Sermons & Letters 188 part 3/15

May Thy people, O Lord, stirred by great mysteries, walk by the way of salvation and peace, and following the exhortations of the blessed Forerunner, may they come safely to Him whom he foretold. Through, etc. III. Likewise another. — Almighty and everlasting God, who even in the generation of blessed John didst establish the confession to be shown forth of a people consecrated to Thee: increase in us the constancy of faith and piety, that we may more and more confess the excellence of Him who was heralded, since so great is the glory of the herald. Through, etc. Look mercifully, O Lord, upon the vows of Thy people, and cause those whose solemnities Thou grantest us to celebrate to rejoice by their suffrages. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

Since deservedly among the sons of men none was set before him, whom from the beginning of himself unto the end Thou didst consecrate with so many marks of good things, with so many splendors of graces: for it was fitting that he who was also visibly to show forth the ineffable sacrament of the Lord, which he had foretold with prophetic voice, should appear more eminent than the rest of His messengers. Wherefore with the angels, etc. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that as we pass from things past to new sacraments, so, the old being laid aside, we may be renewed in sanctified minds. Through, etc. Bless, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy people, and grant to those trusting in the prayers of Thy saints to obtain what Thou hast given them to hope for. Through, etc. IV. Likewise another.

— Almighty and everlasting God, who didst fulfill the legal ordinances and the heraldings of the holy prophets in the days of Thy blessed servant John: grant that, the figures of the significations ceasing, the Truth Himself may speak forth by His own manifestation. Through, etc. Give, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the light of understanding to Thy little ones, that, in place of the grace of the ancient sacrament the grace of the present sacrifice succeeding, we may so glory in things new that we may not misuse things old. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Since all ages are full of Thy mercy, which, given to the times as they recur by a fixed law, we venerate also in the festivity of this day:

Acknowledging that it pertained to the great counsel of Thy loving-kindness, that Thy holy John, whose birthday we celebrate to the glory of Thy name, should be born wondrous with so many gifts. Through, etc. Grant to our prayers, O Lord, that as we have been translated from things past to new sacraments, so, the old being laid aside, we may be renewed in sanctified minds. Through, etc. V. Likewise another. — O God, who hast made the present day honorable to us in the nativity of blessed John, give to Thy peoples the grace of spiritual joys, and direct the minds of all the faithful into the way of salvation and peace. Through, etc.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast bestowed upon Thy faithful that he than whom among those born of women none is greater should arise, and should exist as the glorious Forerunner of Thy Only-begotten: fulfill the gift of Thy providence, that what the testimony of the Herald made manifest, the presence of the One heralded may accomplish. Through, etc. The shadows of carnal victims being removed, we bring to Thee, O most high Father, a spiritual victim in suppliant service, which by a wondrous and ineffable mystery is both ever immolated and ever offered; and is at once both the gift of the devout and the reward of the Rewarder. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

On the day of this present festivity, whereon blessed John was born, who perceived the voice of the Mother of the Lord before he was brought forth, and, still enclosed in the womb, leaped with prophetic exultation at the coming of human salvation; who, when conceived, wiped away the barrenness of his mother, and, when born, loosed the tongue of his father: and alone of all the prophets pointed out the Redeemer of the world whom he had foretold; and, that the nature of the waters might conceive the effect of sacred purification, washed in the waters of Jordan, to be sanctified, the very Author of baptism. Wherefore with the angels, etc. Having received the blessing of the heavenly gift, we humbly beseech Thee, Almighty God, that this same may ever be for us both a cause of the sacrament and of salvation. Through, etc.

Those whom Thou makest Thine own, O Lord, encompass with Thy loving-kindness; and hold forth to the frail the aids of all Thy saints; that they may run to Thy promises by Thy inspiring, and by Thy governing may attain them. Through, etc. Almighty and everlasting God, who dost perceive that we are not fit, etc. Help us, O Lord, by the prayer of Thy saints, etc. It is truly meet. Who not only the debt of the ancient death, etc. II. Likewise another. — May Thy peoples be pleasing to Thee, O Lord, etc. The gifts dedicated to Thy name, O Lord, etc. It is truly meet. Who unto a greater triumph, etc. III. Likewise another. — Hear, O Lord, our prayers, and worthy of Thee, etc. It is truly meet. For of Thy work, O Lord, etc. IV. Likewise another.

