133 Appendix. In case the Roman use be followed, and the Octave of SS. Peter and Paul be kept instead of that of the Visitation, here follow the Lessons. (JULY 3. turned unto God, but only humble you as it did him: I, he says, am the least of the Apostles, that am not meet to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. So also let us be humbled under the mighty hand of God, and take courage, because we have been washed, and have been sanctified. FIFTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF SS. also have obtained mercy, PETER AND PAUL. In the First Nocturn, Lessons of the And this indeed is for all of us, since occurrent Scripture. we have all sinned, and fallen short of this glory of God. SECOND NOCTURN. A Sermon of S. Bernard the Abbot. Lesson IV. WITH good reason, brethren, has Mother Church assigned to the holy Apostles what we read in the Book of Wisdom. These were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been for gotten: with their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance. For they were clearly merciful men, either because they obtained mercy, or because they were full of mercy, or because they were mercifully given by God to us. And see what mercy they obtained. Ask Paul concerning himself, or rather listen to him voluntarily confessing: I, who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy. Ry. Thou art Peter. p. xlii. Lesson V. Ry. Thou art shepherd. p. xliii. Lesson VI. BUT, Ry. Peter, lovest thou Me? p. xliii. THIRD NOCTURN. Lessons of the Common of Apostles, Behold, we have left all, p. 82. RyRy. of the festival. JULY 4. ᎡᎬ ECEIVE then, my brethren, thus SIXTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF SS. much of consolation and comfort from the case of the blessed Paul, that the remembrance of past sins should not torment too much those already PETER AND PAUL. In the First Nocturn, Lessons of the occurrent Scripture. SECOND NOCTURN. A Lesson of S. Bernard the Abbot. Lesson IV. WE know that these men neither lived for themselves, nor died for themselves, but for Him Who died for them: or rather, for all of us, because of Him. For of how much advantage will their righteousness be to us, when, as has been shewn, their sins have so much profited? Their life, their doctrine, and even their death itself, tells for us. Ry. Thou art Peter. p. xlii. followed Thee; what shall we have therefore? And that which follows. A Homily of Venerable Bede the On the birthday of S. Benedict. TWO are the orders of the elect_in shall judge with the Lord, and of the future judgment: those who whom mention is made in this place: who forsook all, and followed Him; and those who shall be judged by the Lord: who forsook not in such wise their whole possessions, but yet were careful to give daily alms of their goods to Christ's poor: wherefore in the judgment they shall hear these words: Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink. Ry. Whom do men say. p. xliv. couldst still find somewhat to add: BUT even the boldness which they gave us Lesson VI. 43 Lesson VIII. we also understand, by the Lord's words, that there are two orders of the reprobate: one consisting of those who, being initiated into the mysteries of the Christian faith, contemn the works of faith: of whom in the judgment it is witnessed: Depart from Me, ye wicked, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat. R. Lord, if it be Thou. p. xliv. Lesson IX. THE other consists of those who either never accepted the faith and mysteries of Christ, or, having accepted them, deserted them through apostasy of whom He saith: He that believeth not, is judged already; because he believeth not on the Onlybegotten Son of God. Ry. Whatsoever thou shalt bind. p. xliv. Te Deum. p. 16. JULY 5. their prayers cast down Simon Magus SEVENTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF SS. from his height in the air with a head PETER AND PAUL. In the First Nocturn, Lessons of the occurrent Scripture. SECOND NOCTURN. long fall. Ry. Thou art shepherd. p. xliii.45 Lesson VI. FOR while this Simon said that he was Christ, and declared him A Sermon of S. Maximus the Bishop. self able to ascend as a son to his father Lesson IV. LE ET us not think, dear brethren, that it was without a cause that those most glorious princes of the Christian faith, Peter and Paul, endured the sentence of one tyrant in one day, and in one place. They suffered in one day that they might come together to Christ: in one place, that neither might be wanting to Rome; under one persecutor, that equal cruelty might bind them both. I suppose, therefore, that the day was appointed for their merit, the place for their glory, the persecutor for their virtue. In what place then did they suffer martyrdom? In that city of Rome, which holds the first and highest place among nations: evidently in order that, where the chief seat of superstition was, there the chief vessels of holiness might rest; and that where the princes of the Gentiles dwelt, there the princes of the Church might die. Ry. Thou art Peter. p. xlii.42 Lesson V. of BY Y this we may understand