December 26 — Saint Stephen
honour should be shown to Martyrdom; for, Martyrdom is the Creature's testimony, and return to his Creator for all the favours bestowed on him : it is Man s testifying, even by shedding his blood, to the truths which God has revealed to the world.
In order to understand this, let us consider what is the plan of God, in the salvation he has given to man. The Son of God is sent to instruct mankind ; he sows the seed of his divine word ; and his works give testimony to his divinity. But, after his sacrifice on the cross, he again ascends to the right hand of his Father; so that his own testimony of himself has need of a second testimony, in order to its being received by them that have neither seen nor heard Jesus himself. Now, it is the Martyrs who are to provide this second testimony; and this they will do, not only by confessing Jesus with their lips, but by shedding their blood for him. The Church, then, is to be founded by the Word and the Blood of Jesus, the Son of God; but she will be upheld, she will continue throughout all ages, she will triumph over all obstacles, by the blood of her Martyrs, the members of Christ : this their blood will mingle with that of their Divine Head, and their sacrifice be united to his.
The Martyrs shall bear the closest resemblance to their Lord and King. They shall be, as he said, like lambs among wolves. The world shall be strong, and they shall be weak and defenceless : so much the grander will be the victory of the Martyrs, and the greater the glory of God who gives them to conquer. The Apostle tells us, that Christ crucified is the power and the wisdom of God ; — the Martyrs, immolated, and yet conquerors of the world, will prove, and with a testimony which even the world itself will understand, that the Christ whom they
1 St. Luke, x. 3. 2 1. Cor. i. 24. confessed, and who gave them constancy and victory, is in very deed the power and the wisdom of God. We repeat, then — it is just, that the Martyrs should share in all the triumphs of the Man-God, and that the liturgical Cycle should glorify them as does the Church herself, who puts their sacred Relics in her altar-stones ; for, thus, the Sacrifice of their glorified Lord and Head is never celebrated, without they themselves being offered together with him, in the unity of his mystical Body.
Now, the glorious Martyr-band of Christ is headed by St. Stephen. His name signifies the Crowned; — a conqueror like him could not be better named. He marshals, in the name of Christ, the white-robed army, as the Church calls the Martyrs ; for, he was the first, even before the Apostles themselves, to receive the summons, and right nobly did he answer it. Stephen courageously bore witness, in the presence of the Jewish Synagogue, to the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth ; by thus proclaiming the Truth, he offended the ears of the unbelievers; the enemies of God, became the enemies of Stephen, and, rushing upon him, they stone him to death. Amidst the pelting of the blood-drawing missives, he, like a true soldier, flinches not, but stands, (as St. Gregory of JSTyssa so beautifully describes it,) as though snowflakes were falling on him, or roses were covering him with the shower of their kisses. Through the cloud of stones, he sees the glory of God ; — Jesus, for whom he was laying down his life, showed himself to his Martyr, and the Martyr again rendered testimony to the divinity of our Emmanuel, but with all the energy of a last act of love. Then, to make his sacrifice complete, he imitates his divine Master, and prays for his executioners : falling on his knees, he begs that this sin be not laid to their charge. Thus, all is consummated — the glorious type of Martyrdom is created, and shown to the world, that it may be imitated, by every generation, to the end of time, until the number of the Martyrs of Christ shall be filled up. Stephen sleeps in the Lord, and is buried in peace — in pace — until his sacred Tomb shall be discovered, and his glory be celebrated a second time in the whole Church, by that anticipated Resurrection of the miraculous Invention of his Relics. Stephen, then, deserves to stand near the Crib of his King, as leader of those brave champions, the Martyrs, who died for the Divinity of that Babe, whom we adore. Let us join the Church in praying to our Saint, that he help us to come to our Sovereign Lord, now lying on his humble throne in Bethlehem. Let us ask him to initiate us into the mystery of that divine Infancy, which we are all bound to know and imitate. It was from the simplicity he had learnt from that Mystery, that he needed not the number of the enemies he had to fight against, nor trembled at their angry passion, nor winced under their blows, nor hid from them the Truth and their crimes, nor forgot to pardon them and pray for them. What a faithful imitator of the Babe of Bethlehem ! Our Jesus did not send his Angels to chastise those unhappy Bethlehemites, who refused a shelter to the Virgin-Mother, who in a few hours was to give birth to Him, the Son of David. He stays not the fury of Herod, who plots his Death — but meekly flees into Egypt, like some helpless bondsman, escaping the threats of a tyrant lordling. But, it is under such apparent weakness as this, that he will show his Divinity to men, and He the Infant-God prove himself the Strong God. Herod will pass away, so will his tyranny ; Jesus will live, greater in his Crib, where he makes a King tremble, than is, under his borrowed majesty, this prince-tributary of Rome ; nay, than Caesar- Augustus himself, whose world-wide empire has no other destiny than this — to serve as handmaid to the Church, which is to be founded by this Babe, whose name stands humbly written in the official registry of Bethlehem.
MASS
The Introit is composed of the words of the holy Martyr, who, in the language of the Royal Psalmist, tells us of the plot formed against him by the wicked, and of his own humble confidence in God, whereby he triumphed over their persecutions. From the murder of the innocent Abel to the future Martyrs, who are to shed their blood in the days of Antichrist— the Church is always under persecution ; in some one country, she is ever shedding her blood ; but, her strength lies in her fidelity to Jesus her Spouse, and in the simplicity, -which the Babe of Bethlehem is come to teach her by his own example.
INTKOIT.
Sederunt principes, et ad- Princes sat, and spoke versum Hie loquebantur ; et against me ; and sinners per- iniqui persecuti sunt me ; secuted me : help me, 0 Lord adjuva me, Domine Deus my God, for thy servant hath meus, quia servus tuus ex- practised thy commandments, ercebatur in tuis justificationibus.
Ps. Beati immaculati in Ps. Blessed are the undefiled via, qui ambulant in lege in the way, who walk in the
Domini, "ff. Gloria Patri. law of the Lord. "fT. Glory,
Sederunt. <kc. Princes sat, &c.
In the Collect, the Church asks, for both herself and her children, that divine vigour, which makes the holy Martyrs forgive their persecutors, and perfects, not only their testimony to the truth, but also their imitation of Jesus Christ. It sjDeaks the praise of St. StejDken, who was the first to follow our Saviour's example.
COLLECT.
Grant, 0 Lord, we beseech thee, that we may imitate him whose memory we celebrate, so as to learn to love even our enemies ; because we now solemnise his martyrdom, who knew how to pray, even for his persecutors, to our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Who liveth, dec.
Da nobis, qusesumus, Domine, imitari quod colimus : ut discamus et inimicos diligere ; quia ejus natalitia celebramus, qui novit etiam pro persecutoribus exorare Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum. Qui tecum.
Commemoration of Christmas Day.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who groan under the old captivity of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new Birth of thine Only Begotten Son. Through the same, dec.
OREMTJS.
Concede, qusesumus, omnipotens Deus : ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet, quos sub peccati jugo vetusta servitus tenet. Per eumdem.
EPISTLE.
Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles.
Ch. VI. and VII.
In those days, Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people. Now there arose some of that which is called the Synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen ; and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they
Lectio Actuum Apostolorum.
Cap. VI. et VII.
In diebus illis, Stephanus, plenus gratia et fortitudine, faciebat prodigia et signa magna in populo. Surrexerunt autem quidam de synagoga, quse appelatur Libertinorum, et Cyrenensium, et Alexandrinorum, et eorum qui erant a Cilicia et Asia, disputantes cum Stephano, et non poterant resistere sapientise, et Spiritui qui loquebatur. Audientes autem haec, dissecabantur cordibus suis, et stridebant dentibus in eum. Cum autem esset Stephanus plenus Spiritu Sancto, intendens in coehnn, vidit gloriam Dei, et Jesum stantem a dextris Dei. Et ait : Ecce video coelos apertos, et Filium hominis stantem a dextris Dei. Exclamantes autem voce magna continuerunt aures suas, et impetum fecerunt unanimiter in eum. Et ejicientes eum extra civitatem, lapidabant. Et testes deposuerunt vestimenta sua secus pedes adolescentis, qui vocabatur Saulus. Et lapidabant Stephanum invocantem, et dicentem : Domine Jesu, suscipe spiritum meum. Positis autem genibus, clamavit voce magna, dicens : Domine, ne statuas illis hoc peccatum. Et cum hoc dixisset, obdormivit in Domino. gnashed with their teeth at him. But Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up stedfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said : Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying : Lord Jesus ! receive my spirit. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying : Lord ! lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord.
Thus, 0 glorious Prince of Martyrs ! thou wast led outside the gates of the City for thy sacrifice, and thy punishment was that of blasphemers. The Disciple was to be like to his Master, in all things. But neither the ignominy of such a death, nor its cruelty, could daunt thy great soul : thou didst carry Jesus in thy heart, and, with Him, thou wast stronger than all thy enemies. And what was thy joy, when thou sawest the heavens open, and this same Jesus in his glorified Humanity, standing at the right hand of God, and looking upon thee with love ! A God looking complacently on the creature that is going to die for him, and the creature permitted to behold the God for whom he is dying — truly, this was more than enough to encourage thee ! Let thine enemies cast their stones against thee, and bruise and tear thy flesh, as they please : — nothing can distract thee from this sight of the Eternal King, who raised himself from his throne to applaud thee, and deck thee with the Grown, which he had prepared for thee from all eternity ! Now that thou art reigning in the kingdom of heaven, pray for us, that we also may be faithful, and faithful even unto death, to this same Jesus, who not only left his throne, but even came down among us as a Little Child.
GRADUAL.
Princes sat, and spoke against me : and the wicked persecuted me.
P. Help me, 0 Lord my God : save me for thy mercy's sake.
Alleluia, alleluia.
$". I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of the power of God. Alleluia.
Sederunt principes, et adversum me loquebantur : et iniqui persecuti sunt me.
~ff. Adjuva me, Domine Deus meus ; salvum me fac propter misericordiam tuam.
Alleluia, alleluia. p. Video ccelos apertos, et Jesum stantem a dextris virtutis Dei. Alleluia.
GOSPEL.
Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Gh. XXIII.
At that time : Jesus said to the Scribes and Pharisees : Behold, I send to you Prophets, and wise men, and scribes ; and some of them you will put to death, and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city : that upon you may come all the just blood that hath been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even unto the blood of Zacharias, the son of
Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum.
Cap. XXIII.
In illo tempore : dicebat Jesus scribis et Pharisaeis : Ecce ego mitto ad vos Prophetas, et sapientes, et scribas ; et ex illis occidetis, et crucifigetis, et ex eis flagellabitis in synagogis vestris, et persequemini de civitate in civitatem : ut veniat super vos omnis sanguis Justus, qui effusus est super terram, a sanguine Abel justi usque ad sanguinem Zachariae, filii Barachise, S quem occidistis inter tern- Barachias, whom you killed plum et altare. Amen dico between the temple and the vobis, venient hsec omnia altar. Amen, I say to you, all super generationem istam. these things shall come upon
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, quae this generation. Jerusalem, occidis Prophetas, et lapi- Jerusalem, thou that killest das eos qui ad te missi sunt, the Prophets, and stonest them quoties volui congregare that are sent unto thee, how
Alios tuos, quemadmodum often would I have gathered gallina congregat pullos together thy children, as the suos sub alas, et noluisti ! hen doth gather her chickens
Ecce relinquetur vobis do- under her wings, and thou mus vestra deserta. Dico wouldst not ? Behold, your enim vobis, non me videbi- house shall be left to you de- tis amodo, donee dicatis : solate. For I say to you, you
Benedictus qui venit in no- shall not see me, henceforth, mine Domini. till you say : Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord.
The Martyrs are given to the world that they may continue the ministry of Christ on the earth, by bearing testimony to his word, and by confirming this testimony by their blood. The world has despised them ; like their divine Master, they have shone in the darkness, and darkness has not understood their light. Nevertheless, many have received their testimony, and the seed of the Martyrs' blood has brought forth in them the rich fruit of Faith. The Synagogue was cast off by God for its having shed the blood of Stephen, after having imbrued its hands in that of Jesus. Unhappy, they who cannot appreciate the Martyrs ! Let us, who are Christians, take in the sublime lessons taught us by their generous sacrifice ; and let our respect and love for them testify, that we are grateful for the noble ministry they have fulfilled in the Church, and are still fulfilling. The Church is never without Martyrs, just as she is never without Miracles : it is the twofold testimony that she will give to the end of time, and by which she evidences the divine life she has received from her almighty Founder.
During the Offertory, the Church once more proclaims the merits and the glorious death of Stephen; and by this she teaches us that the sacrifice of the holy Deacon is united with that of Jesus himself.
OFFEETOEY.
The Apostles chose Stephen, a Levite, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, whom the Jews stoned, praying and saying : Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Alleluia.
Elegerunt Apostoli Stephanum Levitam, plenum fide et Spiritu Sancto; quern lapidaverunt Judaei orantem, et dicentem : Domine Jesu, accipe spiritum meum. Alleluia.
