Sermons & Letters 188 part 12/15

Humbly we entreat thy majesty, O Lord, that as the holy Apostle Andrew stood forth as preacher and ruler of thy Church, so may he be its perpetual advocate. Through, etc. We recount, O Lord, the solemnities of the blessed Apostle Andrew, that by his help we may receive thy benefits, for whom we offer to thee the victims of praise. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For here is the votive day of a magnificent martyrdom, whereon the venerable Andrew showed himself the brother of the blessed Apostle Peter, both in the preaching of thy Christ and in confession, and filled up the number of apostolic dignity at once by his passion and by his glory; so that they who had one cause of contest might have also one recompense of reward. Through, etc.

We beseech thee, almighty God, that thou suffer us not to be wounded by worldly assaults, whom the apostolic protections do not forsake, being appointed by thy providence. Through, etc. Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that thy Church may rejoice under such great princes, and grasp with understanding what it follows in devotion, that, governed by thy dispositions, it may merit to attain by perpetual participation those whom it venerates by present homage. Through, etc. The Nativity of the Lord, and of the martyrs, Pastor, Basileus, and Jovian, and Victorinus, and Eugenia, and Felicitas, and Anastasia.

O God, who didst both wondrously create the dignity of human substance and more wondrously reform it, grant us, we beseech thee, to be partakers of the Divinity of him (thy Son Jesus Christ) who deigned to become partaker of our humanity. Through, etc. Grant us, we beseech thee, almighty and merciful God and everlasting Father, that the solemnities of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, which by these present offices we forestall, may be so new to us and remain so continued, may so perpetually persevere, that by their own wonder they may ever appear new. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Since whatsoever is celebrated with the devotion of Christian profession takes its beginning from this solemnity, and is contained in the mystery of this gift.

This was declared in the very parents of the human race, the Apostle testifying, when he spoke of the first human beings: This is a great sacrament (mystery); but I speak in Christ and in the Church. This the patriarchs signified by diverse actions and utterances. This that figural observance of the Law affirmed. This the proclamations of all the prophets foretold. In this is the fullness of the ancient ceremonies. In this the present ministration of heavenly graces. In this the promise of good things to come. Wherein, while the things that had been foretold are most manifestly proved to be fulfilled, we reasonably believe and prudently hold that the things promised are to come to pass. Through, etc.

Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that we who rejoice to keep the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ may by worthy conversations merit to belong to his fellowship. Through, etc. Bestow, we beseech thee, O Lord, upon thy servants an increase of faith, hope, and charity, that they who glory in the Nativity of our Lord thy Son may both, by thy governance, not feel the adversities of the world, and may receive without end what they desire to celebrate in time. Through, etc. Likewise another. O God, who (var. of the blessed

sacred) Virgin's child-bearing, brought forth without human concupiscence, coming into the members of thy Son, thou didst make not to be held by paternal (ancestral) prejudgments, grant, we beseech thee, that, this newness of the creature being received, we may be stripped of the contagions of the ancient oldness. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For behold, as he spoke by the mouth of the prophets, a Virgin hath conceived in her womb, and hath brought forth a Son, and his name was called Emmanuel, that is, God is with us; because the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Behold, a child is born to us today; a little one is given to us, and the government is made upon his shoulders; and he shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of the age to come, Prince of peace.

His empire shall be multiplied, and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to establish it and to strengthen it henceforth and even for ever. In all which things we plainly recognize God and man, who, by taking up what is ours, deigned to confer upon us what is his own. Wherefore, with abundant joys, etc. Likewise another. Look, O Lord, appeased, upon the gift of thy people, whereby no strange fire is offered upon thine altars, nor the blood of irrational living creatures is poured out, but, by the operating power of the Holy Spirit, our sacrifice is now the body and blood of the Priest himself. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

On this day above all, on which You revealed the very mystery of our salvation as a light to the nations, and by an ineffable birth brought it forth from the hidden secret of the virginal womb; raising up for us a horn of salvation in the house of David Your servant, to give knowledge of salvation to Your people unto the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from on high has visited us. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; who, like a bridegroom coming forth from His chamber, the Lord God, has shone upon us, that He might bring us out of darkness and out of the shadow of death into the kingdom of perpetual (or: eternal) light. Wherefore, with the outpoured, etc.