— Be present, O Lord, we beseech Thee, to the vows of Thy Church, be present to its offerings; and what our own conscience does not supply, may the intercession and merit of Thy saints make up. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For the works of Thy justice and loving-kindness are wonderful, since either man, straying from Thee, is subjected to the diabolical power, or, returning to Thee by Thy grace, not only escapes the right of the hostile ruler, but even, as we prove in Thy saints, receives by Thy power dominion over him. Through, etc. May Thy saints, O Lord, implore Thy mercy, that the sacraments which we have received may confer upon us the remedies both of the present life and of that to come. Through, etc.

As the blessed martyrs make supplication, O Lord, look mercifully upon Thy faithful, that they may keep the gifts bestowed, and may attain the things piously and justly hoped for. Through, etc. May those who are subject to Thee, O Lord, receive Thy blessings by Thy bounty, which with humble devotion they unceasingly await. Through, etc. V. Likewise another. — We beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the twofold gladness of this day's festivity may receive us, which proceeds from the glorification of the blessed John and Paul, whom the same faith and passion made to be brethren. Through, etc. We lay upon Thy altars, O Lord, the victims of propitiation, honoring Thy power in the passions of Thy saints, and imploring through them for ourselves the pardon of sins. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

For although the precious merits of Thy just ones, wheresoever they be faithfully invoked, are present in Thy power, yet Thou hast mightily bestowed upon us by Thy merciful providence, that not only shouldst Thou crown the circuit of this city with the glorious passions of the martyrs, but shouldst also lay up in the very bowels of the city the victorious limbs of holy John and Paul, so that both an example of pious confession might meet those beholding within and without, and the aid of Thy magnificent blessing might not be lacking. Through, etc. VI. Likewise another. — The honor of the blessed martyrs confidently exhorts us to bring gifts to Thee, O Lord, for we believe that through them things profitable will come to us. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

For that most gracious word of our Lord Jesus Christ shines forth, whereby, coming to the aid of the world, He mercifully foretold: Unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remains alone; but if it die, it brings forth much fruit (John XII, 24). Whence we see that a rich sowing has sprung up throughout the whole world, and that from the principal Cross has come forth a harvest of glorious passions, because the Creator, pouring out His blood for the impious servants, brought it to pass that sinful servants should vie with one another to die for the immaculate Lord. Therefore, etc. VII. Likewise another. — Be favorable, O Lord, we beseech Thee, look upon the oblation of our service; and grant that it may be commended by the prayers of Thy saints. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

Kindled by whose inspiration the blessed martyrs ran to the glory of passion; not fearing those who kill the body, but Him who could send both body and soul into hell; and therefore the savage persecution did not destroy them, but the blessed confession exalted them. Through, etc. VIII. Likewise another. — Grant, by the prayers of Thy saints, O Lord, that the gifts offered to Thy name may profit our sanctification. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For we acknowledge it to be of Thy power, that Thy saints, according to the magnificent and heavenly teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, by hating loved their holy souls, and by not preserving them rather kept them; leaving to us at once both this imitation of piety and a defense. Through, etc.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that as we rejoice in the temporal office of the commemoration of Thy saints, so we may be gladdened by their perpetual sight. Through, etc. May Thy people exult, O Lord, filled with the aids of those pleasing to Thee, whereby they may both obtain sanctification and acquire the supports of their own frailty. Through, etc. O God, who hast consecrated this day by the martyrdom of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, grant to Thy Church, spread throughout the whole world, to be ever governed by their teaching, through whom it received the beginning of religion. Through, etc. May the gifts of Thy people, O Lord, we beseech Thee, become acceptable by the suffrages of the blessed apostles; that they which are offered to Thy name for their triumphs may be made worthy also by their merits. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

Who, according to the ineffable ordinance of Thy promise, bestowest by heavenly dispensation upon the apostolic confession, that, established upon the foundation of Thy truth, no laws of death-bearing falsehood may prevail; and however great a multitude of those who err may exist, they alone are the children of Thy redemption, and to them is the whole Church reckoned, who dissent not from the principal tradition of Thy elect. Through, etc. This oblation also, O Lord, of the consecrated virgins, whose names are recited as offered before Thy holy altar, we beseech Thee to receive appeased. For whom we humbly beseech Thy majesty that they may keep the purpose of chastity, which by Thee as author they have professed, with Thee as protector. Through, etc. II. Likewise another.

— By the prayers of Thy apostles, O Lord, we beseech Thee, sanctify the gifts of Thy people, that the things which are pleasing to Thee by Thy own institution may become more pleasing by the patronage of those who make supplication. Through, etc. It is truly meet. And to praise Thee, the wonderful God, in Thy saints, in whom Thou art exceedingly magnified; adorning through them the sacred body of Thy Only-begotten, and establishing in them the foundations of Thy Church. Of whom Thou didst so instruct the most blessed Peter, taken up as the first-fruits of Thy grace and election to the summit of apostolic dignity, by the secret revelation of Thyself, to confess Thee the living God and our Lord Jesus Christ, that in coming to know the glory of Thy Only-begotten he might be hindered by no obstacles of flesh and blood.

