AND if you wish to see that it was so in actual fact, read the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. You will at once observe that often as the Jewish people rose against the Apostles and gnashed their teeth at them, they, by imitating the simplicity of the dove, and replying with judicious moderation, overcame their wrath, quelled their rage, and checked their attack. For when the Jews said, Did not straitly command you that ye should not teach in this Name? although they might have wrought countless miracles, they neither said nor did anything harsh, but, replying with the utmost meekness, made answer, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. You have observed the simplicity of the dove: now behold the wisdom we preached of the serpent. We cannot but speak, say they, the things which we have seen and heard. [Ry. Holy Paul the Apostle, preacher of the truth, and teacher of the Gentiles, thou pleadest for us with God Who chose thee. . That we may be found worthy of the grace of God. Thou. Glory. Thou.] Te Deum. p. 16. JULY 1. OCTAVE OF S. JOHN BAPTIST. All is said as on the festival, p. xxxi, except the Lessons of the 1st Nocturn, which are read from the occurrent Scripture, and those of the 2nd and 3rd | Nocturn, as below. SECOND NOCturn. A Sermon of S. Maximus the Bishop. Homily 3 on the Nativity of S. John Baptist. 4 Lesson IV. THE natural birth of the venerable S. John Baptist, dear brethren, hath consecrated the festivity of this day. He was brought into this world by heavenly dispensation, not only that he himself might be exalted with the glory of a Prophet, but also that the declarations of all the Prophets might be confirmed by him. It is not unfit that we should venerate him with peculiar honour, who by some special grace was the last who prophesied concerning the Saviour of the world, in order that he might be the first who should shew Him openly. For he is the only one of the Prophets who was worthy to see Jesus Christ our Lord with his own eyes, and to announce Him present, Whose coming others had known as yet afar off. Ry. His name shall be. p. xxxiii. 5 Lesson V. 33 THIS is he whom the Prophet Isaiah, inspired by God, prophetically announces, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the How fitly, dear way of the Lord. brethren, blessed John is announced as a voice, who was sent as a herald and witness of the heavenly Word! This is he whose birth and name and merit were foretold by the Angel Gabriel. This is he who by the celestial judgment is preferred before all mortals, the Lord saying: Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. How beautifully it is said, that there is none greater among those who are born of women, that is, according to the course of nature; for He was in every way greater than John Who was born of the Virgin. 33 Ry. He shall go. p. xxxiii. Lesson VI. HAVING observed these things, con sider, beloved, how much reverence and devotion we owe to him; who was so honourable that he was foretold by the Spirit, promised by the Angel, praised by the Lord, and consecrated by the perpetual glory of a holy death. For it was meet that a wonderful life should follow his mystical birth, and that a death devoted to God should close his holy and perfect life. Most rightly, therefore, brethren, the Church of Christ, through the whole world, celebrates his birth to-day with most joyful festivity, who revealed to mortals the eternal Joy present among men, and was a faithful witness to the wondering world. 34 Ry. Elisabeth, the wife. p. xxxiv. THIRD NOCTURN. Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to S. Luke. Lesson VII. Chap. i. Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her. And that which follows. A Homily of S. Ambrose the Bishop. Book II. on S. Luke 1. HIS name, she said, is John. Elisa beth, who had prophesied concerning Christ, could not have been ignorant of what had been before appointed by the Lord. It is well added, Festival of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Inv. Jesus, born of Mary: * O come let us worship. Venite. Ps. xcv. p. 3. 95 HYMN. Mundi salus affutura. LESS'D that young and holy Virgin, that none of his kindred was called by B Destined Mother of our God: this name, that thou mayest understand that it was not the name of a family, but of the Prophet. Zacharias Bright her gentle face with beauty, To her wondering kinsfolk shewed. (d) Seed, the wily serpent bruising, Burning bush, yet unconsumed; Fleece, bedewed with heavenly vapour, Rod, that mystically bloomed; Maiden Mary, ever blessed, By the Holy Ghost illumed. Rod of Jesse, brightly budding, Opened once for sinners' need; Mountain, whence the stone of Daniel Sin-destroying doth proceed. Thus to earth, in wondrous manner, God Himself has deigned to come, In the bosom of a Virgin Chaste and holy, has a home: Earth brings forth a mighty Saviour, For her God she maketh room. Humbly goes the fervent maiden, Happy home of Zachariah! Chosen for such commune rare: King and subject, Lord and servant, In the flesh lie hidden there. Praise and glory to the Father, By whose breath we live and move. Amen. I Of the Song of Songs. 2 Lesson I. Chap. ii. AM the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up nor awake my Love, till He please. R. Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away, for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone: * the voice of the turtle is heard in Our land. V. And Mary entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. The. 2 Lesson II. THE voice of my Beloved! behold He cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. Pss. as in the Common of the Blessed My Beloved is like a roe or a young Virgin, p. 139. FIRST NOCTURN. Ant. 1. The Father hath put all things under the Son of this Mother: out of the mouth of very babes hath He perfected praise. Ant. 2. The sun beams forth from his tabernacle: while the Bridegroom tarrieth in His chamber. Ant. 3. The earth began to yield fruit unto the Lord: when the salutation of Mary had sounded. y. Full of grace are thy lips. Ry. Because God hath blessed thee for ever. hart: behold, He standeth behind our wall, He looketh forth at the windows, shewing Himself through the lattice. My Beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away; for, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in Our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Ry. Who is this, that cometh forth as the sun, comely as Jerusalem? * The daughters of Sion saw her and blessed her, yea, the queens praised her. . And like a day in spring she was clustered about with flowers of roses, and lilies of the valley. The. 3 Lesson III. ARISE, My love, My fair one, and came first to His friend John, while he was yet in his mother's womb. Whom John miraculously perceiving, shaking the bounds of nature, crieth out: I behold the Lord, Who hath imposed bounds to nature, and I wait not the time of birth: a period of nine months is not needful to me: in me is that which is eternal: I will issue from this dark tabernacle, and preach succinctly the knowledge of marvellous things. I am Christ. I am a trumpet. I will proa sign: I will signify the Advent of claim the dispensation of the Incar come away. O My dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes. My Be-nate Son of God. loved is mine, and I am His: He feedeth among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my Beloved, and be Thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. * Ry. The woman stricken in years called the door of hope blessed; whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. y. Blessed art thou that believedst: that which thou hast heard shall be fulfilled in thee: and this is the sign thereof. For. Glory. The. the mountains, skipping upon the hills. Rz. Behold, He cometh, leaping upon My Beloved is like a roe or a young hart. V. He rejoiceth as a giant to run his course: He goeth forth from Beloved. the uttermost part of the heaven. My 5 Lesson V. SEE, O beloved, how new and admirable a mystery is this. Not yet is he born, and he speaketh by leaping: not yet appeareth he, and yet giveth notice: not yet may he cry out, and yet he is heard by acts: not yet leads he life, and yet preaches God: not yet sees light, yet points out the to forerun: before the Present God he Sun: not yet is born, and yet is eager cannot contain himself; he cannot abide the limits of nature, but struggles to ing Saviour. He is here, saith he, Who come forth, and foreshew the approachlooses bonds: and why should I sit bound? Cometh the Word by Whom all things are, and why should I be forced to tarry? I go, I forerun; and preach to all: Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sins of the world. God hath regarded the lowliness of Lesson of the Holy Gospel according His handmaiden. And. 6 Lesson VI. BUT tell us, O John, if thou art now shrouded in that darkness, how perceivest thou and hearest? how contemplatest those things divine? how leapest thou and exultest? Great, quoth he, is this mystery, and remote from human comprehension. A new thing may well come to pass in honour of Him Who maketh all things new. I see, because the Sun of Righteousness ariseth. Mine ears hear, because the Voice of the Great Word is come. I cry out, because I behold the Onlybegotten of the Father clothed in human flesh. I exult, because I see Him taking the form of man, that blessing may be on all men. I leap up, because I consider the Redeemer of the world Incarnate. I go before His coming, and after a certain manner declare Him to you. Ry. Blessed art thou that believedst, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told thee from the Lord and Mary said, * My soul doth magnify the Lord. . O come hither, and hearken, and I will tell you what God hath done for my soul. My soul. Glory. My soul. THIRD NOCTURN. Ant. 1. Through thee, O Mother, all the whole earth doth sing a new song: praising God, Who hath done in thee marvellous things. Ant. 2. By thee light is sprung up for the righteous, and joyful gladness for such as are truehearted: Sion heard of it, and rejoiced; and the daughters of Judah were glad. Ant. 3. When the voice of the Virgin's salutation sounded in the ears of the aged woman: the Lord declared His salvation. . God shall help her. Ry. And that right early. to S. Luke. AT that time: Mary arose and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And that which follows. A Homily of S. Ambrose the Bishop. Book 2. Comm. on S. Luke. c. 1. It is to be noticed how the greater comes to the lesser, that the lesser may be assisted: Mary to Elisabeth, Christ to John. After a while, to sanctify John's baptism, the Lord shall come to baptism. Now cometh Mary, and the grace of the Divine Presence is presently declared. See the distinction, and the singular propriety of the words. Elisabeth first heard the voice, but John first felt the grace. She heard according to the order of nature, he exulted by reason of the mystery. She perceived the coming of Mary, he, the coming of the Lord. Grace speaketh by her, and worketh in him. The infant exulteth, the mother is filled. Not sooner is the mother filled than the son: but when the son is filled with the Holy Ghost, then is the mother likewise filled. Ry. From Thee cometh victory, from Thee cometh wisdom: * and Thine is the glory, and I am Thy servant. . Blessed art Thou, Who hast given S me wisdom. And. |