SECEET.
Receive, 0 Lord, these offerings in memory of thy Saints ; and as their sufferings have made them glorious, so may our devotion render us free from sin. Through, &c.
Suscipe, Domine, munera pro tuorum commemoratione Sanctorum ; ut sicut illos passio gloriosos effecit, ita nos devotio reddat innocuos. Per Dominum.
Commemoration of Christmas Day.
Sanctify, 0 Lord, our offerings, by the new Birth of thine Only Begotten Son, and cleanse us from the stains of our sins. Through the same,
Oblata, Domine, munera, nova Unigeniti tui nativitate sanctifica, nosque a peccatorum nostrorum maculis emunda. Per eumdem.
United by Holy Communion to her divine Spouse, the Church, too, sees the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. She sends up to this Incarnate Word the yearnings of her intense love, and derives from the heavenly Food she has received that meekness, which makes her bear with the injuries and insults put upon her by her enemies, in order that she may win them all to the faith and love of Jesus Christ. It was by partaking of this same heavenly Food, that Stephen got the superhu-. man strength, whereby he won his victory and Crown*
COMMUNION.
Video coelos apertos, et Jesum stantem a dextris virtutis Dei : Domine Jesu, accipe spiritum menm, et ne statuas illis hoc peccatum.
I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing on the right hand of the power of God : Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, and lay not this sin to their charge.
POSTCOMMUNION.
Auxilientur nobis, Domine, sumpta mysteria : et intercedente beato Stephano, Martyre tuo, sempiterna protectione confirment. Per Dominum.
May the mysteries we have received, 0 Lord, be help to us : and, by the intercession of the blessed Martyr Stephen, strengthen us with thy perpetual protection. Through, <kc.
Commemoration of Christmas Day.
Praesta, qusesumus, omnipotens Deus ; ut natus hodie Salvator mundi, sicut divinse nobis generationis est auctor, ita et immortalitatis sit ipse largitor. Qui tecum.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that as the Saviour of the world, who was born this day, procured for us a divine Birth, he may, also, bestow on us immortality. Who liveth, &c.
VESPERS.
The solemnity of the Christmas Octave — from which the Feast of St. Stephen has, in a manner, distracted us — returns at Vespers, in all its splendour. The Church sings the Psalms and Antiphons of Christmas Day, and the Martyr's Feast is, so to speak, suspended until she comes to the Capitulam. In this same way she celebrates the Vespers on all the Feasts which are kept during this Octave.
The Psalms and Antiphons are given above, page 234.
CAPITULUM.
(Acts, VI.)
But Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Stephanus autem plenus gratia et fortitudine facie - bat prodigia, et signa magna in populo.
HYMN*
O God ! thou the inheritance, Crown, and reward of thy Soldiers ! absolve from the bonds of our sins us who sing the praises of thy Martyr.
For, counting the joys of the world, and the deceitful bait of its caresses, as things embittered with gall, thy Martyr Stephen obtained the delights of heaven.
Bravely did he go through, and manfully did he bear, his pains; and, shedding his blood for thy sake, he now possesses thy eternal gifts.
Therefore, most merciful Father ! we beseech thee, in most suppliant prayer, forgive us, thy unworthy servants, our sins, for it is the feast of thy Martyr's triumph.
Deus tuorum militum Sors, et corona, premium, Laudes canentes Martyris Absolve nexu criminis.
Hie nempe mundi gaudia, Et blanda fraudum pabula, Imbuta felle deputans, Pervenit ad ccelestia.
Pcenas cucurrit fortiter, Et sustulit viriliter, Fundensque pro te sangui- nem, iEterna dona possidet.
Ob hoc precatu supplici Te poscimus, Piissime, In hoc triumpho Martyris, Dimitte noxam servulis.
- In the Monastic Breviary, it
B. breve. Posuisti, Domine,
Super caput ejus. Posuisti. V. Coronam de lapide pretioso.
Super. Gloria Patri. Gloria et honore.
Deus, tuorum militum Sors, et corona, prsemium, Laudes canentes Martyris Absolve nexu criminis.
Hie nempe mundi gaudia, Et blandimenta noxia, Caduca rite deputans Pervenit ad ccelestia. is as follows : —
Pcenas cucurrit fortiter, Et sustulit viriliter Pro te effundens sanguinem iEterna dona possidet.
Ob hoc precatu supplici Te poscimus, Piissime, In hoc triumpho Martyris Dimitte noxam servulis.
Gloria tibi Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre, et Saucto Spiritu, la sempiterna ssecula. Amen.
Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna ssecula.
Amen.
]v. Stephanus vidit ccelos apertos.
I£. Vidit et introivit; beatus homo cui coeli patebant.
Ant. Sepelierunt Stephanum viri timorati, et fecerunt planctum magnum super eum.
Da nobis, qusesumus. Domine, imitari quod colimus ut discamus et inimicos diligere, quia ejus natalitia celebramus, qui novit etiam pro persecutoribus exorare Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum. Qui tecum.
Glory be to thee, O Jesus, that wast born of the Virgin ! and to the Father, and to the Spirit of love, for everlasting ages. Amen. p. Stephen saw the heavens opened.
I£. He saw and entered ; blessed man, to whom the heavens opened. antiphon of the Magnificat.
Ant. Devout men buried Stephen, and made great mourning over him.
LET US PEAY.
Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that we may imitate him whose memory we celebrate, so as to learn to love even our enemies, because we now solemnise his martyrdom who knew how to pray, even for his persecutors, to our Lord, Jesus Christ, thy Son. Who liveth, &c.
Commemoration of St. John.
Ant. Iste est Joannes, qui supra pectus Domini in ccena recubuit : beatus Apostolus, cui revelata sunt secreta ccelestia.
$". Valde honorandus est beatus Joannes.
Ijfc. Qui supra pectus Domini in ccena recubuit.
OREMTJS.
Ecclesiam tuam, Domine, benignus illustra, ut beati Joannis Apostoli tui et Evangelistae illuminata doctrinis, ad dona perveniat sempiterna.
Ant. This is John, who leaned upon the Lord's breast at the Supper. Blessed Apostle, unto whom were revealed heavenly secrets. y. Most worthy of honour is the blessed John.
I£. Who leaned upon the Lord's breast at the Supper.
Mercifully, O Lord, enlighten thy Church, that being taught by blessed John, thy Apostle and Evangelist, she may come to thy eternal rewards.
Commemoration of Christmas Day.
Ant. This day, Christ is born ; this day, the Saviour hath appeared ; this day, the Angels sing on earth ; the Archangels rejoice ; this day, the just exult, saying : Glory be to God in the highest, alleluia.
$". The Lord hath made known, alleluia.
1$. His Salvation, alleluia.
Ant. Hodie Christus natus est ; hodie Salvator apparuit; hodie in terra canunt Angeli : laetantur Archangeli : hodie exsultant justi, dicentes : Gloria in excelsis Deo, alleluia.
]v Notum fecit Dominus, alleluia.
I£. Salutare suum, alleluia.
LET US PKAY.
Grant, we beseech thee, 0 Almighty God, that we who groan under the old captivity of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new Birth of thine Only Begotten Son. Through the same, &c.
OEEMXJS.
Concede, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet, quos sub peccatijugo vetusta servitus tenet. Per eumdem.
In honour of our Protomartyr, we will now give a selection from the ancient Liturgical Hymns, wherein his merits were celebrated by the various Churches. We begin with the Hymn composed by St. Ambrose, and which is in the Breviary of the Church of Milan.
HYMN.
To Stephen the first Martyr, let us sing a new canticle : may it be sweet to them that sing, and bring grace to them that believe.
Come, ye disciples of the Lord, thus let us sing : let us give praise to the Martyr, who was the first, after the Redeemer, to follow the cross of Jesus.
For, having been found, by
Stephano primo Martyri Cantemus novum canticum, Quod dulce sit psallentibus, Op em ferat credentibus.
Psallamus hoc discipuli, Laudem dicamus Martyri, Qui primus, post Eedemp- torem, Christi secutus est crucem.
Hie enim per Apostolos
Probatus in laudem Dei, Vexilla mortis rapuit, Ut praeferretur omnibus.
O praeferenda gloria ! O beata victoria ! Hoc meruisse Stephanum Ut sequeretur Dominum.
Ipse martyr egregius, Amore Christi praedicans, Sancto repletus Spiritu, Vultum gerens Angelicum.
Ille levatis oculis, Vidit Patrem cum Filio, Monstrans in coslis vivere, Quern plebs quaerebat perdere.
Judasi magis saeviunt, Saxaque prensant manibus, Currebant, ut occiderent Sacratum Christi militem.
Iste paratus vertice, Gaudens suscepit lapides, Rogans pro eis Dominum, Gaudens tradidit spiritum.
Gloria tibi, Domine, Gloria Unigenito, Una cum Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula.
Amen. the Apostles, to be fervent in God's service, he outran all others and bore off the Banner of death.
O glorious First place ! O blessed victory ! Stephen to be the first to follow his Lord !
The noble Martyr preaches to men for the love of Christ, with his heart full of the Holy Spirit, and his face beaming as an Angel's.
He raises his eyes, and sees the Father with the Son : he tells the people how he beholds, living in heaven, Him whom they had sought to destroy.
The Jews grow the more enraged, and, seizing up stones in their hands, they ran out to kill the holy Soldier of Christ.
He was ready, and standing up, right gladly receives the stones : he asks God to forgive them, and joyfully breaths forth his soul.
Glory be to thee, O Lord ! Glory be to thine Only Begotten Son, together with the Holy Ghost, for everlasting ages.
Amen.
The Gallican Sacramentary, on the Feast of St. Stephen, thus glorifies God for the graces bestowed on this the first of the Martyrs.
(Missa S. Stefani.)
Deus omnipotens, qui Ec- O Almighty God ! who didst clesiae tuae sanctum Stepha- give the holy Martyr Stephen num martyrem, primum to thy Church as the first sheaf messis tuae manipulum de- of thy harvest, and didst make disti, et primitivam oblatio- this First-offering to be the herald of a new confession, because he had yielded such quick ripened fruits, — grant to this whole assembly, by the intercession of thy well-deserving Martyr, that he may aid the Church by his prayers, as he honoured her by his ministry. nem novelise confessionis ostendisti prseconem, quod fructus maturescentes exhibuit ; prsesta universo ccetui, intercessione martyris meriti, ut Ecclesiam tuam juvet suffragio, quam ornavit ministerio.
The Gothic Church of Spain has, in her Mozarabic Missal, these magnificent praises to God in his holy Martyr.
(In natali S. Stephani, Contestatio.)
It is meet and just, it is right and just, that we praise thee, and bless thee, and give thee thanks, O Almighty and eternal God ! that art glorified in the assembly of thy Saints, whom thou didst choose before the foundation of the world, and didst mark with a spiritual blessing unto heavenly things ; whom also thou didst associate to thine Only Begotten Son, by his Incarnation and his redeeming the world by the cross. Thou didst make to reign in them thy Holy Spirit, under whose guidance they were led, by the sweetness of thy mercy, to the glory of happy martyrdom. It is just, therefore, O God of hosts, that this festive solemnity should be kept in thy praise ; that this sacred day should be devoted to thee ; for on it, the blood of blessed Stephen, thy first Martyr, was shed in testimony of thy truth, and thy name thereby received exceeding honour. For this is he, who was the first Confessor of that Name, which is above all
Dignum et justum est ; aequum et justum est : te laudare, teque benedicere, tibi gratias agere, omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui gloriaris in conventu Sanctorum tuorum ; quos ante mundi constitutionem praeelectos spirituali in ccelestibus benediction e signasti : quosque Unigenito tuo per adsumptionem carnis, et cruris redemptionem sociasti. In quibus Spiritum tuum Sanctum regnare fecisti ; per quern ad felicis martyrii gloriam pietatis tuse favore venerunt. Digne igitur tibi, Domine virtutum, f esta solemnitas agitur ; tibi hsec dies sacrata celebratur ; qua beati Stephani primi martyris tui sanguis in tuse veritatis testimonio profusus, magnificum nominis tui honorem signavit. Hie est enim illius Nominis primus Confessor, quod est supra omne nomen : in quo unicum salutis nostras praesidium, Pater aeterne, posuisti. Hie in Ecclesia tua quam splendidum ad cunctorum animos confirmandos, unicaelaudis praecessitexemplum ! Hie post passionem Domini nostri Jesu Christi, victoriae palmam primus invasit. Hie ut levitico ininisterio per Spiritum {Sanctum ab Apostolis consecratus est ; niveo candore confestim emicuit, martyrii cruore purpureus. O benedictum Abrahae semen, Apostolicae doctrinae, et dominicae crucis prior omnium f actus imitator et testis ! Merito ccelos apertos vidit et Jesum stantem ad dexteram Dei. Digne igitur et juste talem sub tui nominis conf essione laudamus, omnipotens Deus ; quern ad tantam gloriam vocare dignatus es. Suffragia ejus nobis pro tua pietate concede. Talis pro hac plebe precetur ; qualem ilium post trophaea venientem exsultans Christus excepit. Illi pro nobis oculi sublimentur ; qui adhuc in hoc mortis corpore constituti, stantem ad dexteram Patris Filium Dei in ipsa passionis horaviderunt. Hie pro nobis obtineat, qui pro persecutoribus suis dum lapidaretur, orabat ad te, sancte Deus, Pater omnipotens,perDominum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui pro peccatis nostris nasci came per Virginem, et pati dignatus est mortem : ut martyres suos suo pati doceret exemplo. Cui merito omnes Angeli atque Archangeli sine cessatione pro- names, and in which, O Eternal Father, thou didst place the only source of our salvation. This is he, that left in thy Church an example of courage, but oh ! who can say how grand is the example, and how above all praise 1 This is he, that was the first to seize the palm of victory, after the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is he, whom the Apostles, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, had scarce consecrated to the levitical ministry, than he straightways shone with a snow-white purity, and was vested in the scarlet of a martyr's blood. 0 truly noble child of Abraham ! worthy to become the first follower and witness of the Apostles' teaching, and of Jesus' cross ! How well did he deserve to see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God ! It is, therefore, meet and just, 0 Almighty Lord, that, whilst giving praise to thy Name, we praise him whom thou didst graciously call to this so great glory. In thy mercy, grant that we may have him to intercede for us. May he pray for this thy people, now that he is in possession of the glory with which Christ welcomed him after his victory. May he now, for our sakes, lift up those eyes, which, during this his mortal life, and in the hour of his martyrdom, beheld the Son of God standing at the right hand of the Father. May he be heard for us, who, whilst his persecutors were stoning him, prayed for them unto thee, 0 clamant, dicentes : Sanctus, Holy God, Father Almighty, Sanctus, Sanctus. through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who, for our sins, vouchsafed to be born of the Virgin, and suffer death ; teaching his Martyrs, hereby, by his own example, how they should suffer. To whom most justly do all the Angels and Archangels cry out unceasingly, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy !
Let us next listen to the Greek Church singing the praises of our Protomartyr. She thus extols him in her Mensea:
(XXVI. Decembris, in magno Vespertino, et passim.)
Mente illustratus Spiritus gratia, forma velut Angelus videris, Stephane, dato tibi in corpore qui intus erat splendore, et mente tua cernentibus manifestante fulgorem quo fruitus es, luminisque contemplationes, ccelis tibi inirabiliter apertis, o martyrum caput et gloria.
Illumined in thy soul with the grace of the Holy Ghost, thy face shone like that of an Angel, O Stephen ! The brightness that was within sent forth its rays upon thy body, and thy soul evinced to the beholders the light and contemplation thou didst enjoy, when the heavens were miraculously opened before thee, 0 thou the leader and the glory of the Martyrs !
The thickly falling stones were to thee as the steps of a ladder reaching the gate of heaven, and by which ascending, thou didst behold our Lord standing on the Father's right hand, offering thee, with his own life-giving right hand, that which was thy very name — a Crown : and now thou standest near him, thou the glorious conqueror, and the first combatant.
Illustrious by thy wonders
Quasi gradus scalae, ad ccelestem ingressum tibi fuerunt lapidum flocci, super quos ascendens contemplatus es stantem Dominuin, ad Patris dexteram, tibi offerentem homonymam coronam sua vivifica dextera, cui vicinus adstas victor gloriosus,athletarumque primitise.
Signis et miraculis corus- cans, coelestibus docuinentis, impiorum combussisti synedrium, et ab illis necatus lapidibusque obrutus, pro injectantium. tu deprecatus es venia, vocem imitatus Salvatoris, in cujus manus commendasti sacratissimum spiritum tuuni, Stephane.
Regi et Domino omnium nato in terra, Stephanus perlucidus offertur, non pretiosis decoratus gemmis, sed ex proprio sanguine floridus : at, o martyrum amatores, venite, decerptis carminum floribus cingamus sertis tempora, et hymnis alternantes canamus : qui sapientia et charitate coruscas mente, protomartyr Christi Dei, deprecare pro nobis pacem et magnam misericordiam.
Tu ad auxilium Apostolorum Christi digne vocatus es, et ut fidelis diaconus, o vere nominate Stephane, administrasti ; tamquam Christus per sanguinem transivisti.
Clarissimus, sicut sol, o Deifer, ad orientem exorsus es, radios emittens confessionis tuae, et magnae fortitudinis atque generosissimse oppugnationis.
Ilium qui ex Matre virinescia apud nos hospitatus est, martyrum primus, in immutabili Patris divinitate stantem et gloria, in coelis contemplatus es.
Heri apud nos per car- and miracles and heavenly teaching, thou didst burn the Chair of the impious. They stoned thee to death, and thou didst pray God to forgive them, using thy Jesus' own words, and into his hands commending thy own most saintly spirit, O Stephen !
To the King and Lord of all, who is born on our earth, is offered the beautiful Stephen, not adorned with precious gems, but glittering in the scarlet of his own blood. Come then, ye that love the Martyrs, cull the flowers of song, and wreathe them into hymns passed on from choir to choir. 0 Protomartyr of Jesus our God ! thy spirit beams with wisdom and love ; pray for us, that we may receive peace and plentiful mercy.
Thou wast deservedly made an aid to the Apostles of Christ, and thou didst minister to them, 0 well-named Stephen, as the faithful Deacon. Like Jesus, thou too didst pass through blood.
O man carrying God within thee ! thou didst rise in the east like a sun of fairest light, shedding the rays of thy confession, and great fortitude, and most generous resistance.
Thou, the first of Martyrs, didst look up to heaven and see standing in the immutable divinity and glory of the Father, Him that was born of a Virgin-Mother and became a guest among us.
Yesterday, the Master be- came a guest among us byassuming our flesh ; to-day, his servant is unguested from the flesh ; he is stoned, and made the Protomartyr, the god-like Stephen.
To-day, there shone a bright star for the Birth of Christ — the Protomartyr Stephen ; and all the earth was illumined by his dazzling rays. He confuted all the impiety of the Jews, showing them their errors by words of wisdom, and proving his doctrine by the Scriptures, and showing them that Jesus, who was born of the Virgin, was very Son of God. The Protomartyr, the god-like Stephen, confounded their blasphemous impiety.
Thou art beyond all praise, 0 Stephen ! No tongue can say how honestly was won the laurel-branch thou bearest. No mortal mind can wreathe a Grown worthy thy great acts.
Thou, most saintly Stephen ! wast first of Deacons, and first of Martyrs ; for thou didst open the way to the Saints, and hast led the countless Martyrs to their God : therefore did the heavens open over thy head, and God appear unto thee. Pray to him for us, that he save our souls. nem hospitabatur Dominus, hodie e carne dehospitatur servus ; hodie lapidatur famulus, et ideo perficitur Protomartyr divinusque Stephanus.
Stella fulgida hodie in Christi nativitate resplenduit Protomartyr Stephanus, omnes muncli fines suis illuminans fulgoribus ; at Judseorum omnem extinxit impietatem, sapientise verbis illos animadvertens et de Scripturisdisserens ; illisque suadens natum ex Virgine Jesum ipsum Dei esse Filium ; illorum impiam confundit malitiam Protomartyr et divinus Stepha nus.
Laudum, Stephane, omnem superasti modum, et f ers ineffabiliter et sine dolo tuas victorise palmas ; non enim potest mens mortalis tuis dignam praeconiis coronam intexere.
Primus in diaconis et primus in martyribus demonstratus es, sanctissime Stephane ; iter enim fuisti Sanctis, et multos ad Dominum perduxisti martyres ; ideo ccelum tibi apertum est, et Deus tibi apparuit : ipsum deprecare salvare animas nostras.
The Western Churches of the Middle-Ages have left us an almost endless variety of Liturgical compositions, more particularly of Proses and Sequences, in honour of St. Stephen. We have no hesitation in giving our preference to the one composed by Adam of Saint Victor. We shall always think it a duty to bring into notice the works of this great Liturgical Poet, whose compositions were, for a long period, so dear to the faithful in England, France, Germany, and in almost all the Churches of northern Europe.
Heri mundus exsultavit, Et exsultans celebravit Christi natalitia. Heri chorus Angeloram Prosecutus est ccelorum Regem cum lsetitia. Protomartyr et Levita Claras fide, clarus vita, Claras et miraculis.
Sub hac luce triumphavit Et triumphans insultavit Stephanus increduhs. Fremunt ergo tamquam ferae, Quia victi defuere Lucis adversarii. Falsos testes statuunt, Et hnguas exacuunt Yiperarum filii. Agonista, nulh cede, Certa, certus de mercede, Persevera, Stephane. Insta falsis testibus, Confuta sermonibus
Synagogam Satanae. Testis tuus est in ccelis, Testis verax et fidelis, Testis innocentiae.
Nomen habes Coronati : Te tormenta decet pati Pro corona glorias. Pro corona non marcenti Perfer brevis vim tormenti : Te manet victoria.
Tibi fiet mors Natalis,
Yesterday, the world exulted, and, in its exultation, celebrated the Birth of Jesus.
Yesterday, the Angelic Choir, in great joy, stood round the King of heaven.
The Protomartyr and Deacon Stephen, illustrious for his faith, illustrious for his holy life, illustrious also for his miracles;
On this day triumphed, and, in his triumph, vanquished the unbelieving Jews.
These enemies of the Light rage like savage beasts, at seeing their own defeat.
This brood of vipers bring up false witnesses, and sharpen their tongues.
Flinch not, Combatant ! Thou art sure of thy reward : fight and persevere, 0 Stephen !
Withstand the false witnesses, and confute, by thy answers, the synagogue of Satan.
Thine own Witness is in heaven, a Witness true and faithful, and he is Witness of thine innocence.
Thy name is The Crowned: it behoves thee to suffer, so to win thy Crown of glory.
For a Crown which is to last for ever, what are torments which last but an hour, and are followed by victory 1
Thy death will be thy Birth ; thy last pang will introduce thee into eternal life.
Full of the Holy Ghost, Stephen fixes his gaze on the heavens above :
Seeing there the glory of God, he pushes on to victory, he pants for the crown.
Behold, Stephen! on God's right hand is thy Jesus, and he is fighting for thee.
Boldly tell it to the crowd, that the heavens are opened for thee, and that Jesus shows himself to thee.
He then commends his spirit to his Saviour, for whom he deems it sweet to be thus stoned to death.
Saul makes himself guardian of the garments of all that cast the stones : casting thus himself each stone they throw.
But Stephen compassionating their madness, falls on his knees, and prays that this sin be not laid to the charge of his murderers.
Thus did he sleep in Christ, who thus imitated Christ : and now for ever lives with Christ — Stephen, first of Martyrs.
St. Augustine, and common report, assure us, that he raised up six dead men to life, in Africa.
When, through God's mercy, his Relics were discovered, the earth, which was parched by a drought, received a plentiful rain.
The very fragrance that came from his Relics, put diseases and demons to flight. Truly, then, is he worthy of praise, and honour, and eternal remembrance.
Tibi poena terminalis Dat vitae primordia. Plenus Sancto Spiritu, Penetrat intuitu
Stephanus ccelestia. Videns Dei gloriam, Crescit ad victoriam, Suspirat ad prsemia. En a dextris Dei stantem Jesum pro te dimicantem, Stephane, considera. Tibi ccelos reserari, Tibi Christum revelari, Clama, voce libera.
Se commendat Salvatori Pro quo dulce ducit mori, Sub ipsis lapidibus.
Saulus servat omnium Vestes lapidantium,
Lapidans in omnibus.
ISTe peccatum statuatur His a quibus lapidatur, Genu ponit et precatur Condolens insaniaa.
In Christo sic obdormivit, Qui Christo sic obedivit ! Et cum Christo semper vivit Martyrum primitiae.
Quod sex suscitaverit Mortuos in Africa, Augustinus asserit, Fama refert publica.
Hujus, Dei gratia, Revelato corpore, Mundo datur pluvia Siccitatis tempore.
Solo fugat hie odore Morbos et daemonia, Laude dignus et honore Jugique memoria.
Martyr, cujus est jucun- 0 Martyr, whose name is so dum dear to the Church ! refresh
JSTomen in Ecclesia, our fainting world by celestial
Languescentem fove mun- fragrance. Amen. dum Ccelesti fragrantia. Amen.
With these praises, which the venerable ages of old offered to thee, O Prince and First of Martyrs ! we presume to unite ours. Fervently do we congratulate thee, that thou hast had assigned thee, by the Church, the place of honour at the Crib of our Jesus. How glorious the confession thou didst make of his Divinity, whilst thy executioners were stoning thee ! How rich and bright the scarlet thou art clad in, for thy victory! How honourable the wounds thou didst receive for Christ ! How immense, and yet how choice, that army of Martyrs, which follows thee as its leader, and to which fresh recruits will for ever be added, to the end of time !