what were the merits of Peter and Paul: that while the Lord made the region of the East illustrious with His own Passion, He glorified the region of the West with the blood His Apostles, that it might be the less inferior to the East. And although His Passion is sufficient for our salvation, yet their martyrdom is also profitable to us as an example. On this day, therefore, the blessed Apostles poured forth their blood. But let us see the cause wherefore by flying, and, suddenly lifted up by magic arts, began to fly; Peter kneeling down prayed to the Lord, and conquered by his holy prayer this magical lightness. For the prayer ascended to the Lord before the flight, and the righteous petition reached Him before the impious presumption: Peter, kneeling on the earth, obtained what he asked, sooner than Simon reached the sky whither he was directing his course. Then, therefore, Peter drew him down as one bound from the height of the air, and he striking in his fall upon a certain stone broke his legs; and this to the shame of what he had done, that he who a little before had attempted to fly, should suddenly become unable to walk; and that he who had taken to himself wings, should lose his feet. Ry. Peter, lovest thou Me? p. xliii.43 In the Third Nocturn, Homily on the Gospel, Behold, we have forsaken, of the Common, p. 82.) they suffered these things: namely MARGARET, who in the East is that among other miracles, they by called Marina, born at Antioch THEN said the prefect, The two first answers befit thee; the third is a folly. For what can be more absurd than that any should make to themselves a God out of one that was crucified? To whom the Virgin : Whence, I pray thee, didst thou learn that the Lord Jesus was crucified? The prefect answered, Out of the books of the Christians. Margaret replied, And is this wisdom, that, when in the same books the Passion and the Glory of Christ are testified, ye should believe one and reject the other? TE 6 Lesson VI. HE prefect, inflamed with vehement anger, tried all kinds of torments on that holy body. Finally, these having been overcome, the Virgin was beheaded; and that spirit, victor through so many conflicts, was received by her Lord. but little difference between the mustard seed and the leaven, so here also with these two parables, that of the treasure and that of the pearl; for of course this is denoted by both, that we should value the Gospel above all things. The former, truly, of the leaven and the mustard seed were spoken with reference to the power of the Gospel, and its certain prevalence over the world; but these declare its value and great price. For as it spreads itself like mustard seed, and prevails like leaven, so it is precious like a pearl, and supplies full abundance like a treasure. WE Lesson III. are then to learn not only this, that we ought to strip ourselves Gospel, but also that we are to do it of everything else, and cling to the ing himself of his goods, he is to know joyfully; and when a man is despoilthat the transaction is gain, and not loss. Seest thou how the Gospel is hid in the world, and also good things in the Gospel? Except thou sell all, thou buy est not; except thou have such an anxious and seeking soul, thou findest not. Two things, therefore, are needful abstinence from worldly saith: One seeking goodly pearls, concerns, and watchfulness. For He who when he had found one pearl of great price, sold all, and bought it. For the Truth is one, and not in many divisions. Lesson IX. AND just as he who hath the pearl knows indeed himself that he is rich, but others often know not that he is holding it in his hand, (for it hath no material bulkiness,) so also with the Gospel: they that have hold of it know that they are rich, but un A Homily of S. John Chrysostom the believers, knowing nothing of this trea Bishop. Just as in the former place there is sure, are also ignorant of our wealth. Te Deum. p. 16. YHRIST, from the Father sent to bring us healing, Truest Physician, stronger than the grave, Look on Thy people suppliantly kneeling, Hearken and save. Lo, unto Thee we humbly make petition Ant. 2. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Quare fremuerunt. Ps. ii. p. 6. Ant. 3. All they that had any sick, brought them unto Jesus: and they were healed. Domine, quid multiplicati? Ps. iii. p. 6. . He laid His hands on every one of them. Ry. And healed them. 53 Lesson I. Isaiah liii. WHO hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the For all whom sickness grieveth with its Lord revealed? For He shall grow up pain, In mercy from their suffering condition Thou Who didst quickly cure of burning fever before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our did sorrows: yet we esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Ry. Lord, my servant lieth at home, sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. * Verily, I say unto thee, I will come and heal him. y. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Verily. 2 Lesson II. UT He was wounded for our transB gressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not |