understand that They are not the vine and the husbandman, after the manner of a vine, and the husbandman that from without doth care for and keep it, but after the manner of a vine and Him That from within doth make it to bring forth fruit. For "neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth but God that giveth the increase." (1 Cor. iii. 7.) But Christ is God, for "the Word was God." (John i. 1.) Therefore He and the Father are one: and, albeit "the Word was made flesh," (John i. 14), which, before, He was not, He ceased not to be still That Which He was. : 3 Ebore antiquo. The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain. "Coral" is taken from Gesenius, and seems here at least the most appropriate word, the description being apparently meant to depict the beautiful pink and white of youth. + Cf. Hos. xiv. 5, Ecclus. xxiv. 20. 5 Matth. xiii. 43. THE Chapter. (Wisd. v. 1.) HE righteous shall stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted them, and made no account of their labours. Hymn for Apostles and Evangelists.1 They in His Body see the Wounds, O Christ! Thou King most merciful! Keep us, O JESU! from the death Praise to the Father, and the Son, Hymn for one Martyr.1 MARTYR of unconquer'd might! Follower of th' Încarnate Son! By the virtue of thy prayer, Glory to th' Incarnate Son, Who from death immortal rose; Glory to the Trine in One, While the flood of ages flows. Amen. Hymn for many Martyrs, "O Thou the Martyrs' glorious King," as at First Vespers. Verse. Precious in the sight of the LORD-Alleluia. Answer. Is the death of His Saints. Alleluia. Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias. Come forth, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, * and behold the Martyrs with the crowns wherewith the Lord crowned them, in the day of His feasting and of His gladness. Alleluia, Alleluia. The Prayers for the Apostles and Evangelists are all special. 1. Prayer for one Martyr, who was a Bishop. MERCIFULLY consider our the weakness, O Almighty God, and, whereas by the burden of our sins we are sore let and hindered, may it please Thee, that prayers of Thy blessed and glorious Martyr and Bishop (here insert his name) may shield us. Through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. 2. Another Prayer for the same. GOD, Who year by year dost gladden us by the solemn feast-day of Thy blessed Martyr and Bishop, (here insert his name,) mercifully grant, that we who keep his birthday, may ever feel the joyful effects of his protection. Through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. 3. Prayer for a Martyr not a Bishop. GRANT, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we who 1 Translation by the Rev. E. Caswall. keep the birthday of Thy blessed Martyr, (here insert his name,) may be so holpen by his prayers, that we may ever grow more and more in love toward Thy holy Name. Through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. 4. Another for the same. GRACIOUSLY hear us, we be seech Thee, O Almighty God, and, at the petition of Thy blessed Martyr, (here insert his name,) be mercifully pleased to deliver us from all things which may hurt our bodies, and from all evil thoughts which may defile our souls. Through our Lord JESUS Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. 7. Another for the same. GOD, Who, year by year, dost gladden us by the solemn feast-day of Thy holy Martyrs, (here insert their names,) mercifully grant, that we who rejoice because of their worthy deeds, may be also stirred up to follow after their example. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. PRIME. Antiphon. Thy Saints, O Lord, &c., (First Antiphon at Lauds.) Chapter at the end. (Rom. viii. 28.) of the Holy Ghost, one God, WE know that all things work world without end. Amen. together for good to them that love God, to them who are called to be Saints according to His purpose. TERCE. Antiphon. In the heavenly kingdoms, &c., (Second Antiphon at Lauds.) Chapter. The righteous shall stand, &c., (from Lauds.) Short Responsory. O ye Saints and righteous, rejoice in the Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia. Answer. O ye Saints and righteous, rejoice in the Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia. Verse. God hath chosen you for His own inheritance. Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia. Verse. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Answer. O ye Saints and righteous, rejoice in the Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia. Verse. The everlasting light shall shine upon Thy Saints, O Lord-Alleluia. Answer. Even unto everlasting. Alleluia. Prayer as at Lauds. SEXT. Antiphon. In the shadow, &c., (Third Antiphon at Lauds.) Chapter. (Wisd. v. 5.) BEHOLD, how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the Saints. Short Responsory. The everlasting light shall shine upon Thy Saints, O Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia. Answer. The everlasting light shall shine upon Thy Saints, O Lord-Alleluia, Alleluia. Verse. Even unto everlasting. Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia. Verse. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Answer. The everlasting light shall shine upon Thy Saints, O Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia. Verse. Everlasting joy upon their heads. Alleluia. Answer. They shall obtain joy and gladness. Alleluia. Prayer as at Lauds. NONE. Antiphon. The righteous, &c., (Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.) Chapter as at the end of Prime. Short Responsory. Everlasting joy upon their heads. Alleluia, Alleluia. Answer. Everlasting joy upon their heads. Alleluia, Alleluia. Verse. They shall obtain joy and gladness. Answer. Alleluia, Alleluia. Verse. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Answer. Everlasting joy upon their heads. Alleluia, Alleluia. Verse. Precious in the sight of the LORD-Alleluia. Answer. Is the death of His Saints. Alleluia. Prayer as at Lauds. SECOND VESPERS. All as at First Vespers, except the following: The Psalms for Apostles and Evangelists are: Ps. cix. The LORD said, &c., (p. 146.) Ps. cxii. Praise the LORD, &c., (p. 148.) Ps. cxv. I believed, &c., (p. 153.) Ps. cxxv. When the LORD turned, &c., (p. 158.) Ps. cxxxviii. O LORD, Thou hast searched me, &c., (p. 165.) The Psalms for one or many Martyrs are the same as on Sundays, except the last, which is: Ps. cxv. I believed, &c., (p. 153.) Verse. Precious in the sight of the LORD-Alleluia. Answer. Is the death of His Saints. Alleluia. THE COMMON OF SAINTS. Other Lessons for the Feasts of Martyrs in Easter-tide. SECOND NOCTURN. Fourth Lesson. The Lesson is taken from the Epistle of St. Cyprian, Bishop [of Carthage,] and himself a Martyr, to the Martyrs and Confessors. (Bk. ii. ep. 6.) [OW shall I praise you, O How Martyrs so brilliantly victorious? Can the voice of man's praise add anything to the glory of your manful heart and unshaken faithfulness? Ye have borne all the hardness of the tor ment, and have attained unto the excellent height of glory: the tormentors have not worn you out, nay, ye rather have worn out the tormentors. When they that kill the body would give you no rest from suffering, ye suffered until ye gained the crown. the torment waxing still more dread, waxed not to the casting down of your strong faith, but to the sooner sending God's men home to God. THE Fifth Lesson. And HEY that stood by looked in wonder at your heavenly conflict, that battle of God, that wrestling of spirit, that combat of Christ. There they saw His servants standing with voice unshaken, with spirit unbroken, strong in God's strength, naked indeed, as to the arms of this world, but clothed on with the armour of God, and equipped with the fiery weapons of faith. There they that were tormented stood braver than they that tormented them. Their bruised and mangled bodies overcame the instruments of cruelty that bruised and mangled them. The bloody stripes, so often laid on, could not beat down the impregnable castle of their faith, even when the covering of their bowels was broken, and that which was tormented in God's servants was no longer limbs but wounds. The blood that ran down, ran down to quench the rage of persecution, noble blood, that can put out the flames and fire of hell. Sixth Lesson. WHAT a spectacle was that in the eyes of the Lord! O how noble! O how mighty! O how precious in the sight of God were His soldiers' loyalty and faithfulness! Even as it is written in the Psalms, the Holy Ghost therein at once speaking to us and warning us : 66 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His Saints." O what a precious death is his, who maketh purchase of life that can never die, at the price of his own blood, and seizeth on the crown, when courage hath no more left to meet ! O how joyful was Christ! How gladly fought He in such servants as these, in these how gladly did He triumph, the Keeper of their faith, and, in the end, to them how gladly did He give that reward which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it! (Apoc. ii. 17.) He it was, Who was there when they fought,-He it was, Who raised them up to be the holy Name,-He, Who champions and defenders of His the strength,-He, Who nerved gave them them. He, That by death hath 1 Who were then suffering in the persecution of Decius. |