Holy Martyr ! help us, by thy prayers, to enter into the spirit of the mystery of the Word made Flesh, now that we are celebrating the Birth of our Saviour. Thou art the faithful guardsman of his Crib : — who could better lead us to the Divine Babe, that lies there ? Thou didst bear testimony to his Divinity and Humanity; thou didst preach this Man- God before the blaspheming Synagogue. In vain did the Jews stop their ears ; they could not stifle thy voice, which charged them with deicide, in that they had put to death Him, wTho is at once the Son of Mary and the Son of God. Show this Redeemer to us also, not, indeed, standing in glory at the right hand of his Father, but the sweet and humble Babe, as he now manifests himself to the world, into which he has just been born, wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a manger. We, too, wish to bear witness to him, and to tell how his Birth is one of love and mercy ; we wish to show, by our lives, that he has been born in our hearts. Obtain for us that devotedness to the Divine Infant, which gave thee- such courage on the day of trial : we shall have devotedness, if, like thee, we are simple-hearted and fearless in our love of Jesus ; for love is stronger than death. May we never forget, that every Christian ought to be ready for martyrdom, simply because he is a Christian. May the life of Christ, which has again begun within us, so grow within us, by our fidelity and our conduct, that we may come, as the Apostle expresses it, to the fulness of Christ
But, be mindful, 0 glorious Martyr ! be mindful of the Holy Church in those countries, where it is the will of God that she resist even unto blood. May the number of thy fellow-martyrs be thus filled up, and let not one of the combatants grow faint-hearted. May every age and sex be staunch ; that so, the testimony may be perfect, and the Church, even in her old age, win immortal laurels and crowns, as in the freshness of her infancy, when she had such a champion as thyself. But, pray, too, that the blood of these Martyrs may be fruitful, as it was in times past ; pray that it be not wasted, but become the seed of abundant harvests. May infidelity lose ground, and heresy cease to canker those noble hearts, who, once in the Truth, would be the glory and consolation of the Church. Our own dear Land has had her Martyrs, who, in the hope that God would avenge their blood by restoring her to the Faith, gladly suffered and died — oh ! Prince of Martyrs ! pray, that this their hope may be speedily fulfilled.
We must not end this second day of the Christmas Octave without visiting the Stable of Bethlehem, and adoring the divine Son of Mary. Two days have
1 Eph. iv. 13. scarce elapsed, since his Blessed Mother placed him in this humble Crib ; but these two days are of more value, for the salvation of the world, than the four thousand years which preceded the Birth of this Babe. The work of our Redemption has made a great step; the cries and tears of the New-Born Child have begun the atonement of our sins. On this the Feast of the First Martyr, let us consider how the cheeks of the Infant Jesus are moistened with Tears, and how these tears are the first expression of his sufferings. " Jesus weeps," says St. Bernard, " but not like other children, certainly not for " the same cause as other children. * # They " weep from passion ; He, from compassion. They " weep because they are galled by the yoke, that sits " heavy on all the children of Adam ; Jesus weeps, " because he sees the sins of the children of Adam." (3rd Sermon for the Nativity) Oh ! how dear to us ought to be these Tears of a God, who has made himself our Brother ! Had we not sinned, God would not have wept. Ought not we, too, to weep over sin, which thus saddens, by the sufferings it causes to our sweet Infant Jesus, the heavenly joy of his Birth among us ?
Mary, also, sees these Tears, and her maternal heart is pained. She feels that her Child is to be the Man of Sorrows; and, before many days are over, the same awful truth will be told her in prophecy. With the consolation she offers to her Babe, let us unite ours, by giving him our love. It is the one thing he seeks by all the humiliations he has taken upon himself. It is to gain our love that he has come down from heaven, and been born among us in the midst of the mysteries we are now celebrating. Let us love him, therefore, with all our love, and ask our Lady to present him our humble offering. The Psalmist has said : The Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised : let us add, with St.
Bernard : The Lord is a Little Babe, and exceedingly to be loved.
We will honour the Birth of our Jesus, to-day, by this venerable Sequence of St. Gall's Monastery, written by the Blessed Notker. It recounts the combat of our Emmanuel against Satan, and his victory. This victory is the source of those won by Stephen and all the Martyrs.
Come ! let us resume our holy songs of praise in strains worthy of this Day,
Whereon the much-loved Light rises to the world.
It is in the gloomy hour of Night, that the dark shadows of our sins are made to disappear.
This day, did the Star of the sea bring forth to the world the joy of its new salvation.
Her Child makes hell tremble ; nay, cruel Death is rilled with fear at the sight of Him who is to be its death.
Long-triumphant pestilence, now captive, mourns out her sighs ; and the crushed serpent lets go his prey.
Fallen man, the strayed sheep, is carried back to the eternal joys.
The heavenly host of Angels are full of joy to-day;
For, the tenth groat was lost and is found.
0 Child ! blessed above all ! by whom mankind was redeemed.
Eia, recolamus Laudibus piis digna.
Hujus diei carmina, In quo nobis lux oritur Gratissima. Noctis inter nebulosa, Pereunt nostri criminis Umbracula.
Hodie sseculo Maris stella Est enixa
Novse salutis gaudia. Quern tremunt barathra, Mors cruenta pavet ipsa, A quo peribit mortua.
Gemet capta Pestis antiqua,
Coluber lividus perdit spolia. Homo lapsus, Ovis obducta,
Revocatur ad seterna Gaudia. Gaudent in hoc die Agmina Angelorum ccelestia, Quia erat drachma decima Perdita,
Et est inventa. 0 proles Mmium beata, Qua redempta Est natura.
Deus, qui creavit omnia, Nascitur ex femina. Mirabilis natura, Mirifice induta,
Assumens quod non erat, Manens quod erat. Induitur natura Divinitas humana : Quis audivit talia, Die, rogo, facta 1 Quaerere venerat Pastor pius quod perierat.
Induit galeam, Certat ut miles armatura.
Prostratus In sua propria
Ruit hostis spicula. Auferuntur tela In quibus fidebat, Divisa sunt illius spolia, Capta praeda sua. Christi pugna Fortissima Salus nostra est vera, Qui nos suam Ad patriam
Duxit post victoriam. In qua sibi laus est Sterna. Amen.
The God, who created all things, is born of a Woman.
He, whose nature is admirable, clothes himself by an admirable mystery, assuming what he was not, and remaining what he had ever been.
A divine Person puts on human nature : I beseech thee, tell me, was aught like this ever heard of 1
The Good Shepherd came to seek that which was lost.
He puts on the helmet, and, as a soldier, fights in armour.
The enemy is defeated and falls upon his own arrows.
The weapons he trusted in are taken from him, his booty is divided, his prey is taken from him.
Our true salvation comes of this most glorious battle of Christ j
Who, after the victory, led us to his own kingdom,
Where everlasting praise is given to him. Amen.
And now, turning towards his Blessed Mother, we will offer her the tribute of this beautiful Sequence, taken from the Cluny Missal, of 1523.
Angelica nos respice, O dignitatis Domina.
Cum Filio in solio Ccelo regnas per saecula.
Dulcis Maria, Vere dulcis, vere pia, Vere mitissima.
Look down upon us, O Queen of the Angel kingdom.
With thy Son, thou reignest for ever on the heavenly throne.
Sweet Mother Mary ! truly sweet, and loving, and most gentle !
Thou art, as a fountain, full of love and clemency ; and as a land flowing with honey.
Thou mercifully aidest the sorrowing Theophilus to obtain the forgiveness of his sin.
By thy prayers, the guilty one of Egypt rises from her abominations.
0 Mother of Mercy ! 0 singular hope of the fallen !
Bear up, this day, to heaven, the prayers and sighs of thy clients.
Thou art the honour of Israel, thou art the glory of the world.
Restore us to the favour of our Emmanuel,
Whom thou didst feed at thy sacred breast,
And whose sweet Infant limbs thou didst warm.
Do thou, our Mediatrix, appease him in our regard,
On the dread Day, we beseech thee.
We are here to offer up to God our Father the merits of our Jesus ;
By their virtue, do thou, we beseech thee, obtain forgiveness for the guilty, and bring courage to them that fear.
Thou art our good, our merciful, Mother ; thou art our hope, O Mary !
Let every devout soul respond : Amen !
Tota afnuens pietate, Clementia, Tota melliflua. Tu flebili Theophili Culpse ades propitia.
Te auspice, A fornice Surgit rea iEgyptia.
O mater misericordise, 0 lapsorum spes unica.
Votiva servorum Hodie infer coelo Suspiria.
Tu decus Israel, Tu mundi gloria.
Nostro Emmanuel
Tu reconcilia, Quern lactasti tua sacra mamilla. Ilia ejus membra Fovens dulcia. Mediatrix nostra,
Nobis hunc placa. In ilia oramus die
Tremenda. Oblaturi hie adsumus Deo Patri tuae prolis Pignora, Quorum virtute, quaesumus, Reos munda, Trementes corrobora. Tu bona, tu clemens, Tu spes nostra, O Maria, Amen dicat mens devota.
December 27. SAINT JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST.
Nearest to Jesus' Crib, after Stephen, stands John, the Apostle and Evangelist. It was only right, that the first place should be assigned to him, who so loved his God, that he shed his blood in his service ; for, as this God himself declares, greater love than this hath no man, that he lay down his life for his friends} and Martyrdom has ever been counted, by the Church, as the greatest act of love, and as having, consequently, the power of remitting sins, like a second Baptism. But, next to the sacrifice of Blood, the noblest, the bravest, and which most wins the heart of Him who is the Spouse of souls, is the sacrifice of Virginity. Now, just as St. Stephen is looked upon as the type of Martyrs, St. John is honoured as the Prince of Virgins. Martyrdom won for Stephen the Crown and palm ; Virginity merited for John most singular prerogatives, which, while they show how dear to God is holy Chastity, put this Disciple among those, who, by their dignity and influence, are above the rest of men.
St. John was of the family of David, as was our Blessed Lady. He was, consequently, a relation of Jesus. This same honour belonged to St. James the Greater, his Brother ; as also to St. James the Less, and St. Jude, both Sons of Alpheus. When our Saint was in the prime of his youth, he left, not only his boat and nets, not only his Father Zebedee, but even his betrothed, when everything was pre-
1 St. John, xv. 13. pared for the marriage. He followed Jesus, and never once looked back. Hence, the special love which our Lord bore him. Others were Disciples or Apostles, John was the Friend, of Jesus. The cause of this our Lord's partiality, was, as the Church tells us in the Liturgy, that John had offered his Virginity to the Man-God. Let us, on this his Feast, enumerate the graces and privileges that came to St. John from his being The Disciple whom Jesus loved.
This very expression of the Gospel, which the Evangelist repeats several times — The Disciple whom Jesus loved — says more than any commentary could do. St. Peter, it is true, was chosen by our Divine Lord, to be the Head of the Apostolic College, and the Rock whereon the Church was to be built : he, then, was honoured most ; but St. John was loved most. Peter was bid to love more than the rest loved, and he was able to say, in answer to Jesus' thrice repeated question, that he did love him in this highest way : and yet, notwithstanding, John was more loved by Jesus than was Peter himself, because his Virginity deserved this special mark of honour.
Chastity of soul and body brings him who possesses it into a sacred nearness and intimacy with God. Hence it was, that at the Last Supper — that Supper, which was to be renewed on our Altars, to the end of the world, in order to cure our spiritual infirmities, and give life to our souls — John was placed near to Jesus, nay, was permitted, as the tenderly loved Disciple, to lean his head upon the Breast of the Man-God. Then it was, that he was filled, and from their very Fountain, with Light and Love: it was both a recompense and a favour, and became the source of two signal graces, which make
1 St. John, xiii. 23 ; xix. 26 ; xxi. 7 ; xxi 20.
St. John an object of special reverence to the whole Church.
Divine wisdom wishing to make known to the world the Mystery of the Word, and commit to Scripture those profound secrets, which, so far, no pen of mortal had been permitted to write — the task was put upon John. Peter had been crucified, Paul had been beheaded, and the rest of the Apostles had laid down their lives in testimony of the Truths they had been sent to preach to the world ; John was the only one left in the Church. Heresy had already begun its blasphemies against the Apostolic Teachings ; it refused to admit the Incarnate Word as the Son of God, Consubstantial to the Father. John was asked by the Churches to speak, and he did so in language heavenly above measure. His Divine Master had reserved to this his Virgin-Disciple the honour of writing those sublime Mysteries, which the other Apostles had been commissioned only to teach — the Word was God, and this Word was made Flesh for the salvation of mankind. Thus did our Evangelist soar, like the Eagle, up to the Divine Sun, and gaze upon Him with undazzled eye, because his heart and senses were pure, and therefore fitted for such vision of the uncreated Light. If Moses, after having conversed with God in the cloud, came from the divine interview with rays of miraculous light encircling his head : — how radiant must have been the face of St. John, which had rested on the very Heart of Jesus, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge I1 how sublime his writings ! how divine his teaching ! Hence, the symbol of the Eagle, shown to the Prophet Ezechiel, and to St. John himself in his Revelations, has been assigned to him by the Church: and to this title of The Eagle has been
1 Coloss. ii. 3. 2 Ezechiel, i. 10 ; x. 14. 3 Apoc. iv. 7. added, by universal tradition, the other beautiful name of Theologian.