For which faith, the mistress of all believers, Thou didst set Thy confessor over the keys of the heavens, that he to whom access to Thee had been granted through Thee, might through him open the entrance to the rest unto Thy kingdom. To this one Thou dost also join by no unequal calling the blessed apostle Paul for the salvation of the nations; whom, prepared by great labors, Thy grace changed both in mind and in name. Celebrating therefore with this day's devotion the day of this triumph, we offer to Thee, O Lord, the sacrifices of praise, with the angels, etc. III. Likewise another. — May the blessed passion of Thy apostles, O Lord, we beseech Thee, win favor for the oblations of Thy people, and may the things which are less fit for our merits become pleasing to Thee by the entreaty of Thy just ones. Through, etc. It is truly meet.

Who makest Thy Church, everywhere prevailing in Thy faithful, to stand firm upon the apostolic doctrines, that through those from whom it received the beginning of divine knowledge, it may through them receive even unto the end of the age the increase of the heavenly kingdom. Through, etc. IV. Likewise another. — May the apostolic intervention, O Lord, we beseech Thee, attend this gift for us, that what with trembling service we vow (or: is offered) through ourselves, Thou mayest make to become for us a sacrament by their prayers. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For Thou grantest, O Lord, that no crafty doctrine of the law of hell may subvert the brightness of the apostolic preaching, nor any prevarication obscure the truth. Through, etc.

Having received the sacraments, O Lord, with submissive heart we ask and pray that, by the intervention of the blessed apostles, the things which have been celebrated for their glory may profit us unto healing. Through, etc. Look mercifully, O good Shepherd, upon Thy flock; and by Thy apostles guard it with ever-watchful protection, that it may be governed by the same rulers whom Thou hast appointed to be the vicars of Thy work as pastors. Through, etc. V. Likewise another. — Almighty and everlasting God, who by an ineffable sacrament hast placed the right of the apostolic primacy in the citadel of the Roman name, whence the evangelical truth might diffuse itself through all the realms of the world:

Grant that what has flowed forth into the whole world by their preaching, the universality of Christian devotion may follow. Through, etc. Grant to Thy Church, O Lord, worthily to rejoice in such great princes, and to follow with pious devotion that doctrine wherewith they imbued with sacred mysteries the flocks chosen for Thee. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For Thou didst choose not the kings and nobles of the world, not the eloquent or the rich, but the abject and the poor, the unlearned and the ignoble, to whom Thou mightest reveal the power of Thy majesty and the mystery of the Son coeternal with Thee; that it might be proved to be not of human possibility, but of a divine gift; and that the things which seemed pre-eminent in the world might be shown, apart from Thee, O God, to be empty;

And whatever things were empty might, through Thee, be taught to be sublime: since, Thy power thus dispensing, not lowly things depended from things glorious, but glorious things from lowly ones; and that former Peter, a poor fisherman, suddenly made an apostle, was not subject to the powerful, but rather enclosed them in his saving net; nor was it doubtful to anyone that he who was placed in secret blessedness had the right of remitting the sins of mortals, whose merit he beheld reigning after death, to be venerated throughout the whole world. The blessed apostle Paul also, O Lord, Thou dost glorify with like condescension; who, cast down upon earth, is raised to heaven, captured in his bodily eyes, beheld the eternal light; and by one and the same manner Thy rebel felt both vengeance and grace;

And, more blessed by so great a vengeance, deserved to be a partaker of divine things after his punishment. Through, etc. VI. Likewise another. — We offer to Thee, O Lord, prayers and gifts: that, in order that they may be worthy of Thy sight, they may be aided, we beseech Thee, by the prayers of Thy blessed apostles. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Who dost rescue Thy Church, founded upon apostolic solidity, from the terror of the gates of hell; that, standing firm in Thy truth, it may admit no fellowship of the perfidious. Through, etc. VII. Likewise another. — May the prayer of the princes of Thy Church commend, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the things which are dedicated to Thy name. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Who, not forsaking Thy Church by Thy everlasting loving-kindness, dost continually both instruct and protect it through Thy apostles. Through, etc. VIII. Likewise another.