Almighty and eternal God, who in the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son granted that both the beginning and the perfection of all religion should stand fast, grant us, we beseech You, to be reckoned in the portion of Him in whom the sum of all human salvation consists. Through, etc. IV. Likewise another. — May the offering of this day's festival be pleasing to You, O Lord, we beseech You, that by the bounty of Your grace, through these most holy exchanges, we may be found in the form of Him in whom our substance abides with You. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Continually offering the sacrifice of Your praise, whose figure the righteous Abel established, which the lamb of the Law also displayed, which Abraham celebrated, and which Melchizedek the priest presented;

which Christ, the true Lamb and eternal High Priest, born this day, has fulfilled. Wherefore, with the outpoured, etc. Grant, we beseech You, O Lord our God, that He who was born this day for the destruction of the devil and the remission of sins may both cleanse us from the stealthy encroachment of our faults and defend us from the assault of our enemies. Through, etc. Grant, we beseech You, O Lord, to Your people an inviolable firmness of faith, that they who confess Your Only-begotten to be eternal in Your glory with You, and yet truly born in the reality of our flesh from a Virgin Mother, may both be delivered from present adversities and be joined to abiding joys. Through, etc. V. Likewise another.

— Grant us, almighty God, that as we anticipate the adorable Nativity of Your Son, so we may with rejoicing receive His eternal gifts. Through, etc. Grant us, O Lord, we beseech You, to run before these solemnities with a service the readier, the more You show that in them stands the beginning of our redemption. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For the solemnity of heavenly peace enters in, O Lord. We beseech You that through that grace by which the world was reconciled to You in the remission of all sins, we too, cleansed from all our offenses, may be made fit for the remedies of Your loving-kindness, and by remembrance of the sovereign gift may attain the mystery which came forth as the salvation of the world. Through, etc.

O God, who touch us by our partaking of Your sacrament, work the effect of its power in our hearts, that by receiving Your gift we may be made fit through that very gift. Through, etc. May Your blessing, O Lord, descend abundantly upon Your supplicating people, that they who by You as Maker were created, and by You as Author restored, may by Your continual working be saved. Through, etc. VI. Likewise another. — O God, who work the restoration of the human condition even more wondrously than You founded its substance, grant, we beseech You, that both what the divine begetting of Your Word created, and what the glorious Nativity of Him made man reformed, may be perfected together in us. Through, etc.

With all our senses, O Lord, we celebrate this day's sacrifice, whereby the first beginnings of that very sacrifice were born for us. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Since the magnificent exchange of our restoration has shone forth, when out of the old man the new man came into being; when from mortality [we passed] into immortality, when the human condition is healed by the very medicine wrought of the human condition, and from a birth liable to sin there arises an offspring innocent of all sin; and not only does our frailty, taken up by Your Word, become the possession of perpetual honor, but by a wondrous partnership You render us too eternal. Through, etc. VII. Likewise another.

— Rejoicing, O Lord, we hasten with our gifts to Your venerable altars, because both the sum of all our desires and the cause of our redemption has arisen for us this day. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For truly great is the mystery of Your loving-kindness now brought forth—singular, without precedent; wondrous, beyond human reasoning. And therefore, just as it stood forth precious to the first faithful in their believing of it, so now it leaves without excuse the conscience which, though the whole world bears witness, does not follow the truth of the saving mystery. For as in the beginning it might seem difficult, when it was said that the human race would come to this sacrament, so it is unlawful to deny the work of boundless majesty, when we behold it conspicuous everywhere.

Wherefore, with the outpoured, etc. Grant us, O Lord, we beseech You, that we may receive Your holy things with a heart pleasing to You, and that whatever is corrupt in our mind may be cured by the medicine of that very gift. Through. VIII. Likewise another. — O God, who deign to save the human race, mortally wounded by its own prince, through the Nativity of Your Christ, grant, we beseech You, that we may not cleave to the author of our perdition, but be transferred into the fellowship of our Redeemer. Through, etc. May the offering of this day's festival be accepted by You, O Lord, whereby both the perfect propitiation of our reconciliation came forth, and the fullness of divine worship was granted to us, and the way of truth and the life of the heavenly kingdom appeared. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

For this day the true light of our Savior went forth, which made all things manifest to us both in understanding and in sight. By which He might not only direct our present life by His splendor, but also lead us on to behold the very glory of His boundless majesty. Through, etc. — Grant us, O Lord, we beseech You, to be quickened by the renewed commemoration of His nativity, by whose heavenly mystery we are fed and given drink. Through, etc. IX. Likewise another. — That we may be worthy to belong to the beginning of this day's saving birth, grant, O Lord, we beseech You, that we be helped by the prayers of the apostles. Through, etc. In this present sacrifice, O Lord, may Your whole Church exult, whereby the first-fruits of her infirmity were assumed, that she herself might be made partaker of the divine power. Through, etc.

