Part VII: Mass and Office (1)

Mass and Office

FOR

The Feast of the Priesthood

Introduction 269

ST. JOHN EUDES labored for many years to revive the priestly spirit in the French clergy of the Seventeenth Century. He realized in the course of time that a solemn feast in honor of the priesthood of Jesus Christ and of all holy priests and levites would greatly help to develop the apostolic life in the members of his Institute and instil it into the seminarians of whom he had charge; and at an early date he decided to establish it. In 1649, he submitted to the approval of Doctors Basire and Le Moussu an Office of the Priesthood written by himself, and this he published in 1652 in the first edition of the Proper of his Congregation. On December 29th of the same year, His Lordship Claude Auvry, Bishop of Coutances, authorized all the faithful of his diocese, and especially the priests and clerics of his seminary, to make use of the Saint's Offices. At this time, the Feast of the Priesthood was allocated to November is, and accordingly it is morally certain that it was celebrated in the seminary of Coutances on November 15, 1653.

Subsequently, the Saint continued to perfect his Office, as is shown by the editions of the Proper published by him in 1668 and in 1672. In these the hymns are more rhythmic, an octave is added to the Office, and in order to make it possible to celebrate the Feast and its octave before the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, the solemnity is advanced two days and so is kept on November 13. St. John Eudes wanted the renewal of the promises of the clergy in his Society to take place on the Feast of the Presentation, and thus the Feast of the Priesthood served as a preparation for that great act which, in those circumstances, could not fail to be carried out with the greatest possible fervor.

The Saint's Office in honor of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and of all holy priests and levites is one of great beauty. It is at the same time a magnificent glorification of the heroes of the priesthood whose

virtues and success it enthusiastically relates, a striking exposition of the dignity and the duties of a priest, and a fervent Prayer that God should grant that His ministers should participate in the spirit and the virtues of their predecessors. In it the Saint was happy in his choice and arrangement of texts from Scripture and the Fathers; and those parts of the Mass and Office that are entirely his own, such as the hymns and the prose, are remarkable for their vigor and their loftiness of thought. He succeeded i n introducing the whole of his beautiful teaching on the relations between the priests and the Blessed Virgin Mary, his personal duties and his mission with regard to the laity. When chanted in a major seminary, i t could not fail to make a profound impression on the clerics, and the same may be said of the Office as a whole.

This Feast of the Priesthood Was also adopted by the Priests of St., Sulpice and by Benedictines of the Blessed Sacrament. At St. Sulpice, it was first fixed for October 30, but later, with the consent of the Ordinary, it was celebrated on July 17, or on another day towards the end of the scholastic year. We cannot say at what precise date the Feast was introduced at St. Sulpice, but apparently it was not established there by Father Olier, but by his disciples some years after his death, which occurred in 1657. According to Father Faillon, the Feast began to be kept there about 1660, and he attributes to Father de Bretonvilliers the compositions of the Office and Mass used in its celebration. We believe, on the contrary, that the Fathers of St. Sulpice, being in touch with St. John Eudes, adopted his Office and Mass, retouching, perhaps, certain parts of it, especially the hymns.

Similarly, the Benedictines of the Blessed Sacrament also adopted the Feast of the Priesthood, which admirably suited their devotion towards the Holy Eucharist. For there is a close connection between the priesthood and the Eucharist, and in some respects the Feast of the Priesthood seemed to be a happy complement of the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament. That is why, when the Benedictines adopted it, they fixed its celebration for the Thursday after the Octave of Corpus Christi. On May 30, 1668, Cardinal de Vendome, the Legate a latere of Pope Clement IX, authorized them to celebrate this Feast, using the Office written by St. John Eudes and accommodated to the Benedictine rite. This Feast did not remain restricted to the three Institutes that

The Feast of the Priesthood 271

we have mentioned; it was adopted in several dioceses, amongst others in that of Rouen, in which it is said to have been kept until the middle of the Nineteenth Century.