— May the apostolic intervention, we beseech Thee, O Lord, attend the gift offered for us: that what with trembling service we vow, may by their prayers be made acceptable. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For Thou grantest, O Lord, that of the preaching, etc. Having celebrated, O Lord, the things which we have performed for the blessed passion of Thy apostles, may they, we beseech Thee, become for us saving by their intercession, in whose birthdays they have been exultantly fulfilled. Through, etc. Hear, O Lord, Thy people subject to Thee in heart, and grant to it continual protection of mind and body, at the request of Thy holy apostles. IX. Likewise another. — Almighty and everlasting God, who this day, etc.

Receive, O Lord, the gifts of Thy people offered for the triumphs of the blessed apostles; and because our merits give no worthy confidence, may our devotion become pleasing by the prayers of those pleasing to Thee. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For it is of Thy work and of Thy power, that the glorious confession of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul may never be caught by falsehoods, nor troubled by adversities; but that the heavenly instruction, as it was received through them from the Truth itself and handed down to posterity, may by their intercession endure undefiled. Through, etc. X. Likewise another. — We offer to Thee, O Lord, prayers and gifts, etc. It is truly meet.

Who by an ineffable sacrament hast placed the right of the apostolic primacy in the citadel of the Roman name, whence the evangelical truth might diffuse itself through all the realms of the world, so that what had flowed forth into the whole world by their preaching, the universality of Christian devotion might follow; and by a saving arrangement both those who had strayed from their path might be held as outsiders, and only those might exist as children of the truth, who in no wise departed from the principal tradition. Through, etc. XI. Likewise another. — It is truly meet. Who dost therefore wholesomely scourge us with temporal misfortunes, because Thou willest not that we should undergo the loss of eternal things;

And since a fall in security is easy, Thou permittest us rather, chastened by present evils, to advance toward divine things, than by worldly prosperity to stray from the path of everlasting blessedness; through which benefits of Thy providence, knowing that we are instructed by the apostolic institutions, with submissive heart we venerate the day of their glorious passion. Through, etc. XII. Likewise another. — We beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that the things which we offer, set upon this altar before the eyes of Thy majesty, Thou wouldst, appeased by the supplications of Thy blessed apostles, receive. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Who dost make Thy Church in apostolic solidity, etc.

Having solemnly performed, O Lord, the things which we have celebrated for the blessed passion of Thy apostles, may they, we beseech Thee, become for us saving by their intercession, in whose birthdays they have been exultantly bestowed. Through, etc. Hear, O Lord, Thy people, subject to Thee with the whole mind, and mercifully decree apostolic protection for Thy suppliant: that, protected in body and heart, it may seek after what it piously believes, and may obtain what it justly hopes for. Through, etc. XIII. — The gifts which we bring, O Lord, graciously receive, and because they are hindered by our offenses, may they be aided by the prayers of Thy apostles. Through, etc. It is truly meet. For Thou dost scourge us with temporal misfortunes, because Thou willest not that we should undergo the loss of eternal things;

And it is better to be chastened by present evils and advance toward divine things, than by worldly prosperity to stray from the path of everlasting blessedness. Amid which things we know ourselves to be instructed alike by apostolic precepts and by apostolic aids; and therefore, celebrating their solemnities, we offer to Thee the victims of praise. Through, etc. Refreshed by the heavenly sacraments and joys, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be protected by the aids of those in whose triumphs we glory. Through, etc. Look mercifully, O good Father, upon Thy flock; and by the blessed apostles guard it with perpetual protection, whom Thou hast granted to be the pastors of the whole Church. Through, etc. XIV. Likewise another.

Almighty, everlasting God, grant to your peoples to venerate with full devotion the birthday of the chief apostles; that, as the world was schooled by their teachings unto the confession of the one Godhead, so, their merits interceding, it may serve the divine unity. Through, etc. May the apostolic prayer, we beseech you, O Lord, commend the prayers and offerings of your Church, that what we celebrate for their glory may profit us unto pardon. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Who, according to the inviolable ordinance of your promise, to the apostolic confession, etc.—as above in the preface of the First Mass, up to 'they dissent';

and may that same be everywhere the true structure of the sacred Body, which, by your dispensing, devoutly obeys whatever that See shall have decreed—the See which you willed to hold the primacy of the whole Church. Through, etc. Having received the sacraments, O Lord, we suppliantly beseech you that, the blessed apostles interceding, the things we perform in honour of their venerable passion may profit us unto healing. Through, etc. Look graciously, O Lord, upon your household, and defend it by the apostolic protections; that it may be governed by the prayers of those princes upon whom, by your appointment, it rests. Through, etc. XV. Likewise another.—Almighty, everlasting God, who, taking thought for our frailty, console us by the unceasing solemnity of your saints:

grant us, established under such patrons, both to be fortified with continual security and to rejoice in saving progress. Through, etc. May our gifts be acceptable to you, O Lord, which are both instituted by your precepts and commended by the glorious festival of the saints. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Who, amid the darkness of errors, granted the luminaries of a manifold and blessed martyrdom to shine forth for the world, so that in the sight of the human race a wondrous reversal might appear in their contest, whereby the persecutors, while prevailing, fail, and the slain, while failing, prevail; whereby the memory and power of those raging ones has vanished, but the death of these who died shines precious everywhere, and their name;

of those there survive no ensigns of royal power, but of these the outcome displays their virtue; and what befalls each is discerned not by faith alone, but is also visibly proved. Through, etc. We beseech you, O Lord our God, that, your saints interceding, we may follow in understanding those most holy mysteries which we frequent in act. Through, etc. Be present, O Lord, to your people who make supplication with the patronage of your saints, that what it does not presume upon by its own confidence, it may obtain by the merits of those who intercede. Through, etc. XVI. Likewise another.—O God, who set the foundations of your Church upon the holy mountains: grant that it be undermined by no assaults of errors, shaken by no disturbance of the world;

but let it be ever both firm by the apostolic institution and secure by the apostolic intervention. Through, etc. We offer the sacrifice, O Lord, which for reverence of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul we both continually render and owe to your majesty. Through, etc. It is truly meet. With whom, since the festival of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul is continual, their glory eternal, and the birthday of their heavenly triumph perpetual; yet you grant us, recalling the beginnings of their blessed confession, to venerate them with frequent devotion, that the more constant honour paid to their most sacred passion may profit us unto greater grace. Through, etc. By the intercession, O Lord, of the blessed apostles, we beseech you, help us, for whose solemnity we have received your holy things with rejoicing.

Through, etc. Be present, O Lord, to your faithful, nor suffer those to lie subject to any perils of mind and body whom the glorious confession of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul fortifies. Through, etc. XVII. Likewise another.—Almighty, everlasting God, who rescue your Church, founded upon the apostolic firmness, from the terror of the gates of hell: grant that, persisting in your truth, it may admit no fellowship of the faithless. Through, etc. What we set forth upon this altar, O Lord, we offer to the eyes of your majesty, etc. It is truly meet. Who therefore wholesomely scourge us with temporal adversities, etc.

Receiving the pledge of eternal life, we humbly implore that, upheld by the apostolic patronage, we may take by manifest reception that which we bear in the image of the sacrament. Through, etc. Protect, O Lord, your people, and defend it by the supports of the blessed apostles. They are your servants, men and women, and subject to you, O Lord. May they continually attain your blessings, which they suppliantly and unceasingly await. Through, etc. XVIII. Likewise another.—Hear us, O God our Saviour, and protect us by the protections of your apostles, whom you granted us to be faithful by their teachings. Through, etc. Receive, we beseech you, O Lord, the gifts of your people, which they have offered for the birthday of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul;

and grant to be graciously pleased with them by their merits. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Who with everlasting mercy your Church, etc. Having received the sacrament, O Lord, we beseech, the blessed apostles interceding, that what we do in time we may lay hold of unto eternity. Through, etc. Protect, O Lord, your people, and preserve with perpetual defence those who trust in the patronage of the apostles. Through, etc. XIX. Likewise another.—Almighty, everlasting God, grant to your peoples the Birthday of the chief apostles Peter and Paul, etc. It is truly meet. For it is the work of your doing and the power of your might, that the glorious confession of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, whose yearly vows we celebrate, be never captured by falsehoods nor troubled by adversities;

but rather that the devout structure of your Body everywhere, by your dispensing, may receive whatever that See shall have decreed—the See which you willed to hold the primacy of the whole Church. Through, etc. Grant, we beseech you, O Lord, that your blessed apostles may intercede for us: for so we trust that we can be saved, if the Church be governed by the prayers of those princes whom, by your appointment, it employs. Through, etc. Having received the sacraments, O Lord, with submissive heart we ask and pray that, your blessed apostles interceding, the things done in honour of their passion may profit us unto healing. Through, etc. XX. Likewise another.

—Almighty, everlasting God, who make us rejoice in the manifold solemnity of those whose patronage you bestowed upon our frailty: grant, we beseech you, that their oft-repeated solemnity may be an increase of our protection. Through, etc. Look graciously, O Lord, upon the offerings of your people, that what our confidence does not merit you may unceasingly bestow through those whom you appointed as our prelates. Through, etc. It is truly meet. Who, that you might make this See the governance of the whole Church, and might show that what it had preached is to be kept everywhere, established in it at once both the prince of apostolic dignity and the teacher of the nations. Through, etc.