This was the first recompense given by Jesus to his Beloved John — a profound penetration into divine Mysteries. The second was the imparting to him a most ardent charity, which was equally a grace consequent upon his angelic purity, for purity unburdens the soul from grovelling egotistic affections, and raises it to a cjiaste and generous love. John had treasured up in his heart the Discourses of his Master : he made them known to the Church, and especially that divine one of the Last Supper, wherein Jesus had poured forth his whole Soul to his oivn, whom he had always tenderly loved, but most so at the end. He wrote his Epistles, and Charity is his subject : God is Charity — he that loveth not, knoweih not God — perfect Charity casteth out fear — and so on throughout, always on Love. During the rest of his life, even when so enfeebled bv old age as not to be able to walk, he was for ever insisting upon all men loving each other, after the example of God, who had loved them and so loved them ! Thus, he that had announced more clearly than the rest of the Apostles the divinity of the Incarnate Word, was by excellence the Apostle of that divine Charity, which Jesus came to enkindle upon the earth.
But, our Lord had a further gift to bestow, and it was sweetly appropriate to the Virgin-Disciple. When dying on his cross, Jesus left Mary upon this earth. Joseph had been dead now some years. Who, then, shall watch over his Mother ? who is there worthy of the charge ? Will Jesus send his Angels to protect and console her ? — for, surely, what man could ever merit to be to her as a second Joseph ? Looking down, he sees the Virgin-Disciple standing at the foot of the Cross : we know the rest, John is to be
1 St. John, xiii. 1.
Mary's Son — Mary is to be John's Mother. Oh ! wonderful Chastity, that wins from Jesus such an inheritance as this ! Peter, says St. Peter Damian, shall have left to him the Church, the Mother of men ; but John, shall receive Mary, the Mother of God, whom he will love as his own dearest Treasure, and to whom he will stand in Jesus' stead ; whilst Mary will tenderly love John, her Jesus' Friend, as her Son.
Can we be surprised after this, that St. John is looked upon by the Church as one of her greatest glories 1 He is a Relative of Jesus in the flesh ; he is an Apostle, a Virgin, the Friend of the Divine Spouse, the Eagle, the Theologian, the Son of Mary ; he is an Evangelist, by the history he has given of the Life of his Divine Master and Friend ; he is a Sacred Writer, by the three Epistles he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; he is a Prophet, by his mysterious Apocalypse, wherein are treasured the secrets of time and eternity. But, is he a Martyr ? Yes, for if he did not complete his sacrifice, he drank the Chalice of Jesus, when, after being cruelly scourged, he was thrown into a caldron of boiling oil, before the Latin Gate, at Rome. He was, therefore, a Martyr in desire and intention, though not in fact. If our Lord, wishing to prolong a life so dear to the Church, as well as to show how he loves and honours Virginity, — miraculously stayed the effects of the frightful punishment, St. John had, on his part, unreservedly accepted Martyrdom.
Such is the companion of Stephen at the Crib, wherein lies our Infant Jesus. If the Protomartyr dazzles us with the robes he wears of the bright scarlet of his own blood — is not the virginal whiteness of John's vestment fairer than the untrod snow ? The spotless beauty of the Lilies of Mary's adopted Son, and the bright vermilion of Stephen's Roses — what
1 St. Matth. xx. 22. is there more lovely than their union ? Glory, then, be to our New-Born King, whose court is tapestried with such heaven-made colours as these ! Yes, Bethlehem's Stable is a very heaven on earth, and we have seen its transformation. First, we saw Mary and Joseph alone there — they were adoring Jesus in his Crib ; then, immediately, there descended a heavenly host of Angels singing the wonderful Hymn ; the Shepherds soon followed, the humble simple-hearted Shepherds ; after these, entered Stephen the Crowned, and John the Beloved Disciple ; and, even before there enters the pageant of the devout Magi, we shall have others coming in, and there will be, each day, grander glory in the Cave, and gladder joy in our hearts. Oh ! this Birth of our Jesus ! Humble as it seems, yet, how divine ! What King or Emperor ever received, in his gilded cradle, honours like these shown to the Babe of Bethlehem ? Let us unite our homage with that given him by these the favoured inmates of his court. Yesterday, the sight of the Palm in Stephen's hand animated us, and we offered to our Jesus the promise of a stronger Faith : to-day, the Wreath, that decks the brow of the Beloved Disciple, breathes upon the Church the heavenly fragrance of Virginity — an intenser love of Purity must be our resolution, and our tribute to the Lamb.
MASS.
The Church commences her chants of the holy Sacrifice with words taken from the Book of Ecclesiasticus, which she applies to St. John. Our Lord has proclaimed his mysteries to the Church, by the teaching of his Beloved Disciple. He favoured him with his divine intimacy, which filled him with the spirit of wisdom. He clad him with a robe of glory, in reward for his virginal purity.
CHEISTMAS.
INTEOIT.
In medio Ecclesiae aperuit os ejus ; et implevit eum Domimis Spiritu sapientise et intellectus; stolamglorise induit eum.
Ps. Bonum est confiteri Domino, et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime. y. Gloria. In medio.
He opened his mouth in the midst of the Church, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom : he clad him with a robe of glory.
Ps. It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to thy name, 0 Most High. y. Glory, &c. He opened.
In the Collect, the Church asks for the Light, that is, for the Word of God, of whom St. John was the propagator by his sublime writings. She aspires to the eternal possession of this Emmanuel, who is come to enlighten the world, and who has revealed to his Beloved Disciple the secrets of heaven.
COLLECT.
Ecclesiam tuam, Domine, benignus illustra : ut beati Joannis, Apostoli tui et Evangelists, illuminatadoctrinis, ad dona perveniat sempiterna. Per Dominum.
Mercifully, 0 Lord, enlighten thy Church : that being taught by blessed John, thine Apostle and Evangelist, she may come to thy eternal rewards. Through, <&c.
Commemoration of Christmas Day.
Concede, quoesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet, quos sub peccatijugo vetusta servitus tenet.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who groan under the old captivity of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new Birth of thine Only Begotten Son.
Commemoration of St. Stephen.
Da nobis, qusesumus, Domine, imitari quod colimus : ut discamus et inimicos diligere, quia ejus natalitia celebramus, qui novit etiam pro persecutoribus exorare
Grant, 0 Lord, we beseech thee, that we may imitate him whose memory we celebrate, so as to learn to love even our enemies, because we now solemnise his martyrdom who knew how to pray, even for his persecutors, to our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son. Who liveth, <Scc.
Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum. Qui tecum.
EPISTLE.
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom.
Ecclus. ch. XV.
He that feareth God, will do good ; and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her, and she will meet him as an honourable mother. With the bread of life and understanding she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink, and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved ; and she shall exalt him among his neighbours ; and in the midst of the Church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with the robe of glory ; she shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and our Lord God shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.
Lectio libri Sapientiae.
Eccli. cap. XV.
Qui timet Deum, faciet bona ; et qui continens est justitiae, apprehendet illam, et obviabit illi quasi mater honorificata. Cibabit ilium pane vitae et intellectus, et aqua sapientiae salutaris potabit ilium ; et firmabitur in illo, et non flectetur ; et continebit ilium, et non confundetur ; et exaltabit ilium apud proximos suos ; et in medio Ecclesiae aperiet os ejus, et adimplebit ilium Spiritu sapientiae et intellectus, et stolam gloriae vestiet ilium ; jucunditatem et exsultationem thesaurizabit super ilium, et nomine aeterno haereditabit ilium Dominus Deus noster.
The Wisdom here spoken of, is Jesus the Eternal Word, who came to St. John and called him to the Apostolate. The Bread of life wherewith she fed him, is the divine Bread of the Last Supper, the Body and Blood of Jesus ; the wholesome Water, is that promised by our Saviour to the Samaritan Woman, and of which St. John drank so abundantly from its very source, when he rested his head on the Heart of Jesus. The immovable Strength, is the
Saint's close and resolute custody of the treasure of his Virginity, and the courageous profession of the religion of Christ before the Proconsuls of Domitian. The Treasure which Wisdom heaped upon him, is the magnificence of the prerogatives granted to him. Lastly, the everlasting Name, is that glorious title given him of John the Beloved Disciple.
GRADUAL.
Exiit sermo inter fratres, quod discipulus ille non moritur ; et non dixit Jesus : Non moritur ;
$". Sed : Sic eum volo manere, donee veniam ; tu me sequere.
Alleluia, alleluia.
~ff. Hie est discipulus ille, qui testimonium perhibet de his ; et scimus quia verum est testimonium ejus. Alleluia.
A report was spread among the brethren, that that Disciple should not die ; but Jesus said not : He should not die ;
$". But : So I will have him remain till I come ; follow thou me.
Alleluia, alleluia.
$". This is the Disciple that beareth testimony of these things ; and we know his testimony is true. Alleluia.
GOSPEL.
Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem.
Cap. XXI.
In illo tempore, dixit Jesus Petro : Sequere me. Conversus Petrus vidit ilium discipulum quern diligebat Jesus, sequentem, qui et recubuit in coena super pectus ejus, et dixit : Domine, quis est qui tradet te 1 Hunc ergo cum vidisset Petrus, dixit Jesu : Domine, hie autem quid? Dicit ei Jesus : Sic eum volo manere donee veniam, quid ad te? Tu me sequere. Exiit ergo sermo iste inter fratres, quia
Sequel of the Holy Gospel according to John.
Ch. XXI.
At that time : Jesus said to Peter : Follow me. Peter turning about, saw that Disciple, whom Jesus loved, following, who also leaned on his breast at supper, and said : Lord, who is he that shall betray thee'? Him, therefore, when Peter had seen, he saith to Jesus : Lord, and what shall this man do 1 Jesus saith to him : So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou me. This saying, therefore, went abroad among the brethren, discipulus ille non moritur. that that Disciple should not Et non dixit ei Jesus : Non die. And Jesus did not say moritur ; sed : Sic eum volo to him : He should not die ; manere donee veniam, quid but : So I will have him to ad te 1 ' Hie est discipulus remain till I come, what is it ille, qui testimonium per- to thee 1 This is that Disciple, hibet de his, et scripsit haec ; who giveth testimony of these et scimus quia verum est things, and hath written these testimonium ejus, things ; and we know that his testimony is true.
This passage of the holy Gospel has been much commented upon. Some of the Fathers and Commentators interpret it as signifying, that St. John was to be exempt from death, and that he is still living in the flesh, awaiting the coming of the Judge of the living and the dead. It is certain that this opinion regarding our Apostle has been entertained ; and one of the arguments in its favour was this very passage. But, the general opinion of the Holy Fathers is, that nothing further is implied by it, than the difference between the two vocations of St. Peter and St. John. The former shall follow his divine Master, by dying, like Him, on the cross ; the latter shall remain — he shall live to a venerable old age — and at length, Jesus shall come and take him out of this world, by sending him a sweet and peaceful death.
During the Offertory, the Church makes a remembrance of the flourishing Palms which grew up around the Beloved Disciple ; she tells us of the spiritual children he had trained, and of the Churches he had founded ; all which, like young cedars round the venerable parent-tree on Libanus, multiplied under the fostering care of their Father.
OFFERTORY.
The just shall flourish, like Justus ut palma florebit ; the palm-tree ; he shall grow sicut cedrus, quae in Libano up like the cedar of Libanus. est multiplicabitur.
SECEET.
Suscipe, D online, nrnnera quae in ejus tibi solemnitate deferimus, cujus nos confidimus patrocinio liberari. Per Dominum.
Receive, O Lord, the offerings we make to thee, on his feast, by whose intercession we hope to be delivered. Through, &c.
Commemoration of Christmas Day.
Oblata, Domine, munera, nova Unigeniti tui nativitate sanctifica : nosque a peccatorum nostrorum maculis emunda.
Sanctify, 0 Lord, our offerings by the new Birth of thine Only Begotten Son, and cleanse us from the stains of our sins.
Commemoration of St. Stephen.
Suscipe, Domine, munera, pro tuorum commemoratione Sanctorum ; ut sicut illos passio gloriosos effecit, ita nos devotio reddat innocuos. Per Dominum.
Receive, 0 Lord, these offerings in memory of thy Saints ; and as their sufferings have made them glorious, so may our devotion render us free from sin. Through, &c.
The Preface as in 'page 70 : but on the Octave- Day it is as below.*
PREFACE.
For the Octave-Day.
Vere dignum et justum est aequum et salutare, te Domine suppliciter exorare, ut gregem tuum, Pastor seterne, non deseras, sed per beatos Apostolos tuos continua protectione custodias. Ut iisdem rectoribus gubernetur, quos operis tui vicarios eidem contulisti preeesse Pastores. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militia eoelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuse canimus, sine fine dicentes : Sanctus, &c.
