudex áccipe,

quos fides sanctæ Tríadi

devínxit atque cáritas.

Pro uno:

Tuúmque voca fámulum,

qui nunc exútus córpore

in regna Patris ínhiat,

ut te colláudet pérpetim. Amen.

Pro pluribus:

Fratres et omnes ádvoca,
qui nunc exúti córpore
in regna Patris ínhiant,
ut te colláudent pérpetim. Amen.

O King of great power, Christ, fighting for the glory of the Father and our own honor, you broke the darts of death.  Submitting to our weakness and searching out the great battle, you, a dying conqueror, crushed the death that the serpent had won. Rising valiantly from the tomb by the paschal mystery you restored us to eternal life, who are dead through sin. Increase the life of grace that when you, the bridegroom, return, you will find us with lighted lamps ready for heaven. Peaceful Judge, receive us in light and rest, we, whom the faith and love of the Trinity have conquered.  (Pro uno:) Call thy servant, now delivered from the body who longs for the kingdom of the Father that he might praise you forever. (Pro pluribus:) Call all our brothers, now delivered from the body who long for the kingdom of the Father that they might praise you forever. Amen.

St. John Damascene: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 1. 4, Chpt. 15

In the law whoever touched a dead body was considered impure. But the Saints are not dead: since he who is essential Life and from whom life springs, has been counted in the number of the dead, we no longer call those dead who sleep in hope of the resurrection and faith in him. For how could a corpse work miracles? And from whence would it come that the Saints drive out the devils, drive away maladies, cure the infirm, give back sight to the blind, health to the lepers, dispel temptations and griefs, that in a word they cause to come down from the Father of lights, on those who ask with firm faith, every best gift, and every perfect gift?

What would we not accept to suffer, if thereby we could induce a protector to bring us before one of the kings of this earth and speak of us to the king? Then, should we not reverence those who are the protectors of all men and who speak of us to God? Certainly we must honor them : in their name we must build churches for God and offer him the produce of our fields ; we must celebrate their feasts and rejoice spiritually in them, that our joy may be also the joy of those who unite us, and that under pretext of honoring them, we do not rather rouse their anger. All that honors God gladdens these servants of God, and all that annoys him will arouse the anger of his courtiers. It is by psalms, hymns, spiritual canticles, compunction, pity towards the indigent, that we, the faithful, must honor the Saints, because it is that which above all honors God. Let us erect visible monuments and pictures to them, but let us be ourselves their living monuments and pictures by imitating their virtues. 

Let us honor her who brought forth God, for is truly and of full right the Mother of God. Let us honor the prophet John because he is the Precursor and the Baptist, Apostle and Martyr, of whom our Lord has said: God has raised up no greater son of woman than John the Baptist, and also because he was the first preacher of the kingdom. Let us honor the Apostles, because they are the brethren of our Lord, his eye-witnesses, his attendants at his passion, whom he has destined from the first to be molded into the image of his Son, Apostles first, then prophets, and thirdly teachers.4 Moreover let us honor the Martyrs, whom our Lord chose from all classes, because they are the soldiers of Christ, they have drunk of his chalice and have been baptized with the baptism of his lifegiving death, because they have taken part in his passion and his glory. Let us honor their head, Stephen, the first deacon, apostle and first Martyr of Christ,  Let us honor also our holy fathers,  the Ascetics, who have led their lives of long and hard interior mortification to the end: And others experienced mockery and scourging, chains, too, and imprisonment; they were stoned, they were cut in pieces, they were tortured, they were put to the sword; they wandered about, dressed in sheepskins and goatskins, amidst wants and distress and ill-usage; men whom the world was unworthy to contain.t Finally, let us honor the Prophets before the era of grace, the Patriarchs and Just Men, who had foretold the coming of our Lord. We will consider the life of them all, desire their faith, their charity, their hope, their zeal, their manner of life, their patience in suffering, their fidelity unto blood, so that we may have a share also with them in the crowns of glory.