The Eudists were very attached to the Feast of the Priesthood, and St. John Eudes' immediate successor, Father Blouet de Camilly, "had it inserted in the letters of institution of several houses of the Congregation;" while the General Assembly of 1742 recommended that it be faithfully celebrated in all houses of the Institute. Nor did it cease to be celebrated till towards the middle of the Nineteenth Century, when its abandonment was doubtless due to the return to the Roman Liturgy. The Priests of St. Sulpice preserved it until the liturgy was reformed by Pope Pius X, when they had to give it up; but neither the Eudists nor the Sulpicians have relinquished hope of reviving some day a Feast that so happily harmonizes with their spirit and their works. 272-

Mass of the Feast of the

Priesthood of

Jesus Christ

Introitus introit Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus The Lord bath said to me: Thou es tu, ego hodie genui te: Tu es art my son; this day have I begotten Sacerdos in aeternum, secundum thee: Thou art a priest for ever acMelchisedech. Ps. Benedicite, Sacer- cording to the order of Melchise dotes Domini, Domino: benedicite, dech. Ps. 0 ye priests of the Lord, sancti et humiles corde, Domino. bless the Lord: bless the Lord, 0 ye holy and humble of

heart

V. Gloria Patri . . . Dominus V. Glory be to the Father dixit. The Lord hath said. Oratio Collect Deus, tuorum gloria Sacerdotum, 0 God, the glory of Thy Priests, qui Unigenitum tuum nobis sum- who didst give us Thy Only-Begot mum Sacerdotem, et animarum nos- ten Son to be our High Priest and trarum Pastorem vigilantissimum de- the most watchful Pastor of Souls, disti, quique ei, ad sacrificandum and didst make all holy priests and tibi hostiam mundam, et ad promo- levites His associates in offering to vendam humanis generis salutem, Thee a spotless victim and in pro sanctos Sacerdotes et Levitas con~ moting the salvation of the hu sortes tribuisti: quaesumus, beata man race: grant, we beseech Thee, Maria semper Virgine et iisdem through the intercession of Blessed sanctis Sacerdotibus intercedentibus, Mary ever Virgin, and of all the ut Spiritum gratiae cui servierunt, in Holy Priests and Levites, that the Ecclesia tua excitare digneris, quate- spirit of grace be stirred up in Thy nus nos eodem repleti, studeamus Church, so that filled with this same amare quod amaverunt, et opere grace, we may love what they have exercere quod verbo et exemplo do- loved, and accomplish in deed what cuerunt. Per eumdem Dominum. they have taught by word and example.

Through the same Lord

Mass 273

Lectio, Epistolae Beati Pauli Apostoli Lesson from the Epistle of St. Paul ad Hebracos. (Cap. 7) the Apostle to the Hebrews. Chap 7. Fratres, alii sine jurejurando Sa- Brethren, others were made priests cerdotes facti sunt; hic autem cum without an oath: but this with an jurejurando, per eum qui dicit ad oath, by him that said unto him: The illum: Juravit Dominus et non pae- Lord hath sworn and he will not nitebit eum: tu es Sacerdos in aeter~ repent: Thou art a priest for ever. By num. In tantum melioris testamenti so much is Jesus made a surety of a sponsor factus est Jesus. Et alii qui- better testament. And the others in~ dem plures facti sunt Sacerdotes, deed were made many priests, be idcirco quod morte prohiberentur cause by reason of death they were permanere: hic autem, eo quod ma- not suffered to continue: but this, neat in aeternum, sempiternum ha- for that he continueth for ever, bath bet Sacerdotium. Unde, et salvare in an everlasting priesthood: whereby perpetuum potest accedentes per he is able also to save for ever them semetipsum ad Deum: semper vi- that come to God by him; always vens ad interpellandum pro nobis. living to make intercession for us. Talis enim decebat ut nobis esset For it was fitting that we should Pontifex, sanctus, innocens, impollu~ have such a high priest, holy, in tus, segregatus a peccatoribus, et ex- nocent, undefiled, separated from celsior caelis factus: qui non habet sinners, and made higher than the necessitatem quotidie, prius pro suis heavens: who needeth not daily (as delictis hostias offerre, deinde pro the other priests) to offer sacrifices, populi. Hoc enim fecit semel, seip- first for his own sins, and then for sum offerendo, Jesus Christus, Do- the people's: for this he did once, minus noster. in offering himself, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Graduale. Sacerdotes ejus induam Gradual. I will clothe his priests Salutari, et Sancti ejus exsultatione with salvation, and his saints shall exsultabunt. V. Isti sunt qui in omni- rejoice with exceeding great joy. bus praebuerunt semetipsos exem- V. These are they that show them plum bonorum operum, in humili- selves an example of good works, in tate, in modestia, in charitate. humility, in modesty, in charity. Alleluia, alleluia. V. Hi sunt servi Alleluia, alleluia. V. These are boni et fideles, qui miniterium suum good and faithful servants, who have honoraverunt: ideo constituit eos honored their ministry: therefore Dominus super omnia bona sua. the Lord made them masters over