It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, humbly to beseech thee, that thou, 0 Lord, our eternal Shepherd, wouldst not forsake thy flock, but keep it under thy continual protection, by thy blessed Apostles. That it may be governed by those whom thou hast appointed its vicars and pastors. And therefore with the Angels and Archangels, with the Thrones and Dominations, and with all the heavenly host, we siug an everlasting hymn to thy glory, saying : Holy, &c.
The mysterious words of the Gospel are repeated in the Communion, that is, at the moment when Priest and people have partaken of the Victim of salvation ; they convey this teaching — that he who eats of this Bread, though he must die the death of the body, will yet live for the coming of the supreme Judge and Rewarder.
COMMUNION".
A report was spread among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. But Jesus said not : He should not die ; but : So will I that he remain till I come.
Exiit sermo inter fratres quod discipulus ille non moritur. Et non dixit Jesus : Non moritur ; sed : Sic eum volo manere donee veniam.
POSTCOMMUNIOK
Being refreshed, O Lord, with this heavenly meat and drink, we humbly beseech thee, that we may be assisted by his prayers, on whose feast we have received these sacred mysteries. Through, &c.
Refecti cibo potuque coelesti, Deus noster, te supplices deprecamur; ut in cujus haec commemoratione percepimus, ejus muniamur et precibus. Per Dominium
Commemoration of Christmas Day.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that as the Saviour of the world, who was born this day, procured for us a divine birth, he may, also, bestow on us immortality.
Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus : ut natus hodie Salvator mundi, sicut divinae nobis generation! s est auctor, ita et immortahtatis sit ipse largitor.
Commemoration of St. Stephen.
May the mysteries we have received, O Lord, be a help to us; and, by the intercession
Auxilientur nobis, Domine, sumpta mysteria ; et intercedente beato Stephano, U
Martyre tuo, sempiterna protectione confirment. Per Dominum. of the blessed Martyr Stephen, strengthen us with thy perpetual protection. Through, dec.
VESPERS.
The Antiphons and Psalms are sung as yesterday, the Feast of St. Stephen : they are given in page 234. After the last Psalm, the Office of St. John is resumed, commencing as follows :
CAPITULTJM.
{Ecclus. XV.)
Qui timet Deum, faciet bona : et qui continens est justitiae, apprehendet illam, et obviabit illi quasi mater honorificata.
He that f eareth God, will do good : and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her, and she shall meet him as an honourable mother.
HYMN.*
Exsultet orbis gaudiis : Coelum resultet laudibus Apostolorum gloriam Tellus et astra concinunt.
Let the earth exult with joy : let the heavens re-echo with praise : the glory of the Apostles is sung by both earth and heaven.
According to the Monastic Rite it is as follows :-
R. Breve. Constitues eos principes, * Super omnem terram. Constitues. V. Memores erunt nominis tui, Domine. * Super. Gloria Patri. Constitues.
Exsultet ccelum laudibus, Resultet terra gaudiis ; Apostolorum gloriam Sacra canunt solemnia.
Vos ssecli justi judices Et vera mundi lumina, Votis precamur cordium, Audite preces supplicum.
Qui coelum verbo clauditis, Serasque ejus solvitis,
Nos a peccatis omnibus Solvite jussu, qusesumus.
Quorum prsecepto subditur Salus et languor omnium, Sanate eegros moribus, Nos reddentes virtutibus.
Ut cum judex advenerit, Christus in fine sseculi, Nos sempiterni gaudii Faciat esse compotes.
Gloria tibi, Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre, et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna specula.
Amen.
0 ye, the Judges of the world, and the true Lights of the earth ! we pray to you with all earnestness of heart : hear the prayers of your clients.
'Tis ye that have power, by your word, to shut and open the gates of heaven : we beseech you, loosen us from the bonds of sin.
Sickness and health promptly do your bidding ; oh ! heal our languid souls, bring us growth in virtue ;
That so, when Jesus, our judge, shall come again at the end of the world, he may grant us to be partakers of never-ending bliss.
Glory be to thee, 0 Jesus, that wast born of the Virgin ! and to the Father, and to the Spirit of love, for everlasting ages.
Amen.
$\ Most worthy of honour is the blessed John.
^. Who leaned upon the Lord's breast at the supper.
Vos sseculorum judices, Et vera mundi lumina : Votis precamur cordium, Audite voces supplicum.
Qui templa cceli clauditis, Serasque verbo solvitis, Nos a reatu noxios Solvi jubete quaesumus.
Prsecepta quorum protinus Languor salusque sentiunt ; Sanate mentes languidas, Augete nos virtutibus.
Ut cum redibit Arbiter In fine Christus saeculi, Nos sempiterni gaudii Concedat esse compotes.
Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui natus es de Virgine : Cum Patre et almo Spiritu In sempiterna ssecula.
Amen.
"ff. Valde honorandus est beatus Joannes.
I£. Qui supra pectus Domini in coena recubuit. antiphon of the Magnificat.
Ant. There went abroad among the brethren this saying, that that disciple should not die : and Jesus did not say to him : He should not die ; but : So I will have him to remain till I come.
Ant. Exiit sermo inter fratres, quod discipulus ille non moritur : et non dixit Jesus : Non moritur ; sed : Sic eum volo manere donee veniam. let us pray.
Mercifully, 0 Lord , enlighten thy Church ; that being taught by blessed John, thine Apos-
Ecclesiam tuam, Domine, benignus illustra, ut beati Joannis Ap ostoli tui et Evan- gelistas illuminata doctrinis, tie and Evangelist, she mayad dona perveniat sempi- come to thy eternal rewards, terna. Per Dominum. Through, <kc.
Commemoration of the Holy Innocents.
Ant. Hi sunt, qui cum mulieribus non sunt coinquinati : virgines enim sunt, et sequuntur Agnum quocumque ierit.
$". Herodes iratus occidit multos pueros.
I£. In Bethlehem Judse, civitate David.
Ant. These are they who were not defiled with women : for they are virgins, and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.
Y- Herod, being angry, killed many children.
I£. In Bethlehem of Juda, the city of David.
Deus cujus hodierna die praeconium Innocentes martyres non loquendo, sed moriendo confessi sunt, omnia in nobis vitiorum mala mortifica : ut fidem tuam, quam lingua nostra loquitur, etiam moribus vita fateatur.
O God, whose praise the holy Martyrs, the Innocents, published this day, not by speaking, but by dying ; mortify in us all our vicious inclinations : that we may show forth, in our actions, thy faith, which we profess with our lips.
Commemoration of Christmas Day.
Ant. Hodie Christus natus est : hodie Salvator apparuit : hodie in terra canunt Angeli, lsetantur Archangeli : hodie exsultant justi, dicentes : Gloria in excelsis Deo. Alleluia.
~fr. Notum fecit Dominus, alleluia.
Jfe. Salutare suum, alleluia.
Ant. This day, Christ is born ; this day, the Saviour hath appeared ; this day, the Angels sing on earth; the Archangels rejoice ; this day, the just exult, saying : Glory be to God in the highest, alleluia. y. The Lord hath made known, alleluia.
I£. His salvation, alleluia.
Concede, quaesumus, om- Grant, we beseech thee, O nipotens Deus, ut nos Uni- Almighty God, that we who geniti tui nova per carnem groan under the old captivity of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new Birth of thine Only Begotten Son.
Commemoration
Ant. Devout men buried Stephen, and made great mourning over him. fl. Stephen saw the heavens opened.
1$. He saw and entered : blessed man, to whom the heavens opened.
Nativitas liberet, quos sub peccatijugovetusta servitus tenet. of St. Stephen.
Ant. Sepelierunt Stephanum viri timorati, et fecerunt planctum magnum super eum. ft. Stephanus vidit coelos apertos.
I£. Vidit et introivit : beatus homo cui coeli x^atebant.
LET US PEAY.
Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that we may imitate him whose memory we celebrate, so as to learn to love even our enemies, because we now solemnise his martyrdom who knew how to pray, even for his enemies, to our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Who liveth, <&c.
Da nobis, qusesumus, Domine imitari quod colimus, ut discamus et inimicos diligere : quia ejus natalitia celebramus, qui novit etiam pro persecutoribus exorare Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum. Qui tecum.
Now let us listen to the several Churches, proclaiming, in their liturgical praises, the glory of St. John. We begin with the Church of Rome, from which we take this beautiful Preface of the Leonian Sacramentary.
PREFACE.
It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should give thanks to thee, 0 Almighty Father ! now that we are celebrating the Feast of thy blessed Apostle, John the Evangelist. Having received the vocation of our Lord Jesus
Yere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi gratias agere, Pater omnipotens, beati Apostoli tui Joannis Evangelistse natalitia venerantes. Qui Domini nostri Jesu Christi Filii tui vocatione suscepta, terrenum respuit patrem, ut posset invenire coelestem : retia sseculi, quibus iniplicabatur, abjecit, ut seternitatis dona mente libera sectaretur : rmtantem fluctibus navem reliquit, ut in ecclesiasticse gubernationis tranquilitate consisteret : a piscium captione cessavit, ut animas mundanis gurgitibus immersas, calamo doctrinse salutaris abstraheret : destitit pelagi profundari mari, secretorum scrutator redditus divinorum. Eo usque procedens, ut et in ccenae mysticse sacrosancto convivio in ipsius recumberet pectore Salvatoris ; et eum in cruce Dominus constitutus, vicarium sui, Matri Virgini Filiurn subrogaret, et in principio Verbum, quod Deus erat apud Deum, prse casteris ostenderet praedicandum.
Christ thy Son, he left his earthly father, that he might find one in heaven. He threw down the nets of this world, wherein he was entangled, that he might, with a free soul, pursue the goods that are eternal. He abandoned his boat, which was ever tossing on the waves, that he might calmly steer a spiritual bark in the Church. He gave up his trade of fishing, that, by the hook of saving doctrine, he might draw out souls ingulfed in the surges of the world. He ceased his searchings in the deep waters of the sea, that he might be made worthy to penetrate into secrets divine. Even thus was he favoured — he leaned his head on the Saviour's breast, in the most holy banquet of the mystic supper ; our Lord, when hanging on the cross, gave him to the Virgin-Mother to be her Son in His own stead ; and it was he, above all others, that showed how this was to be preached : In the beginning was the Word, ivho was God with God.
The Church of Milan, in her Ambrosian Missal, thus sings forth the praises of the Beloved Disciple :
Vere dignum et justum est, sequum et salutare, nos tibi gratias agere, aeterne Deus : beati Joannis Evangelistse merita recolentes, quern Dominus Jesus Christus non solum peculiari semper decore ornavit ; sed et in cruce positus, tamquam
It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation , that we should give thanks to thee, O Eternal God ! whilst celebrating the merits of blessed John the Evangelist, whom our Lord Jesus Christ not only adorned with every peculiar grace, but to whom also. he, when fastened to the cross, lovingly granted, as though it were the gift of inheritance, to take his own place and be the Son of Mary. Even nnto this grade of honour did thy divine goodness raise him, that being changed from a fisherman into a Disciple, and, in the dispensing thy Truth, going beyond the measure of other men, — he, above all others, both saw and preached the very Divinity of thy Eternal Word. hsereditario munere prosecutus, vicarium pro se Matri Filium clementer attribuit. Quern ad eum usque dignitatis gradum divina benignitas evexit, ut et factus ex piscatore Discipulus, et humanae dispensationis modum excedens, ipsam Verbi tui sine initio Deitatem prae caeteris et mente conspiceret, et voce perferret.
The Mozarabic Missal has the following prayer to our holy Apostle and Evangelist :
PRAYER.
O Son of God, Begotten of the Unbegotten infinite God ! who didst open the sacred treasury of thy Breast to thine Apostle, when he, reclining on thy Bosom, merited to drink in, from the very fountain of thy Heart, the streams of his own Gospel : look upon us with an eye of pity, that so, by thee, we may know thy mysteries, and do the good thou hast manifested unto us. Reveal unto us the hidden things of thy Heart, whereby we may be taught both the weakness of our own nature, and the Divinity which is thine. Show us thyself, that we may love thee ; show us in ourselves what we must correct. That thus, by the prayers of thy beloved Disciple, our evil ways being converted, pestilence may flee
Genite ingeniti Filius Dei summi ; qui sacrum illud arcanum pectoris tui dilecto tuo Joanni Apostolo reserasti : cum in sinu tuo recubans Evangelii sui fluenta ex ipso pectoris tui fonte haurire promeruit. Tu nos intuere propitius, ut per te abdita cognoscamus, per te bona quae manifesta sunt impleamus. Reserans nobis pectoris tui occulta, quibus possimus cognoscere, et conditionis nostras infirmitatem, et ad tuae divinitatis pervenire cognitionem. Manifestans de te quid amemus, indicans de nobis quid corrigamus. Quo hujus dilecti tui suffragiis, moribus nostris in melius commutatis, aufugiat pestis, dispereat languor, pellatur mucro. Quidquid ad- versum est fidei christians intereat ; quidquid prosperuin, convalescat. Arceantur fames, sedentur lites, hseresum obtrudantur fautores. Fcecundetur f rugibus terra, vestiatur virtutibus anima ; atque cuncta nobis in commune proveniant bona. Quo tibi Deo nostro fideliter servientes, et his sine peccato utamur concessis, et post deliciis fruamur ssternae possessionis. Amen. from us, sickness disappear, and the sword be sheathed. May all that is adverse to Christian faith perish ; mayall that prospers it, be strengthened. May famines cease, may dissensions be appeased, may the upholders of heresy be confounded. May the earth be pregnant with fruits, our souls be clad with virtues, and all good things come unto us all. _ That thus, faithfully serving thee our God, we may both use these gifts without sin, and, hereafter, enjoy the bliss of possessing thee for eternity. Amen.