All Saints

I Vespers: Helisachar or Rabanus Maurus:  9th Century

Amalarius of Metz: Prologue of the Antiphonary: Helisachar, Abbot of St. Maximin in Trier

Upon the verses which one shall find scarcely altered if perchance he considers it worth his while to consult the present volume, the priest of God Helisachar—a person with excellent education, most zealous in reading and divine worship, and the first among the first men of the most excellent emperor Louis—labored and sweated. And not only did he labor mightily in this present business but whomsoever he was able to assemble around himself from his students.

Christe, redémptor ómnium,

consérva tuos fámulos,

Beátæ semper Vírginis

placátus sanctis précibus.

Beáta quoque ágmina

cæléstium spirítuum,

prætérita, præséntia,

futúra mala péllite.

Vates ætérni iúdicis

apostolíque Dómini,

supplíciter expóscimus

salvári vestris précibus.

Mártyres Dei íncliti

confessorésque lúcidi,

vestris oratiónibus

nos ferte in cæléstibus.

Chori sanctárum vírginum

monachorúmque ómnium,

simul cum sanctis ómnibus

consórtes Christi fácite.

Sit Trinitáti glória,

vestrásque voces iúngite

ut illi laudes débitas

persolvámus alácriter. Amen.

O Christ, redeemer of all, may it please you to preserve your servants by the holy prayers of the blessed Ever-Virgin. And through the blessed hosts of heavenly spirits drive away past, present and future evils. Prophets of the eternal Judge and Apostles of the Lord we humbly ask to be saved by your prayers. Illustrious Martyrs of God and brightly shining Confessors by your intercession carry us up into heaven. Choirs of holy Virgins and all monks with all the saints make us to share in Christ. Glory to the Trinity, that with your voices joined we may eagerly offer to Him due praises. Amen.

Ad Officium lectionis: 10^th Century

Christe, cælórum habitátor alme,

vita sanctórum, via, spes salúsque,

hóstiam clemens, tibi quam litámus,

  súscipe laudis.

Omnium semper chorus angelórum

in polo temet benedícit alto,

atque te sancti simul univérsi

  láudibus ornant.

Vírginis sanctæ méritis Maríæ

atque cunctórum páriter piórum,

cóntine pœnam, pie, quam merémur

  daque medélam.

Hic tuam præsta celebráre laudem,

ut tibi fidi valeámus illam

prósequi in cælis Tríadi canéntes

  iúgiter hymnos. Amen.

O Christ, loving dweller in the heavens, the life of the saints, their way and hope of salvation, mercifully receive the sacrifice, which we offer unto you. The choir of all the holy angels ever bless you in the height of heaven, and all the saints together adorn you with praises. By the merits of the holy Virgin Mary and equally  of all the holy ones, check the punishment, O gracious one, which we deserve and grant us healing. Here may we faithfully celebrate your praise, that we might be faithful to you and in the heavens ever sing hymns to the Trinity. Amen.

Lauds & II Vespers: 10th Century

Iesu, salvátor sǽculi,

redémptis ope súbveni

et, pia Dei Génetrix,

salútem posce míseris.

Cœtus omnes angélici,

patriarchárum cúnei

ac prophetárum mérita

nobis precéntur véniam.

Baptísta tui prǽvius

et cláviger æthéreus

cum céteris apóstolis

nos solvant nexu críminis.

Chorus sacrátus mártyrum,

sacerdótum conféssio

et virginális cástitas

nos a peccátis ábluant.

Monachórum suffrágia

omnésque cives cǽlici

ánnuant votis súpplicum

et vitæ poscant prǽmium.

Sit, Christe, tibi glória

cum Patre et Sancto Spíritu,

quorum luce mirífica

sancti congáudent pérpetim. Amen.

O Jesus, Savior of the world, come to the aid of the redeemed, and holy Mother of God pray for the salvation of the wretched. May all the angelic hosts, the merits of the cohort of patriarchs and prophets pray for our pardon. May the Baptist your forerunner and Peter the heavenly key bearer with the other apostles undo the bonds of our sins. The holy choir of martyrs, the praise of the priests, the chastity of virgins wash us from our sins. May the intercessions of monks and of all the citizens of heaven favor the prayers of the humble and seek for us the reward of life. O Christ to you be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, by whose wondrous light the saints rejoice forever. Amen.