all his possessions

Post Septuag, omissis Graduale, After Septuagesima, the Gradual, Alleluia, ef Sequentia, dicitur: Alleluia, and the Sequence are

omitted and the following iS said

Tractus-In omnibus exhibeamus Tract-In all things let us exhibit nos ipsos sicut Dei ministros, in ourselves as the ministers of God, in multa patientia, in humilitate, in much patience, in humility, in sweet suavitate, in charitate non ficta: ne- ness, in charity unfeigned: giving no mini dantes ullam offensionem, ut offense to any man, that our ministry non vituperetur ministerium nos- be not blamed. V. Between the porch trum. V. Inter vestibulum et altare and the altar, the priests, the Lord's plorabunt Sacerdotes, ministri Do- ministers, shall weep and shall say: mini, et dicent: Parce, Domine, Spare, 0 Lord, spare thy people; parce populo tuo, et ne des haerita- and give not thy inheritance to re tem tuam in opprobrium, ut domi- proach, that the heathen should rule neritur eis nationes. V. Hi sunt boni over them. V. These are good soldiers milites Christi Jesu, qui bonum cer- of Christ Jesus, who have fought tamen certaverunt; ideo beatificavit the good fight; and therefore he eos in gloria, et dedit illis coronas made them blessed in glory, and perpetuas. gave them everlasting crowns. Tempore Paschali, loco Gradualis, In Paschaltide, instead of the Grad dicitur: ual, the following is said:

Alleluia, alleluia. V. Talis decebat Alleluia, alleluia. V. It was fitting ut nobis esset Pontifex, sanctus, inno- that we should have such a high cens, segregatus a peccatoribus, et ex- priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, celsior coelis factus. Alleluia. V. Se- separated from sinners, and made cundum eum qui vocavit vos Sanc- higher than the heavens. Alleluia. tum, et ipsi in omni conversatione V. According to him that hath called sancti sitis. Scriptum est enim: Sancti you, who is holy, be you.also in all eritis, quoniam ego sanctus sum. manner of conversation holy: be Alleluia. cause it is written: You shall he

holy, for I am holy. Alleluia

Sequentia Sequence Gaudeamus jubilantes, Come we jubilant, rejoicing, Sacerdotum celebrantes Festive rites and solemn voicing Sacrate solemnia. Of the Priesthood's sacred feast! Haec est dies laetabunda, This the day of joy unbounded, In qua Patrum veneranda When we praise with awe well, Laudamus magnalia. founded Lofty deeds performed by priest.

Mass 2 7 5

Sit vox lacta, sit canora, Let the voice of joy resounding Sit laus pura, sit decora Lift its praise in pure tones sound Puritate pectoris. ing,

Rising from the heart made pure

Laudet caelum, terra, pontus, Praise be sung by earth, sky, ocean; Laudet simul tota virtus Likewise let the heart's devotion Spiritus et corporis. And the soul's give praise most sure. Te laudamus unitatem, One in Godhead we acclaim Thee, Aeternamque Trinitatem, Trinity eterne proclaim Thee, Ortum, finem omnium. Source of all things and the End. Te laudamus Salvatorem, God Our Saviour now we praise, Sacerdotum fundatorem, Hearts to Priesthood's founder raise, Caput, Patrem, gaudium. By all souls let praise be lifted Et sororem. et Reginam To thee, Mary, priesthood's gifted Omnis laudet Spiritus. Mother, Queen and Sister fair. Vos consortes Dei Patris, God the Father's own, no other, Patres estis Dei fratris, Fathers, ye, of God your Brother, Quos unxit Paraclitus. Chrismed by the Spirit rare. Prae Angelis sublimavit, You the great High Priest bath Apostolis sociavit lifted Vos Sacerdos maximus. Higher than the angels gifted,

joined you to the apostles' train

Vos a cunctis honorari, You the Most High King corn Super omnes exaltari mandeth Rex jubet Altissimus. Honour'd be by all, demandeth