It is truly meet. On the day of this present solemnity, whereon a mystery is brought forth that is ineffable, yet in both respects fitting; for the Virgin Mother could bring forth none but a divine offspring, and God, deigning to be born as man, could more fittingly be begotten of none but a Virgin Mother. Therefore, etc. — Grant, O merciful God, that the Savior of the world born this day, as He is to us the Author of divine begetting, so may He Himself be the Bestower of immortality. Through, etc. O God, who did not suffer the creation of the human condition to perish by the malignity of the devil, carry out the remedies of Your propitiation, that in that same [creation] no hostile encroachment may prevail, but the redemption of Your mercy (or: loving-kindness) may prevail. Through, etc. I.

— Almighty and eternal God, who granted the venerable and holy gladness of this day by the festival of Your blessed apostle John the Evangelist; grant Your Church, we beseech You, both to love what he believed and to preach what he taught. Through, etc. O God, who through the mouth of Your blessed apostle John the Evangelist unlocked to us the mysteries of Your Word, grant, we beseech You, that what he poured excellently into our ears we may grasp by the instruction of fitting understanding. Through, etc. May the gift of Your people, O Lord, we beseech You, be pleasing through the apostle's intercession, that Your Church may ever be aided by the intercessions of those by whose teachings she is continually instructed. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

Venerating the Nativity of Your blessed apostle John the Evangelist. Who, having received the call of our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, spurned an earthly father that he might find a heavenly one; cast off the nets of the world in which he was entangled, that with a free mind he might pursue the gifts of eternity; left the ship tossing on the waves, that he might take his stand in the tranquility of ecclesiastical governance; ceased from the catching of fish, that with the reed of saving doctrine he might draw out souls immersed in the world's floods; and departed from the deep sea's abyss, being rendered a searcher of divine secrets.

Advancing so far that both in the sacred banquet of the mystical Supper he reclined upon the very breast of the Savior; and when the Lord was set upon the cross, He appointed him as His own vicar, a son, to the Virgin Mother; and He showed him before all others as the one to preach that in the beginning was the Word, which was God with God. Through, etc. Grant us, O Lord, we beseech You, to be helped by the apostolic doctrines and prayers, that what we celebrate in these present offices we may attain in the eternal joys of salvation (or: of redemption). Through, etc. Follow after Your people, O Lord, that being upheld by the temporal consolation of the blessed birthdays of the holy apostles, they may ever exercise it, and redeemed by eternal mercy may acknowledge it. Through, etc. II. Likewise another.

— May we receive, we beseech You, O Lord, the gifts of the birthday of Saint John the apostle, that by his glorious prayers the blessed Evangelist may ever entreat for us both to believe what is to be believed and to follow what he taught. Through, etc. By the apostolic supplications of blessed John the Evangelist, we beseech You, O Lord, may the offering be commended to Your Church, which is instructed by his magnificent preaching. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Recounting the glory of the blessed apostle John. Who was so intimately beloved by Your Only-begotten, and inspired by the revelations of immense grace, that transcending every creature he beheld the heights with exalted mind, and proclaimed with evangelic voice that in the beginning was the Word, and God was the Word, who was this in the beginning with God.

For by saying 'was,' he demonstrated a perpetuity without beginning. And by adding 'and the Word was God, and this was in the beginning with God,' he set forth the personal distinction, and made plain that He has one Godhead with You His Father. And when the brightness of eternal majesty was thus brought forth, the called-in Gentiles yielded to the supreme Divinity, and the cunning of heretics was confuted, so that it should neither pretend a confusion of union, nor diminish the truth of co-eternity. Through, etc. O Lord, compassionate and merciful, who do not forsake us in the continual sacraments of the heavenly martyrs, grant, we beseech You, that what we celebrate with earnest affection we may receive with pleasing homage to You. Through, etc.