The following Hymn, which we have taken from the Milan Liturgy, is attributed to St. Ambrose ; it certainly bears a resemblance to his style — sublime thoughts, majestically told.
HYMN.
Amore Christi nobilis Et filius Tonitrui, Arcana Joannes Dei Fatu revelavit sacro.
Captis solebat piscibus Patris senectam pascere ; Turbante dum natat salo Immobilis fide stetit.
Hamum profundo merserat, Piscatus est Verburn Dei ; Jactavit undis retia, Vitam levavit hominum.
Piscis bonus pia est Fides, Mundi supernatans salum,
John — the honoured lovedone of Jesus, and named by Him the Son of Thunder — revealed in sacred words, the hidden things of God.
He was a fisherman, and supported his aged parent by his toil : whilst sailing on the troubled waves, he received the faith, and firmly did he hold to it.
He throws his hook into the deep, and takes the Word of God ; he lets down his nets into the waters, he draws in Him who is the Light of the world.
His fervent Faith is the good Fish which swam through the briny flood of this world ; it rested on the Breast of Christ, and thus spoke in the Holy Spirit :
" In the beginning was the "Word, and the Word was " with God, and the Word was " God. The same was in the " beginning with God.
"All things were made by " Him." Then, let us sing the praises of this Disciple, and since he bears the laurels of the Spirit, let his writings be his crown.
Martyrdom hasbeen granted to many, and this shedding of their own blood purities them from every sin ; but John did what was better than Martyrdom— he taught to the world that which made the Martyrs.
Yet we are told, that he was bound by wicked men, and plunged into boiling oil ; it did but cleanse him from this world's dust, and give him victory over the enemy.
Glory be to thee, O Lord, that wast born of the Virgin ! and to the Father, and to the Holy Ghost, for everlasting ages. Amen.
Subnfxa Christi pectore, Sancto locuta Spiritu :
"In principio erat Verbum, Et Yerbum erat apud Deum, Et Deus erat Yerbum. Hoc erat In principio apud Deum. " Omnia per ipsum facta sunt." Sed ipse laude resonet ; Et laureatus Spiritu, Scriptis coronetur suis.
Commune multis passio, Cruorque delictum lavans ; Hoc morte prsestat Martyrum. Quod fecit esse Martyres.
Yinctus tamen ab impiis, Calente olivo dicitur Tersisse muncli pulverem, Stetisse victor semuli.
Gloria tibi, Domine, Qui natus es de Yirgine ; Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu In sempiterna ssecula. Amen.
We will now give a few stanzas from the Hymns which the Greek Church, in her accustomed pomp of language, sings in honour of St. John. She keeps his Feast on the 26th September.
(XX VI. Septembris, in magno Vespertino, et passim.)
Come, ye Faithful, let us Yenite, sapientise abysthis day crown with sacred sum et orthodoxorum scrip- torem dogmatum, Fideles, hymnis coronemus divinis hodie, Joannem gloriosurn et dilectum : is enim intonuit : Verbum erat in principio. Ideo voce tonitru simili demonstratus est, quasi Evangelic- mundum illuminans, multisapiens et celeberrimus.
Vere aperteque tu manifestatus es amicus ex corde magnus Christi magistri ; pectori enim illius incubuisti, unde hausisti sapientise dogmata, quibus tamquam Dei praeco divinus, ditas omnem terras circuitum, quam possidens jucunda Christi Ecclesia nunc gaudens exornat.
Gaude, vere theologe, gaude, Matris Domini iili amabilissime : tu enim stans juxta crucem Christi, divinam audisti vocem Magistri : Ecce nunc mater tua, ad te clamantis. Ideo digne te omnes ut Christi Apostolum magnum et dilectum beatificamus.
Contemplator ineffabilium revelationum, et interpres supernorum Dei mysteriorum, Zebedgei films, scribens nobis Christi Evangelium, divine loqui Patrem, et Filium, et Spiritum nos docuit.
Lyra a Deo mota ccelestium odarum, mysticus ille scriptor, os divina loquens, Canticum canticorum dulciter decantat, et precatur salvari nos. hymns the glorious and Beloved John, an abyss of "wisdom, and the writer of orthodox dogmas : for it was he that uttered, In the beginning was the Word. Therefore did he appear as with the voice of thunder, enlightening the world with Ms Gospel — he the exceedingwise and world-wide famed Disciple.
Thou wast truly and manifestly the great bosom-friend of Jesus thy Master ; for thou didst recline upon his Breast, imbibing thence the dogmas of wisdom, wherewith, as God's sublime herald, thou enrichest the earth's circuit, and which the glad Church of Christ, now possessing it, exultingly honours.
Rejoice, thou true Theologian ! rejoice, thou most amiable Son of our Lord's Mother ! for, when standing nigh the Cross of Jesus, thou didst hear his divine voice saying unto thee : Behold now thy Mother. Therefore do we all bless thee, as the great and Beloved Apostle of Christ.
The contemplator of ineffable revelations, the interpreter of God's most high mysteries, the son of Zebedee, wrote us the Gospel of Christ, and therebytaught us howto speak theologically of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
This heaven-hymned Harp attuned by God, this mystic writer, this mouth that speaks divine things, is now sweetly singing the Canticle of Canticles, and prays for our salvation.
Let us, O ye mortals ! proclaim his many praises : — John, the Son of thunder — the source of divine language — the Prince of Theology — the first preacher of true wisdom's dogmas— the Beloved and Virgin- Disciple.
The streams of Theology gushed from thy venerable Hps, O Apostle ! the Church of God has drunk them in, O teacher of truth ! and adores the consubstantial Trinity. 0 holy Theologian John ! now pray that our souls may be unwavering and saved.
The flower of purity, the fragrant perfume, breathes upon this day's feast ; let us, therefore, pray to him : Blessed Apostle John ! who didst recline upon Jesus' Breast ! who didst pour out The Word upon the earth ; who didst guard the Virgin as the apple of thine eye ! Oh ! ask Jesus to show his great mercy unto us.
Come, ye faithful ! let us bless the most renowned John, the exalted one among the Apostles, the trumpet of theology, the spiritual guide — he that brought the world into subjection to God — he that was raised above the earth, not taken away from it, and is living and awaiting the dread second coming of our Lord. O thou the mystic Friend of Christ, that didst lovingly lean upon his Breast, help us, who celebrate thy memory, help us by thy prayers to present ourselves guiltless before our judge.
Tonitru nlium, divinorum sermonum fundamentum, theologise ducem, et primum prseconem verae sapientise dogmatum, Joannem dilectum et virginem, o mortalium genus, multis laudemus acclamationibus.
Flumina theologies, ex venerando ore tuo salierunt, Apostole, quibus Ecclesia Dei potata, adorat, orthodoxe, Trinitatem consubstantialem ; et nunc deprecare, Joannes theologe, stabiliri et salvari animas nostras.
Virgultum puritatis, boni odoris unguentum apparuit nobis in hodierna festivitate ; ad ipsum igitur clamemus : Tu qui supra pectus recubuisti Dominicum, tu qui mundo stillare fecisti Verbum, Joannes Apostole ; qui Virginem custodivisti ut pupillam oculi, postula pro nobis apud Christum magnam misericordiam.
Apostolorum celsitudinem, theologiae tubam, spiritalem ducem, qui orbem terrarum Deo subegit, venite, fideles, beatificemus Joannem illustrissimum, e terra sublatum et non ablatum, sed viventem et exspectantem terribilem Domini secundum adventum ; cui ut inculpabiliter assistamus deprecare, amice mystice Christi pectori ejus innixe cum amore, tuam memoriam celebrantes.
As usual, we will close these liturgical praises of our dear Saint, by a Prose of the Western Churches in the Middle- Ages, which we have taken from the collection of the Monastery of Saint Gall. It was composed by the Blessed Notker, and was for centuries in the Roman -French Missals.
Joannes, Jesn Christo Multum dilecte virgo. Tu ejus amore
Carnalem in navi Parentem liquisti. Tu leve conjugis Pectus respuisti, Messiam secutus, Ut ejus pectoris Sacra meruisses Fluenta potare. Tuque in terris positus, Gloriam conspexisti Filii Dei, Quae solum Sanctis In vita creditur
Contuenda esse perenni. Te Christus In cruce triumphans,
Matri suss dedit custodem ; TJt Virgo Yirginem servares,
Atque curam suppeditares. Tute carcere Flagrisque fractus, Testimonio pro Christo Es gavisus. Idem mortuos suscitas, Inque Jesu nomine
Venenum forte vincis.
Tibi summus taciturn Prae caeteris Verbum suum Pater revelat.
0 John ! the dearly Beloved Virgin-Disciple of Jesus !
For love of Him, thou didst leave thy father Zebedee and his boat.
Thou didst disdain the caresses of thy young betrothed, and didst follow the Messias,
That thou mightest merit to drink at the sacred fount of his Heart.
Thou, too, when on this earth, didst behold the transfiguration of the Son of God,
Which vision, as we are taught, is not granted save to the Saints in life eternal.
Jesus, when conquering on his cross, entrusted his Mother to thy keeping ;
That thou, a Virgin, mightest protect and care the Virgin, in His stead.
Imprisoned and torn by scourges, thou didst rejoice — for it was thy bearing testimony to Christ.
Thou, too, raisest the dead to life, and, in the name of Jesus, breakest the poison's power.
To thee, above the rest, the Almighty Father reveals his own embosom'd Word.
Do thou ever commend us Tu nos omnes all to God, by unwearied in- Sedulis precibus tercession, Apud Deum
Semper commenda,
O John, Disciple dear to Joannes, Christi care. Christ !
Amen. Amen.
Beloved Disciple of the Babe of Bethlehem ! — how great is thy happiness ! how wonderful is the reward given to thy love and thy purity ! In thee was fulfilled that word of thy Master : Blessed are the clean of heart ; for they shall see God. Not only didst thou see this God-Man — thou wast his Friend, and on his Bosom didst rest thy head. John the Baptist trembles at having to bend the head of Jesus under the water of Jordan ; Magdalene, though assured by his own lips that her pardon was perfect as her love, yet dares not raise her head, but keeps clinging to his feet ; Thomas scarce presumes to obey him when he bids him put his finger into his wounded Side ; — and thou, in the presence of all the Apostles, sittest close to Him, leaning thy head upon his Breast ! Nor is it only Jesus in his Humanity that thou seest and possessest ; but, because thy heart is pure, thou soarest, like an eagle, up to the Sun of Justice, and flxest thine eye upon him in the light inaccessible, wherein he dwelleth eternally with the Father and the Holy Ghost.
Thus was rewarded the fidelity wherewith thou didst keep intact for Jesus the precious treasure of thy Purity. And now, 0 worthy favourite of the great King ! forget not us poor sinners. We believe and confess the Divinity of the Incarnate Word, whom thou hast evangelised unto us ; bat we desire to draw nigh to him during this holy season, now that he shows himself so desirous of our company, so humble, so full of love, so dear a Child, and so poor ! Alas ! our sins keep us back ; our heart is not pure like thine ; we have need of a Patron to introduce us to our Masters Crib} Thou, O Beloved Disciple of the Emmanuel ! thou must procure us this happiness. Thou hast shown us the Divinity of the Word in the bosom of the Eternal Father ; lead us now to this same Word made flesh. Under thy patronage, Jesus will permit us to enter into the Stable, to stand near his Crib, to see with our eyes, and touch with our hands, this sweet Fruit of eternal Life. May it be granted us to contemplate the sweet Face of Him, that is our Saviour and thy Friend ; to feel the throbs of that Heart, which loves both thee and us — and which thou didst see wounded by the Spear, on Calvary. It is good for us to fix ourselves here near the Crib of our Jesus, and share in the graces he there lavishes, and learn, as thou didst, the grand lesson of this Child's simplicity: — thy prayers must get us all this.
Then too, as Son and Guardian of Mary, thou hast to present us to thine own and our Mother. Ask her to give us somewhat of the tender love wherewith she watches over the Crib of her Divine Son ; to see in us the Brothers of that Child she bore ; and to admit us to a share of the maternal affection she had for thee, the favoured confidant of the secrets of her Jesus.
