AND he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. Ry. Saul went therefore, driven by fury, breathing forth fierce poison, * and thirsted continually for the blood of the Saints. y. Through all Judæa he was driven by his madness, that he might tear Christ's members upon earth. And. Lesson III. Lesson I. Chap. ix. AN ND Saul, yet breathing out against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. threatenings and slaughter AND there was a certain disciple at Ry. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. . And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name | Apostle, from being the persecutor of before the Gentiles, and kings, and the Christians, is made the preacher the children of Israel: for I will shew of Christ. Christ cast down a perhim how great things he must suffer secutor that He might make a doctor for My Name's sake. of the Church: wounding him and healing: slaying and quickening: the Lamb slain by the wolves, making lambs of wolves. That which befell Paul was foretold in clear prophecy, when Jacob the patriarch blessed his scns (touching those present, foreseeing things future). For Paul, as himself is witness, was of the tribe of Benjamin, and when Jacob was blessing his sons, coming to Benjamin, he saith of him: Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf. Rz. Called by Christ from heaven, and fallen on the earth, he became instead of a persecutor a chosen vessel and labouring more abundantly than they all, he sowed the words of grace far and wide:* and by his preaching fulfilled the doctrine of the Gospel. V. Among the Apostles in calling last, in preaching first, he set forth the Name of Christ to many nations of the Gentiles. And. Glory. The doctrine. SECOND NOCturn. Ant. 1. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? Who art Thou, Lord? I am Jesus, Whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. . There shined round about him a light from heaven: and he heard a voice saying unto him. Ant. 2. Saul, trembling and astonished, said to Jesus, Lord, what wilt thou have me do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. V. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless. WHAT then? doth the wolf always he shall devour the prey, and at night ravin? Nay, but in the morning he shall divide the spoil. Because this is fulfilled in the Apostle Paul, it is also spoken of him. Now, if it Ant. 3. Called by Christ from hea- please you, let us listen to him in the ven, and fallen on the earth, he became morning devouring the prey, and at instead of a persecutor a chosen ves-night dividing the spoil. Morning and sel. y. He fell down a most furious night are set concerning him, as who persecutor, but rose up a most faith- should say, before and after. ful preacher. y. Thou shalt make them princes in all lands. Ry. They shall remember Thy Name, O Lord. Let us therefore take it thus: First, he will devour the prey; after, he will divide the spoil. Behold the devourer: Saul, it saith, having received letters from the chief priests, went, that, wheresoever he might find any Christians, he A Sermon of S. Augustine the Bishop. might bring them to the priests to be Lesson IV. Sermon 14 on the Saints. To-day is read that lesson from the Acts of the Apostles, wherein Paul the punished. * Ry. Paul, entering into the synagogues, preached Jesus to the Jews, proving that this is very Christ. Y. But all that heard him were amazed. He preached. Lesson VI. HE went breathing out threatenings and slaughter: here is the morn ing, the devouring the prey. For V. Exceedingly honoured are Thy friends, O Lord. Ry. Surely established in their preeminence. when Stephen, the first Martyr for Lesson of the Holy Gospel according the Name of Christ, was stoned, Saul himself is clearly assisting, and so assisting the stoners, as if it were not enough for him to stone with his own hands. That he might aid the hands of every one of the stoners, he kept the raiment of all; shewing more rage by helping all, than by stoning with his own hands. Here we have heard the morning ravening. Let us see how in the evening he will divide the spoil. Laid low by the voice of Christ from heaven, and receiving a prohibition from above, he fell on his face, first to be cast down, afterwards to be lifted up: first to be smitten, afterwards to be healed. Ry. Great Saint Paul, the chosen vessel, is verily worthy to be glorified,* who merited to possess the twelfth throne. . Called by Christ from heaven, and fallen on the earth, he became instead of a persecutor a chosen vessel. Who. Glory. Who. THIRD NOCTURN. A to S. Matthew. Lesson VII. Chap. xix. T that time: Peter said unto Jesus: Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee: what shall we have therefore? And that which follows. A Homily of Venerable Bede the Friest. Homily on the birthday of S. Benedict. He is perfect, who goeth and selleth all that he hath, and giveth to the poor, and followeth Christ: for he shall have unfailing treasure in heaven. Wherefore, when Peter questioned, Jesus well said to such: Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. For to the labourers in this life for His Name, He teaches the hope of reward in the other; that is, in the regeneration, when, in life our rising again, who in transitory life were begotten mortally. Ant. 1. And the men which jour-immortal, we shall be regenerated at