S. Josophat, Bishop Martyr

S. Josophat, Bishop Martyr

Josaphat Kuncewitz was born of noble Catholic parents at Vladimir in Volhynia. As a child, when he heard his mother speaking of the passion of Christ, he received in his heart a wound from an arrow coming from the side of the image of Christ crucified. When he was twenty, he was professed among the cloistered monks of St. Basil. Soon he was made archimandrite of Vilna and than archbishop of Plolotzk, and showed himself a model of all virtues. A zealous promoter of the unity of the Greek with the Latin Church, he called innumerable heretics back to the bosom of their mother, the Church. Having gone to Vitebsk on pastoral visitation, of his own accord he went out to meet the schismatics, who were seeking to kill him and who had already invaded the archiepiscopal residence. "My children", he said, "if you have anything against me, here I am." With that they rushed at him, beat and stabbed him, delivered the death blow with an axe and threw his body into the river. The first to benefit from the Martyr's blood were those very parricides: condemned to death nearly all of them adjured their schism and repented of their crime. Pope Urban VIII gave Josaphat the honors of the Blessed, and Pius IX added to the number of Saints this first promoter of the unity of the Church among the Easterners.

The Office of Readings: Prudentius

Beáte (Beáta) martyr, próspera
diem triumphálem tuum,
quo sánguinis merces tibi
coróna vincénti datur.

Hic (Hæc) te ex tenébris sæculi,
tortóre victo et iúdice,
evéxit ad cælum dies
Christóque ovántem réddidit.

Nunc angelórum párticeps
collúces insígni stola,
quam testis indomábilis
rivis cruóris láveras.

Adésto nunc et óbsecra,
placátus ut Christus suis
inclínet aurem prósperam,
noxas nec omnes ímputet.

Paulísper huc illábere
Christi favórem déferens,
sensus graváti ut séntiant
levámen indulgéntiæ.

Honor Patri cum Fílio
et Spíritu Paráclito,
qui te coróna pérpeti
cingunt in aula glóriæ. Amen.

O blessed martyr, bless us who keep the day of your triumph, when at the cost of your blood you were given a crown of victory. Today you entered heaven and left behind the darkness of the world, victorious over torturer and judge, returning praise to Christ. Now with the angels you wear the noble stole which in your indomitable witness you washed with your streaming blood.  Be with us now and plead that it may please Christ favorably to hear and not count against us any faults.  Shine upon here but a little while, bringing the favor of Christ that those heavy  with the sense of sin may feel the consolation of  pardon. . Honor to the Father with the Son and the Spirit Paraclete, who crowned you with an eternal crown in the courts of glory. Amen.

Lauds: 9^th Century

Martyr Dei, qui (quæ) únicum
Patris sequéndo Fílium
victis triúmphas hóstibus,
victor (victrix) fruens cæléstibus.

Tui precátus múnere
nostrum reátum dílue,
arcens mali contágium,
vitæ repéllens tædium.

Solúta sunt iam víncula
tui sacráti córporis;
nos solve vinclis sæculi
amóre Fílii Dei.

Honor Patri cum Fílio
et Spíritu Paráclito,
qui te coróna pérpeti
cingunt in aula glóriæ. Amen.

O victorious martyr of God, now enjoying heaven, by following the only Son of the Father, you triumphed and conquered the enemy. Through the gift of your prayers wash away our guilt, defending us from the contagion of evil and repelling the weariness of life. Now the chains that held your holy body have been loosened; by the love of God free us from the chains of the world. Honor to the Father with the Son and the Spirit Paraclete, who crowned you with an eternal crown in the courts of glory. Amen.

Vespers: 5^th-7^th Centuries

Deus, tuórum mílitum
sors et coróna, præmium,
laudes canéntes mártyris
absólve nexu críminis.

Hic (Hæc) testis ore prótulit
quod cordis arca crédidit,
Christum sequéndo répperit
effusióne sánguinis.

Hic (Hæc) nempe mundi gáudia
et blandiménta nóxia
cadúca rite députans,
pervénit ad cæléstia.

Pœnas cucúrrit fórtiter
et sústulit viríliter;
pro te refúndens sánguinem,
ætérna dona póssidet.

Ob hoc precátu súpplici
te póscimus, piíssime;
in hoc triúmpho mártyris
dimítte noxam sérvulis.

Ut consequámur múneris
ipsíus et consórtia,
lætémur ac perénniter
iuncti polórum sédibus.

God, the lot, crown and reward of your soldiers, loosen from the bounds of sin those who sing praises to this martyr. By mouth he bore witness to what he believed in treasury of his heart; When his blood was poured out, he found Christ by following him.  Indeed, rightly judging the joys of the world and its dangerous flattery to be fleeting, he entered into heaven.  Bravely he met punishment and strongly he persevered; pouring out his blood for your sake he attained eternal gifts. For this reason, O most loving God, on the triumph day of the martyr, we ask in humble supplication, drive away danger from your servants.  That we too may have a share in his graces and rejoice forever to be seated in heaven.