for the mystery of the Cross had not yet been consummated; the grace of the Spirit had not yet been poured into their hearts. But if you desire to learn their virtue, consider what they were after the grace of the Spirit was given, and you will see that all perverse affection had been overcome by them. For on this account is their imperfection now revealed, in order that you may clearly perceive what they were suddenly made by grace. Whence it is clear that they were seeking nothing spiritual, and had no thought of a kingdom above. However, let us consider how they draw near to the Lord, and what they say: We will, say they, that Thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall ask. To which Christ answered: What will ye? not indeed as being ignorant, but that He might compel them to give an answer; and that He might uncover their wound and so apply the remedy.

Lesson VIII.

BUT since they were prevented by shame, inasmuch as they had come thither led by human desire, they took Christ apart from the other disciples, and made their request. For they went forward, he saith, that they might not be seen by them: and $0 at last they told what they wished for. For since they had heard that the disciples were to sit on twelve thrones, they wished, I imagine, to obtain the primacy of this seat, and they knew, indeed, that they were preferred to they rest: but fearing that Peter was preferred before them, they ventured to say: Grant that one of us may sit on Thy right hand, and the other on Thy left. And they are urgent, saying, Grant. What then does He say? That He might declare they are seeking nothing spiritual, and that they do not even know what they are asking for (for they would not have dared to ask, had they known): Ye know not, He says, what ye ask; ye know

not how great a thing this is, how wonderful, and how it exceeds even the higher powers.

Lesson IX.

AND He added: Are ye able to drink of the cup which I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism how immediately He draws them away which I am baptized with? Consider from this expectation, by speaking to them of things quite different. For ye, He says, are asking Me of honours and of crowns; but I am speaking to you of conflict and travail. This is not the time for rewards, nor will My glory immediately appear; the present is the time of blood and of dangers. And mark, too, how He encourages and draws them on by the very form of the question. For He said not: Are ye able to endure being put to death? Are ye able to shed your blood? But: Are ye able to drink the cup? and then drawing them on, He says: Which I shall drink; that by sharing in His la

bours they might be made the more ready.

Te Deum. p. 15.

HYMN. Annue Christe. p. i.

Pss. and . of the three Nocturns of the Common of Apostles.

Ant. 1. Herod the king stretched forth his hands: to vex certain of the Church.

Ant. 2. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword: and because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.

Ant. 3. Peter therefore was kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him. Of the First Epistle of S. Peter the Apostle.

FIRST NOCTURN.
Lesson I. Chap. iv.

FORASMUCH then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Ry. Herod the wicked king stretched forth his hand to vex certain of the Church: and he killed James the brother of John with the sword. V. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. And.

speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Ry. The crafty enemy, seeing it ther to take Peter also. y. Herod pleased the Jews: * he proceeded furhand to vex certain of the Church. the wicked king stretched forth his

He.

Lesson III.

IF ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Ry. And when the cruel tyrant had apprehended Peter the Apostle, he put him in prison: * intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. V. Because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Intending. Glory. Intending.

SECOND NOCTURN.

Ant. 1. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

Ant. 2. And when Herod would have brought him forth, behold, the Angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly.

Ant. 3. Peter the Apostle went out, and followed the Angel: and wist not that it was true which was done by the Angel, but thought he saw vision.

T

Lesson IV.

a

THE Apostle Peter was tried by chains and dungeons, for the Name of the Lord Jesus, not once

only, nor in one place. For first, immediately after Pentecost, whilst he was speaking to the people with John, after having healed the lame man at the gate of the temple, the priests, out of envy, put him into custody. On the morrow, when brought forth, he shewed such constancy,

that the rulers themselves could not but admire the fearless boldness of unlearned men; and the number of believers increased to five thousand, and their faith was strengthened by the Apostle's chains.

Ry. Peter the Apostle was therefore kept in prison: * but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him. . And Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound

with two chains. But.

of God on account of the prohibition of men, for this saying he was beaten with scourges. The third time was on the death of James, when Herod, perceiving that this murder was not displeasing to the Jews, ordered that Peter also should be cast into prison, and kept by four quaternions of soldiers, bound with two chains; whence he was marvellously delivered by an Angel.

Ry. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping *between two soldiers, bound with two chains. y. And the keepers before the door kept the prison, where Peter the Apostle lay. Between.

Lesson VI.

LASTLY, when he suffered martyr

dom at Rome, he was kept in the Mamertine prison, and is said to have been bound in chains by the command of Nero, which chains have been held in special honour by the Roman Church from the first ages. Further, Arator, subdeacon of the same Church in the sixth century, writes that the chains wherewith Peter was bound at Jerusalem, or certainly one of them, were preserved at Rome in his own time, and consequently the

veneration of the chains greatly increased; especially when, as we learn from other records of the Roman Church, a basilica was built by the younger Eudoxia, wife of Valentinian III., on the Esquiline Hill, under

It

the name of S. Peter in Chains. was dedicated on the kalends of August, and then the day was made a festival in his honour.

Ry. And, behold, the Angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying: * Arise, arise, arise up quickly.

. And his chains fell from off his hands when the Angel said. Arise. Glory. Arise.

MARI

Lesson VIII.

reason:

wherefore

the blessed? Because flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven. Therefore blessed, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee. For, if flesh and blood had revealed this to thee, it would have been thine own. But whereas flesh and blood did not reveal it to thee, but My Father which is in heaven, therefore it is of Mine, not of thine. How, of Mine? Because all things that the Father hath are Mine.

Ry. The Angel said unto Peter, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me: * and he went out and followed

first and second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them of his own accord. And.

Lesson IX.

BEHOLD, thou hast heard the

reason why, blessed: hear also wherefore the Lord added the word Peter: And I say unto thee,-it is as if he said,-Because thou hast said unto Me, Thou art the Son of the Living God, therefore I likewise say unto thee that thou art Peter. But, beforetime, he had been called Simon. For, as Christ is represented by the rock, so Peter represents the Christian people. For the rock is the chief name, therefore Peter is called from the rock, not the rock from Peter; like as Christ takes not His Name from Christian, but the Christian derives his name from Christ. Ry. Whatsoever. p. xliv.

Te Deum. p. 15.

AUGUST 6.

Festival of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Inv. Christ the Lord, King of kings, this day transfigured: * O come let us worship. Venite. Ps. xcv. p. 3.

Ant. 1. On this day the Lord Jesus Christ, being upon the mountain: His face shone like the sun, and His gar

ments were radiant like snow. Domini est terra. Ps. xxiv. p. 92.

Ant. 2. And behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: the voice of the Father was heard, This is My Son. Afferte Domino, Ps. xxix. p. 17.

Ant. 3. Peter and they that were present with him; being rejoiced by Christ, beheld the glory of God. Deus noster refugium. Ps. xlvi. p. 28.

V. The heavens were opened upon

Him.

Ry. And the voice of the Father was heard: This is My beloved Son.

do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

Ry. The Lord Jesus on this day having taken three of the disciples unto a mountain to pray, He went up into the top thereof, and while praying alone He was transfigured before them, and His face did shine as the sun, * and His raiment became white ceive witness from the law and the as snow. . But that He might reprophets, therefore Moses and Elias were seen with Him in glory. His.

Lesson II.

And

MOREOVER I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.

R. Before three of the disciples the Lord, being transfigured, shewed Himself in glory: Moses and Elias

Apostle.

Lesson I. Chap. i.

WHEREFORE the rather, brethren,

in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word should be established. Moses.

Lesson III.

calling and election sure; for if ye

heaven we heard, when we were