neyed with him stood speechless: hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul fell upon the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no . Ry. Thou art a chosen vessel, holy Paul the Apostle: preacher of truth throughout the world, * by whom the grace of GoD was made known to all nations. y. Thou dost plead for us, with GOD Who chose thee. By. Lesson VIII. AND truly it is a just retribution, that they who for the love of Christ despised the height of human glory here, should there, singularly glorified by Christ, sit in judgment with Him, Whose footsteps nothing could deter them from following. But let none suppose that only twelve apostles, Matthias being elected on the fall of Judas, will then be judges: as not only are twelve tribes of Israel to be judged; in that case, Levi, which is the thirteenth, would remain unjudged. ky. Holy Paul the Apostle, preacher of the truth, and teacher of the Gentiles,* thou pleadest for us to God Who chose thee.. That we may be found worthy of the grace of God. Thou. Lesson IX. ND Paul, who is the thirteenth A Apostle, will be deprived of his position as judge, whereas he himself saith: know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? Yea, this is to be understood, that all who, by example of the Apostles, left all they had, and followed Christ, will return with Him as judges, even as all the human race is to be judged. For, as by the number twelve universality is often signified in Scripture, by the twelve seats of the Apostles is set forth the whole multitude of those who shall judge; and, by the twelve tribes of Israel, the universality of them who are to be judged. [Ry. Let us celebrate the conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle:* For he, on this day, instead of a persecutor, was 'made a chosen vessel. y. Let Angels rejoice, and Archangels exult, and praise in heaven the Son of God. For. Glory. For.] Te Deum, p. 15. FEBRUARY 2. Festival of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Inv. Behold, the Lord of lords cometh to His holy temple : * Be glad, and rejoice, O Sion, for thy God cometh. Venite. Ps. 95. p. 3. Hymn, Quem terra, and Pss. as in the Common of the Blessed Virgin, p. 128. FIRST NOCTURN. Ant. 1. We wait for Thy lovingkindness, O God: in the midst of Thy temple. Ant. 2. Burnt offering and sacrifice for sin, Thou wouldest not: then said I, Lo, I come. Ant. 3. Let all those that seek Thee: be joyful and glad in Thee. y. Like as we have heard, so have we seen. Ry. In the city of the Lord of Hosts. Of the Book of Exodus. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is Mine. And Moses said unto the people, It shall be, when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as He sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, that thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord's. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. Ry. Adorn thy chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ the King: * Whom a Virgin conceived, a Virgin bore, a Virgin after bearing, Whom she bore, adored. Y. Simeon took the Child in his arms, and gave thanks, and blessed the Lord. Whom. Lesson II. Lev. xii. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, of Israel, saying, If a woman have saying, Speak unto the children conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. But if she bear a maid child, then shall she be unclean two weeks, as in her separation and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. Ry. When the days of Mary's purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. . They presented for Him to the Lord a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. Every. Lesson III. AND when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean. Ry. They presented for Him to the Lord a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons: * As it is written in lem to present Him to the LORD. As. Glory. As. SECOND Nocturn. Ant. 1. Gather My saints together unto Me: those that have made a covenant with Me with sacrifice. Ant. 2. He that offereth Me thanks and praise, he honoureth Me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. Ant. 3. Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it, all ye that are round Him: and bring presents. y. I will pay Thee my vows. Ry. Which I promised with my lips. A Sermon of S. Augustine the Bishop. Lesson IV. Sermon 13 on the Seasons. As it was foretold in former times, Sion, our mother saith, He was born in her, and the Most High shall stablish her. O omnipotence of Him that was born, O magnificence of Him that descended from heaven to earth! He was yet borne in the womb, and was saluted by John Baptist from His mother's womb. He was presented in the Temple, and was recognised by Simeon, that honoured, hoary, esteemed, and crowned old man. Then he knew, then he adored, then he said: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes hatlı seen Thy salvation. Ry. Simeon was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel:* and the Holy Ghost was upon him. y. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And. Lesson V. HIS departure from this world was the law of the Lord. y. When the days of Mary's purification according put off till he had seen Him born to the law of Moses, were accom- by Whom this world was made. The plished, they brought Jesus to Jerusa-old man recognised the Infant, was |