You o'er all mankind to reign

Vos legati Numinis, Envoys of the Godhead here, Fratres almae Virginis, Brethren of the Virgin Fair, Et patres fidelium. Fathers of the faithful true. Sacri linguae Flaminis, Tongues of sacred fire flaming, Summi tubae Principis, Trumpets of the Prince acclaiming, Et doctores gentium. Teachers of mankind anew. Hi caelorum docent leges, Thus they teach the laws of heav'n, Christi Jesu pascunt greges Feeding to Christ's flock the leav'n Verbis, factis, precibus. By each word and prayer and deed.

Pravos mores dissipant, Baneful habits they expel, Carnem, mundum superant, Mastering the flesh as well, Expellunt daemonia. World and devil they exceed. Foedas horrent voluptates, Sinful lusts they hold in horror, Stultas spernunt vanitates, Foolish vanities in terror, Mundi calcant somnia. Stamping out the world's vain dreams. Vanum ejus rident fastum, They laugh at earthly vanity, Asperantur tanquam lutum They spurn with holy sanity, Cuncta temporalia. Each thing that transitory seems. Domus Dei vigiles, Watchmen of the House of God, Et columae stabiles, Pillars sound, unmoved, unawed, Moestorum laetitia. Joy to those by sorrow swayed, Justis augent gratiam, Graces for the just they win, Reis donant veniam, Pardon give for guilt of sin, Dant cunctis solatia. Comfort unto all dismayed. Sub perenni tam piorum, Let us then rejoice, protected Tarn potentum patronorum By the constant help effected Lactemur custodia. By such holy guardians strong. Ut a Sanctis adjuvemur, May we generously follow, Corde magno subsequamur Helped by saints, whose way we hal Sanctorum vestigia. low, In their holy steps along. Circa domos, intra templa, Round our homes, within our Corda, voces et exempla temples, Christum Jesum praedicent. Let our hearts, lives, and examples

Herald forth our Lord Christ Jesus

Bone Jesu, bonitatem Gentle Jesus, show Thy favor Ostende supplicibus: To all creatures suppliant here; Da sanctorum sanctitatem Grant they may with pious savour Sanctis sequi moribus. Go the way of saints, nor fear. Intus flagrant charitatis Charity within a-flaming Divinis ardoribus: From the burning fires divine; Foris lucent sanctitatis Sanctity without, acclaiming Praeclaris operibus. By their lives and deeds they're thine.

Mass 277

Hos sacravit castitas, Them hath chastity renown'd Decoravit pietas, And sweet piety hath found, Sacravit humilitas, And humility made sound; Coronavit charitas, Charity their brows hath crown'd, Spes, fides et gratia. Hope and Faith and grace adorn'd.

O beata Trinitas, 0 most Blessed Trinity O vera felicitas Rare bliss of Divinity Et Sanctorum sanctitas, And all saints' affinity!

Mass 277 Immensae clementiae Boundless be the mercies dear, Immensae sint gratiae, Boundless be all graces here. Aeterna sit gloria, Everlasting glory be. Amen dicant omnia: Let all creatures join to say Amen. Alleluia. Amen. Alleluia.

Sequentia sancti Evangelii secun- Continuation of the holy Gospel acdum Matthaeum. (Cap. 5) cording to St. Matthew. Chapter 5.