Wednesday: Weeks II & IV: Spe nos fidéque dívites

Lauds: 5^th-6^th Century

Appointed by Caesarius for Prime but later at Matins on Wednesday, e.g. Mozarabic  breviary.

Fulgéntis auctor ǽtheris,

qui lunam lumen nóctibus, (1)

solem diérum cúrsibus

certo fundásti trámite, (2)

Nox atra iam depéllitur,

mundi nitor renáscitur, (3)

novúsque iam mentis vigor (4)

dulces in actus érigit. (5)

Laudes sonáre iam tuas

dies relátus ádmonet,

vultúsque cæli blándior (6)

nostra serénat péctora. (7)

Vitémus omne lúbricum, (8)

declínet prava spíritus, (9)

vitam facta non ínquinent,

linguam culpa non ímplicet; (10)

Sed, sol diem dum cónficit, (11)

fides profúnda férveat,

spes ad promíssa próvocet,

Christo coniúngat caritas

1.       Genesis 1.16: ‘who hast set the moon to lighten the night, the sun with fixed orbit to lighten the day’s course.’ 2. tramite = an orbit; 3. nitor = brightness of dawn; 4. novus: revived by sleep;

5. dulces actus: sweet acts because done with more ease in the day than in the night; blandior

= more pleasant than the dark; 7. serénat = brightens, illuminates; 8. Lúbricum; slippery,  so sin or danger, connotes danger; 9. declínet: turn away, go aside; 10. implicet: entangle; 11. cónficit: completes.

Author of the glittering sky, you established in a secure orbit the moon as light for night, the sun for the course of day. Dark night now is driven away, the brightness of the world is reborn, now new strength of mind directs us in pleasing deeds. Day returned admonishes us to sing your praises and the countenance of the more pleasant sky brightens our hearts. Let us shun all deceit, the spirit decline crooked things, our actions not indict our life, faults not entangle the tongue. But, while the sun makes the day, may deep faith burn, hope call us to the divine promises, love join us to Christ. 

When the Office of Readings is said in the daytime: 10^th Century

Christe, lux vera, bónitas et vita,

gáudium mundi, píetas imménsa,

qui nos a morte vívido salvásti

sánguine tuo,

Insere tuum, pétimus, amórem

méntibus nostris, fídei refúnde

lumen ætérnum, caritátis auge

dilectiónem.

Procul a nobis pérfidus absístat

Satan, a tuis víribus confráctus;

Sanctus assístat Spíritus, a tua

sede demíssus. Amen

O Christ, the true light, goodness and life, the joy of the world, immense love, who saves us from living death by your blood. Put love in our souls, pour out the eternal light of faith, increase our love of charity. May envious Satan, broken by your strength,  be far from us; May the Holy Spirit, sent down from your throne, come to our aid. Amen.

Vespers:  novus

Sol, ecce, lentus óccidens

montes et arva et ǽquora

mæstus relínquit, ínnovat

sed lucis omen crástinæ,

Mirántibus mortálibus

sic te, Creátor próvide,

leges vicésque témporum

umbris dedísse et lúmini.

Ac dum, ténebris ǽthera

siléntio preméntibus,

vigor labórum déficit,

quies cupíta quǽritur,

Spe nos fidéque dívites

tui beámur lúmine

Verbi, quod est a sǽculis

splendor patérnæ glóriæ.

Est ille sol qui nésciat

ortum vel umquam vésperum;

quo terra gestit cóntegi,

quo cæli in ævum iúbilant.

Hac nos seréna pérpetim

da luce tandem pérfrui,

cum Nato et almo Spíritu

tibi novántes cántica. Amen.

Behold the sun slowly setting, now sadly abandons mountains, fields and streams but makes anew a sign of tomorrow’s light. To astonished mortals, you, the Creator providentially give the rules and changes of time, shadows and light. And while, the darkness remains in the silent sky, strength for work declines, quiet is desired and sought. May we be blessed by the light of your Word, made rich with hope and faith, the eternal brightness of the Father’s glory. This is the Sun, which knows no rising, no evening, by which the earth hastens to be covered, by which the heavens rejoice forever. By this peaceful light grant that we may at last enjoy, with the Son and Holy Spirit, singing to you a new hymn.. Amen.