We also pray to thee, 0 holy Apostle ! for the Church of God. She was planted and watered by thy labours, embalmed with the celestial fragrance of thy virtues, and illumined by thy sublime teachings ; — pray now, that these graces may bring forth their fruit, and that, to the end of her pilgrimage, faith may be firm, the love of Jesus fervent, and christian morals pure and holy. Thou tellest us, in thy Gospel, of a saying of thy Divine Master : / will not now call you ray Servants, but my Friends : pray, dear Saint, that there may come to this, from
1 Is. i. 3. 2 I. St. John, i. ]. 3 St. John, xv. 15. our hearts and lips, a response of love and courage, telling our Emmanuel, that, like thyself, we will follow him whithersoever he leads us.
Let us, on this second day after our Divine Infant's Birth, meditate upon the Sleep he deigns to take. Let us consider how this God of all goodness, who has come down from heaven to invite his creature man to come to him and seek rest for his soul — seeks rest himself in our earthly home, and sanctifies, by his own divine Sleep, that rest, which to us is a necessity. We have just been dwelling, with delighted devotion, on the thought of his offering his Breast as a resting-place for the Beloved Disciple, and for all souls that imitate John in their love and devotedness : now, let us look at this our God, sweetly sleeping in his humble Crib, or on his Mother's lap.
St. Alphonsus Liguori, in one of his delicious Canticles, thus describes the Sleep of Jesus and the enraptured love of the Mother :
Mary sings — the ravish'd heavens Hush the music of their spheres ;
Soft her voice, her beauty fairer Than the glancing stars appears :
While to Jesus slumbering nigh,
Thus she sings her lullaby.
Sleep my Babe ! my God ! my Treasure !
Gently sleep : but ah ! the sight With its beauty so transports me,
I am dying of delight : Thou canst not thy Mother see, Yet thou breathest flames to me.
If within your lids unfolded,
Slumbering eyes ! you seem so fair ;
When upon my gaze you open,
How shall I your beauty bear ? Ah ! I tremble when you wake, Lest my heart with love should break.
Cheeks than sweetest roses sweeter, Mouth where lurks a smile divine —
Though the kiss my Babe should waken, I must press those lips to mine.
Pardon, Dearest, if I say,
Mother's love will take no nay.
As she ceased, the gentle Virgin Clasped the Infant to her breast,
And upon his radiant forehead Many a loving kiss impress'd :
Jesus woke, and on her face
Fixed a look of heavenly grace.
Ah ! that look, those eyes, that beauty, How they pierce the Mother's heart ;
Shafts of love from every feature Through her gentle bosom dart.
Heart of stone ! can I behold
Mary's love, and still be cold ?
Where, my soul ! thy sense, thy reason ?
When will these delays be o'er ? All things else, how fair so ever,
Are but smoke : — resist no more ! Yes ! 'tis done ! I yield my arms Captive to those double charms.
If, alas, 0 heavenly beauty !
Now so late those charms I learn, Now at least, and ever, ever,
With thy love my heart will burn For the Mother and the Child, Rose and Lily undefiled.
Plant and fruit, and fruit and blossom, I am theirs, and they are mine ;
For no other prize I labour, For no other bliss I pine ;
Love can every pain requite,
Love alone is full delight.
Let us, then, adore the Divine Babe in this state of Sleep, to which he voluntarily subjects himself,
1 Translation by the Very B,ev. original :
Fermarono i cieli La loro armonia, Cantando Maria La nanna a Gesu.
Con voce divina La Virgine bella, Piu vaga che stella, Diceva cosi :
Mio figlio, mio Dio, Mio caro tesoro, Tu dormi, ed io moro Per tanta belta\
Dormendo, mio bene, Tua Madre non miri, Ma l'aura che spiri, E foco per me.
Cogli occhi serrati Voi pur mi f erite ; Or quando li aprite, Per me che sara ?
Le guance di rose Mi rubano il core : 0 Dio ! che si more Quest' alma per te.
Mi sf orza a baciarti Un labbro si raro :
It. A. Coffin. — We subjoin the
Perdonami, caro, Non posso piu, no.
Si tacque, ed al petto, Stringendo il Bambino, Al volto divino Un baci dond.
Si desta il diletto ; E tutto amoroso, Con occhio vezzoso La Madre guardo.
Ah Dio ! ch'alla Madre Quegli occhi, quel guardo Fu strale, fu dardo, Che l'alma feri.
E tu non languisci, O dur' alma mia, Vedendo Maria Languir per Gesu.
Se tardi v'amai, Bellezze divine, Ormai senza fine Per voi arderd.
II Figlio e la Madre, La Madre col Figlio, La rosa col giglio Quest' alma vorrii. and contrast it with the cruel fatigues, which are one day to be His. When he is grown up, and come to the age of manhood, he will go through every toil and suffering in search of us his Lost Sheep. But these first slumbers shall not be troubled by anything of ours, which could pain this loving wakeful Heart ; and the Blessed Mother shall not be disturbed in the blissful contemplation of her Sleeping Child, over whom she is, at a future time, to shed such bitter tears. The day is not far distant, when he will say : The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests ; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.
" Christ has had three resting-places," says Peter of Celles. " The first was in the Bosom of his Eternal " Father. He says : I am in the Father, and the " Father is in nie. What repose could be compared " to this, of the Father's complacency in the Son, and " the Son's complacency in the Father ? It is a " mutual and ineffable love, and they are happy in " the union. But, whilst maintaining this place of his 11 eternal rest, the Son of God has sought a second, in " the womb of the Virgin Mary. He overshadowed " her with the Holy Ghost, and slept a long sleep in " her chaste womb, whilst his Body was there being " formed. The holy Virgin troubled not the sleep of " her Child : she kept all the powers of her soul in a " silence like that of heaven ; and, rapt in self-con- " templation, she heard mysteries which it is not " permitted to man to utter. The third resting-place " of Christ is in man. Jesus dwells in a heart that " is purified by faith, enlarged by charity, raised above " Earth by contemplation, and is renewed by the Holy " Ghost. Such a heart as this offers to Jesus not an " earthly but a heavenly dwelling ; and the Child,
1 St. Matth. viii. 20. 2 St. John, xiv. 11.
" who is born unto us, will not refuse to enter it, and " take his rest within it."1
To this Eternal Word, made Flesh for our salvation, let us offer up this Hymn of our great ecclesiastical Poet, Prudentius.
HYMN.
Born from the bosom of the Father before the world began, his name is Alpha and Omega. He is the beginning and end of all things present, past, and future.
He commanded and they were created, he spoke and they were made : earth, heaven, and sea — the triple kingdom — and all things that are in them, under the sun and moon.
He clothes himself with a frail Body, and with members subject to death ; lest the human race, the offspring of Adam, should perish together with their first Parent, whom a terrible sentence had condemned to the depth of hell.
O that happy Birth, when a Virgin-Mother, having conceived of the Holy Ghost, brought forth the Child that was our salvation ; and the Babe, the Redeemer of the world, showed unto us his divine Face !
Let high heaven sing, and sing all ye Angels ! Let every living creature sing to the praise of God ! Let every tongue proclaim it, and every
Corde natus ex parentis Ante mundi exordium A et 0 cognominatus : Ipse fons et clausula Omnium quae sunt, fuerunt, Quaeque post futura sunt.
Ipse jussit, et creata, Dixit ipse, et facta sunt ; Terra, ccelum, fossa ponti, Trina rerum machina, Quaeque in his vigent sub alto Solis et lunae globo.
Corporis formam caduci, Membra morti obnoxia Induit, ne gens periret Primoplasti ex germine, Merserat quern lex profundo Noxialis Tartaro.
0 beatus ortus ille, Virgo cum puerpera Edidit nostram salutem, Fceta Sancto Spiritu, Et puer Redemptor orbis Os sacratum protulit.
Psallat altitudo coeli, Psallite, omnes Angeli, Quidquid est virtutis us- quam, Psallat in laudem Dei :
1 Fourth Sermon On our Lord's Nativity.
CHEISTMAS.
Nulla linguarum silescat, Vox et omnis consonet.
Ecce quern vates vetustis Concinebant sseculis, Quern Prophetarum fideles Paginse spoponderant, Emicat promissus olim : Cuncta collaudent eum.
Te senes et te juventus, Parvulorum te chorus, Turba matrum, virginum- que, Simplices puellulse, Voce Concordes pudicis Perstrepant concentibus.
Fluminum lapsus, et unda Littorum crepidines, Imber, sestus, nix, pruinse, Silva, et aura, nox, dies, Omnibus te concelebrent Saeculorum sseculis.
Amen. voice join in the hymn of praise.
Behold the Promised Messias, of whom sang the Seers in the ancient times, and whom the Prophets foretold in their truthful oracles ! Praise be to him from every creature.
May the aged, and the young, and children, mothers, and virgins, and innocent maidens, sing to thee, O Jesus ! and with concordant voice chastely hymn thy praise !
May the flowing river and the sea-shore wave, rain and heat, snow and frost, forest and zephyr, day and night, for ever and for ever give thee praise.
Amen.
Let us now honour and invoke the ever Blessed and most Merciful Mother of our God, and use the words of this beautiful Hymn of the ancient Roman- French Missals :
HYMN.
Lsetare, puerpera, LaBto puerperio, Cujus casta viscera Fcecundantur Filio.
Lacte fluunt ubera Cum pudoris lilio ; Membra foves tenera, Virgo, lacte proprio.
Patris Unigenitus, Per quern fecit ssecula, Hie degit humanitus, Sub Matre paupercula.
Kejoice, O Virgin-Mother ! in thy joy-giving delivery, for thy chaste womb was made fruitful of the very Son of God.
O wondrous sight — Jesus feeding from the Lily of Purity ! Yea, most pure Virgin, thou f eedest at thy breasts his infant life.
The Only Begotten of the Father, by whom he made this world, is dwelling here the Babe of a poor Mother.
There, lie is feeding the holy Angels with joy : — here, he is in hunger and thirst, from his cradle.
There, he holds all things in subjection : — here, he is in subjection to a Mother. There, he commands ; — here, he obeys his Handmaid.
There, he is seated on the throne of highest majesty : — here, he is lying swathed and weeping in a manger.
Think on this, O man ! and to thy memory recall these stupendous works of God's mercy.
And though thy sins be great, yet canst thou not despair, for the proofs thou seest here of Jesus' love speak but of pardon.
Thou wouldst have pardon 1 fly to the Mother for protection, for she holds on her lap the Infinite Fountain of Mercy.
Often bend thy knee before her, and, with hopeful love, salute her thus : Hail ! full of grace !
As thou, of old, didst feed thy Jesus, and stay his infant tears ; so now, dear Mother, appease him angered by our sins.
Hear, 0 Jesus ! thy sweet Mother's prayers, and, with an eye of pity, look upon us sinners ! Correct and change us, and make us worthy to be citizens of heaven, j
Amen.
Ibi sanctos reficit Angelos laetitia : Hie sitit et esurit Degens ab infantia.
Ibi regit omnia, Hie a Matre regitur : Ibi dat imperia, Hie ancillse subditur.
Ibi summi culminis Residet in solio ; Hie ligatus fasciis Vagit in prassepio.
O homo ! considera, Eevocans memoriae, Quanta sint haec opera Divinae clementiae.
Non desperes veniam, Si multum deliqueris, Ubi tot insignia Charitatis videris.
Sub Matris refugio Fuge, causa veniae : Nam tenet in gremio Fontem indulgentiae.
Hanc salutes saepius Cum spei fiducia, Dicens, flexis genibus : Ave plena gratia.
Quondam flentis lacrymas Sedabas uberibus : Nunc iratum mitigas Pro nostris excessibus.
Jesu, lapsos respice, Piae Matris precibus ; Emendatos efiice Dignos cceli civibus.
Amen.
December 28. THE HOLY INNOCENTS.
The feast of the beloved Disciple is followed by that of the Holy Innocents. The Crib of Jesus — where we have already met and venerated the Prince of Martyrs and the Eagle of Patmos — has to-day standing round it a lovely choir of little Children, clad in snow-white robes, and holding green branches in their hands. The Divine Babe smiles upon them — he is their King ; and these Innocents are smiling upon the Church of God. Courage and Fidelity first led us to the Crib; Innocence now comes, and bids us tarry there.
Herod intended to include the Son of God amongst the murdered Babes of Bethlehem. The Daughters of Rachel wept over their little ones, and the land streamed with blood ; but, the Tyrant's policy can do no more : — it cannot reach Jesus, and its whole plot ends in recruiting an immense army of Martyrs for heaven. These Children were not capable ' of knowing what an honour it was for them, to be made victims for the sake of the Saviour of the world ; but, the very first instant after their immolation, and all was revealed to them : they had gone through this world without knowing it, and now that they know it, they possess an infinitely better. God showed here the riches of his mercy — he asks of them but a momentary suffering, and that over, they wake up in Abraham's Bosom : no further trial awaits them, they are in spotless innocence, and the
Chapter 15 of 24