In illo ternpore, dixit Jesus di- At that time, Jesus said to his disciple: xit to his discipulis suis: You are the salt of the earth. Quod si sal evanuerit, in quo salietur? But if the salt lose its savour,where Ad nihil valet ultra, nisi ut with shall it be salted? It is good for mittatur foras et conculcetur nothing any more but to be cast out, ab hom inibus. Vos estis lux mundi. and to be trodden on by men. Non potest civitas abscondi supra montem You are the light of the world. A city posita.Neque accendunt seated on a mountain cannot be hid. lucernam, et ponunt eam sub modio, Neither do men light a candle sed super and candelabrum, put it under a bushel, but upon a ut luceat omnibus qui in domo sunt. candlestick, that it may shineto all Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus, opera that are in the house. So let ut videant your vestra bona, et glorificent light shine before men, that they Patrem vestrum qui in caelis est. Nolite may see your good works and glorify putare quoniam veni solvere legem aut your Father who is i n heaven. Do Prophetas: Non veni solvere, sed not think that I am come to destroy adimplere. Amen quippe dico vobis, the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to donec transeat caelum et terra, iota fulfil. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and uum aut unus apex non praeterribit earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall a lege, donec omnia fiant. not pass of the law, till fulfiled. Qui ergo solverit unum de mandatis He therefore that shall break istis minimis, et docuerit, sic homines, one of these least commandments, minimus vocabitur i n regno caelorum: and shall so teach men, Qui autern fecerit et docuerit, shall be called the least in the kingdom of hic magnus vocabitur in regno

coelorum. Dico enim vobis, quia nisi heaven. But he that shall do and teach,he shall be called abundaverit justitia vestra plus great in the kingdom of heaven.For I tell you,that unless quam Scribarum et Pharisaeorum, your justice abound more than that of the scribes and non intrabitis in regnum caelorum. Pharisees,you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Credo Creed Offertorium Offertory Sacerdotes sancti ut palma flore- The holy priests shall flourish like bunt, et sicut cedri Libani exalta- the palm tree: they shall grow up buntur. Judicabunt nationes et dom- like the cedars of Libanus. They inabuntur populis, et regnabit Dom- shall judge nations, and rule over inus illorum in perpetuum. Alleluia. people: and their Lord shall reign forever. Secreta Secret Deus, qui Filium tuum Unigeni- 0 God, who didst will that Thy tum pro nobis Sacerdotern et hos- Only-begotten Son shouldst be priest tiam, esse voluisti: praesta quae- and victim for us, grant, we beseech sumus, beata Maria semper Virgine Thee, that as through the intercession intercedente, cum omnibus sanctis of the Blessed Mary ever Virgin Sacerdotibus et Levitis, ut sicut nos, and all Thy holy priests and leimmensa clementiae tuae largitate, vites, we have been made sharers in divini ejus Sacerdotii participes ef- Thy Divine Priesthood, through fecisti, ita et nosmetipsos cum eo, in the greatness of His bounty, Thou hac sacrosancta oblatione, in qua om- wouldst deign also to consecrate and nis sanctitatis fontem constituisti, immolate us to Thee as a living and hostiam vivam et sanctarn tibi in ae- holy victim in union with Him in ternum consecrare et immolare dig- Thy holy oblation, which Thou didst neris. Per eumdem Dominum. make the fount of all holiness.

Through the same Lord

Communio Communion Gratias agimus tibi, Domine Jesu, We give Thee thanks, 0 Lord Je qui eras, qui es, et qui venturus es: sus, who art and who wast and who quia fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum art to come: because thou hast made et sacerdotes. Alleluia. us a kingship for our God, and

priests. Alleluia

Postcommunio Postcommunion Domine Jesu Christe, Pastor bone, Lord Jesus Christ, Good Shepqui dixisti: Rogate Dominum messis, herd, who didst say: Pray the Lord ut mittat operarios in messem suam; of the harvest that He may send te supplices exoramus,intercedente laborers into His harvest, we humbly beatissima Virgine Maria Matre tua, beseech Thee, through the intercession cum omnibus sanctis Sacerdotibus et of the Blessed Mary ever Virgin Levitis, ut operarios fideles in and all Thy holy priest and Levites, vineam tuam mittas; omnes that Thou mayst send faithful Sacerdotes et Levitas dignos sacris laborers into Thy vineyard; that altaribus ministros efficias; et Ecclesiae Thou mayst make all priests and tuae plures alios Sacerdotes et levites worthy ministers of Thy sacred Pastores juxta Cor tuum concedas; altars; and that Thou mayst grant us tecum et cum ipsis aeterno Patri many other priests and pastors according aeternae laudis hostiam to Thy heart; in order that with Thee and offere mereamur. and them we may offer a victim of praise Qui vivis et regnas to Thy Eternal Father, who livest and reignest cum eodem Patre, in unitate with the same God the Father in the unity Spiritus Sancti Deus. Per omnia of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. saecula saeculorum. Amen.