Graciously illumine Your Church, O Lord, that being enlightened by the apostolic doctrines of blessed John the Evangelist, she may come to the gifts which he promised to the faithful from Your recompense. Through, etc. I. — O God, who by Your good things go before even the hearts of infants that know not Your sacrament, grant, we beseech You, that we who have no confidence in our own conscience may ever be prevented by Your abundant indulgence. Through, etc. Receive, O Lord, we beseech You, the gifts of Your devoted servants, and by Your loving-kindness purify by Your divine mysteries those who serve, by which You also justify the ignorant. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

For in the precious deaths of the little ones, whom cruel Herod, in his bestial savagery, slew because of the report concerning Your Son our Lord and Savior, we recognize the immense gifts of Your clemency. For grace alone shines forth more than will, and confession is clear before speech; there was passion before there were limbs to suffer; witnesses of Christ who were not yet His acknowledgers. O boundless kindness! though slain for His name even without their knowing, He suffers not the merit of glory to perish; but for those steeped in their own blood, both the salvation of regeneration is fulfilled and the crown of martyrdom is reckoned. Through, etc.

We have taken up the effect of this day's solemnity, O Lord—great joys from little ones—humbly entreating that You would maintain this abundance in our own salvation as well. Through, etc. May Your Church ever rejoice, O Lord, in the festival of Your saints, and continually experience the effect of Your mercy, whereby both human frailty may subsist, and divine redemption may not be denied to the supplicant. Through, etc. II. Likewise another. — O God, who though You are great in great things, yet more gloriously work wonders in the least, grant us, we beseech You, to rejoice in the festival of those who bore witness to Your Son our Lord even without speaking. Through, etc.

Be present, O Lord, to the gifts to be consecrated by the festival of the innocents, and grant, we beseech You, that we may be able to imitate the sincerity of those whose infancy, dedicated to You, we venerate. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For we have heard the prophet saying that Rachel, weeping for her children, would not be comforted, because they are not. She mourned, then, that they came not from her offspring, who were crowned with so great a gift. For they were begotten of the stock of Leah, whose divine grace anticipated even their understanding; their passion went before intelligence, and the wondrous palm of martyrdom preceded their age; so that the venerable infancy of our Savior might also be made glorious by the testimonies of those of the same age. Through, etc.

Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that as their tender age made those whose birthdays we recount well-pleasing to You by Your grace, so may saving humility render us acceptable to Your loving-kindness. Through, etc. Grant, O Lord, we beseech You, to Your faithful, that, as the Apostle says, they may not become children in understanding, but be found harmless in malice, that as little ones, as the martyrs of this day's festival, whom they cannot equal in merits, they may follow in simplicity of mind. — O God, who with an eternal gaze discern the things fittingly to be adapted to each several time, grant us, we beseech You, that with the changing of worldly things we may also grow toward perpetual good things by the increase of pious devotion. Through, etc.

Look with favor, O Lord, upon our days, and render those whom You multiply in the present course secure by righteous works. Through, etc. Accept graciously, O Lord, the gifts of Your Church, which in mercy You granted to be offered, and which You powerfully cause to pass into the mystery of our salvation. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For by the things which are seen we are instructed in what ways we ought to strive toward the things unseen. In short, we are admonished, as the passing of the year teaches, to pass from things past into things to come, and from oldness into newness of life, that being freed from earthly supports we may more desirably receive the abundance of the heavenly gift, and through that food which is bestowed by mutual benefits, we may attain to the sustenance that shall abide without end. Through, etc.

By the bounty of Your gifts, O Lord, both raise us up with temporal aids and renew us with eternal ones. Through, etc. May Your people, O Lord, governed by diverse supports, receive both the present and the future remedies of Your loving-kindness, that they may be cherished by the necessary consolation of passing things, and more confidently strive toward things eternal. Through, etc. II. Likewise another. — We acknowledge, O Lord, the bounty of Your clemency toward us. And therefore we implore the more confidently that those whom You cease not to feed though unworthy, You would perfect to serve You worthily, and follow after with more abundant gifts. Grant, we beseech You, O Lord, a saving effect to our fastings, that the chastisement of the flesh taken up may pass into the quickening of our souls. Through, etc.

Receive, O Lord, the sacrifice by whose immolation You willed to be worthily appeased, and grant, we beseech You, that cleansed by its working we may offer to You the well-pleasing affection of our mind. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Who, instructing us as it were with the nourishments of little ones, by dispensing food for mind and body, foster us through the increases of human growth, until, our mortality being ended, each according to his own measure, we may attain immortal satiety. Through, etc. Having reverently received Your mysteries, O Lord, we beseech You, that we may be armed against the error of our condition and against the snares of the devil. Through, etc. May the participation of the divine sacrament be a continual defense to Your people, O Lord, that it may not be held liable to the vices of the flesh,

but may be free through spiritual delight, that it may be subject to Your majesty with full devotion, that it may both unceasingly seek the salvation of mind and body and abundantly receive it. Through, etc. III. Likewise another. — Humbly, O Lord, we beseech You, that being sufficiently aided by the benefits of earthly fruits, we may advance toward You the Author of all. Through, etc. Pour graciously into our hearts, we beseech You, O Lord, that as we abstain from bodily foods, so we may also draw back our senses from harmful excess. Through, etc. Provide us the measure of this frugality, we beseech You, O Lord, that what we take away from the license of the flesh may gain for us the saving fruit of the mind. Through, etc.

Subject our wills to Yourself, we beseech You, O Lord, that we may ever follow both in the faith which You command and in action. Through, etc. We pray, almighty God, that out of transitory riches we may rather work those things whereby both hope and means may suffice us for attaining the eternal joys. Through, etc. Grant us peace, O Lord, of mind and body, that both the manifest enemies of our frailty may be subdued and the invisible ones excluded. Through, etc. Grant, O Lord, we beseech You, that we may offer to the dedicated gift the affection of our devotion in accord with it. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

Since by a wholesome fast we handle the things necessary for our healing, and through the homage of fitting observance, being grateful for the gifts received, we are made the more grateful for those to be received, that we may not only rejoice in earthly fertility, but with purified minds receive the birth of the eternal Bread, worthy to be honored. Through, etc. We have taken up, O Lord, the votive sacraments of the yearly festival. Grant, we beseech You, that they may afford us the remedies both of temporal and of eternal life. Through, etc. Protect, O Lord, Your people, and as they keep the sacred solemnities, follow them with the bounty of heavenly grace, that being aided by visible comforts they may be the more readily incited toward invisible goods. Through, etc. IV. Likewise another.

— Look mercifully, O Lord, upon Your people, and set free from all sins her whom You grant to advance by the divine sacraments. Through, etc. Succor, O Lord, we beseech You, Your people, and suffer none to follow error whom You will to be a partaker of Your truth. Through, etc. We beseech, almighty God, that You would dispense the times of Your Church with clement governance, that with the multiplication of holy solemnities she may receive both the understanding of heavenly things and their advancement. Through, etc. Grant, we beseech You, O Lord, that we may be filled with spiritual joys, that what we perform in act we may follow in mind. Through, etc. We offer You gifts, O Lord, supplicating that what we celebrate in the offices of Your subjects (or: of the devout), we may carry out with full affections. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

Who are proved not only ineffable in the highest things, but also immense in the least. For when Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, said that the whole world would pass into His name, who would not have deemed it as it were absurd? Who, when he sees it come to pass, would deny it to be divine? And beholding the promises fulfilled, would he not rightly not doubt that the things foretold are likewise to come to pass? But just as those are more blessed who believed things not yet appearing, so we are the more inexcusable if we do not confess even the things experienced, and nonetheless the more pleasing if we trust that the things not manifest are to come. Through, etc.

Refreshed with life-giving nourishments, we beseech You, O Lord, that what we perform in the time of our mortality we may obtain by the gift of Your immortality. Through, etc. Upon Your people, O Lord, we beseech You, may abundant blessing descend, may indulgence come, may consolation be granted, may holy faith increase, may eternal redemption be made firm. Through, etc. V. Likewise another. — Be favorable, O Lord, to Your people, and forsake not with temporal consolation her whom You will to strive toward things eternal. Through, etc. Regard graciously, O Lord, we beseech You, the present sacrifices, that they may profit both our devotion and our salvation. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

Who not only remit sins, but also justify the sinners themselves, and to the guilty not only relax the punishment, but bestow even rewards. Through, etc. Grant, we beseech You, O Lord our God, that this sacrament may be understood without difference in Your Churches, that one Christ, in the truth of God and man, may be adored as neither divided from our nature nor separated from Your essence. Through Christ our Lord. Let our mouths praise You, O Lord, let our soul praise, and let our life praise; and since it is of Your gift that we are, let all that we live be Yours. Through Christ our Lord. Receive, O venerable martyrs, though from an unworthy honorer, the vows of the whole people for..... attend;

that you who are secure of the recompense of your own merits may be solicitous for the remission of our crimes. We pour out prayer to You, O Lord of all things, eternal Father, almighty God, whose Spirit was borne over the waters, whose lofty eyes looked upon the river Jordan, while John baptized those confessing their sins unto penitence. Therefore we entreat Your holy glory that Your hand may be hidden within this water, that You may cleanse and purify the baser man who shall be baptized from it, and that he may be reborn from his deadly offenses and revive through the new man, born again in Christ Jesus, with whom You live and reign in the unity of the Holy Spirit unto the ages of ages.