Tractates 4

SELECTED PASSAGES FROM THE OFFICE OF ZENO. I.— ANTIPHONS AND RESPONSORIES. (From two Veronese manuscripts.) On the Nativity of Saint Zeno. At Vespers. While Zeno greatly flourished in the honor of the episcopate, having performed not a few miracles, he healed by the power of God the daughter of Gallienus Caesar from a ruinous plague. Alleluia. Holy confessor, great priest, blessed Zeno, intercede for us. Over the Venite. The King of confessors. Psalm: Come. Antiphon. From his mother's womb blessed Zeno was sanctified, and from the cradle blessed. Alleluia. Psalm: Blessed is the man. Antiphon. By continual increases of probity and knowledge he deserved to attain to this, that through a most holy life he was made a Shepherd among the peoples. Psalm: Why have the nations raged. Antiphon.

By continual fasts and frequent prayers he besought the Lord to open to him an entrance for preaching among the peoples. Alleluia. Psalm: Lord, how are they multiplied. Verse: With my voice. Response. This is the holy bishop Zeno, whom the Lord adorned with the twofold virtue of holiness and wisdom, whose illustrious miracles shone forth into the world, and who in the heavens attained the fellowship of the angels. Alleluia. Verse. This is he who wrought great virtues before God, and all the earth was filled with his teaching. And in the heavens. Response. Sanctified from the womb and blessed from the cradle, blessed Zeno deserved to attain to this, that through a most holy life he was made a shepherd among the peoples. Alleluia, alleluia. Verse.

Into all the earth went forth the sound of his manner of life, and his holiness shone brilliantly. Through a most holy life. Response. In the more secret part of the oratory, by continual fasts and frequent prayers, he besought the Lord that He would deign to open to him an entrance for preaching among the peoples. Alleluia, alleluia. Verse. Day and night he was devoted to converting the souls of men in the love of Christ. That to him. Antiphon. So affable was he in his discourses, and gentle in his bearing, that God was praised in him by all who came to him. Psalm: When I called upon. While he was engaged in the exercise of fishing in the river, he saw a certain man, sitting in a wagon, plunged headlong into the stream. Alleluia. Psalm: My words.

The man of God, raising his hand upward, made the sign of the cross, saying: Get thee back, Satan, lest thou destroy the man whom God created. Alleluia. Psalm: O Lord, our Lord. Verse: The Lord led the just man. Response. So affable was he in speech, and gentle in mildness and bearing, that God was praised in him by all who came to him. Alleluia, alleluia. Verse. So eager was he that men, leaving their idols, soon hastened to him and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. That God in. Response. While he was engaged in the exercise of fishing in the river Athesis, lifting up his eyes, he saw a certain man, sitting in a wagon with oxen yoked to it, plunged into the stream. Alleluia, alleluia. Verse.

For he was being carried along with such speed that it was made plain to all that it was wrought by the craft of the ancient foe. He saw. Response. Lifting up his hand, blessed Zeno made the sign of the holy cross, and with repeated voice said: Get thee back, Satan, lest thou destroy the man whom God created. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Verse. When the demon saw that sign, it vanished like smoke with shrieks and a hideous gnashing. Get thee back. Antiphon. Blessed Zeno said: The Lord does not permit thee to do anything against His servant. Alleluia. Psalm: Lord, who shall dwell. The wretched father and the whole royal house were afflicted with grief, because the girl was being grievously choked. Alleluia. Psalm: Lord, in Thy strength.

Zeno, the priest of God, was sitting upon a stone, and, following the precepts of the Apostles, was fishing in the river. Alleluia. Psalm: The earth is the Lord's. Verse. The Lord loved him. Response. Hastening therefore, the demon entered the palace of Caesar Gallienus and, having seized his only daughter, began to vex her cruelly. Alleluia, alleluia. Verse. The wretched father, and together his whole household, was afflicted with torment and grief. And having seized. Response. As the Priest of Christ entered the palace, and the sign of the cross being made, the demon at once began to cry out, saying: Thou, Zeno, dost expel me; and I, because of thy holiness, cannot stand. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Verse. And if I depart hence, I go to Verona, and there thou shalt find me. And I.

Response. Holy Zeno, confessor of Christ, hear thy little servants as they entreat; and obtain for them, O thou man of God, indulgence thrice from heaven. Verse. O holy Zeno, golden star, by the grace of the Lord, receive the groanings of thy servants with thy wonted clemency. At Lauds. Antiphon. The Lord Jesus Christ is almighty, for it is fitting that the wondrous works of God be made manifest. Alleluia. The blessed Priest, rising, made a prayer, and went on to the palace, where the King was afflicted on account of his daughter. Alleluia. As the confessor of Christ entered the palace, the sign of the cross being made, the demon cried out through the mouth of the girl, saying: Thou, Zeno, hast come to expel me, and because of thy holiness I cannot stand. Alleluia. Blessed Zeno, holding the girl's hand, saying:

In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, I command thee, come out of her, O demon. Alleluia. For the Priest of Christ restored the King's daughter, sound, from every mockery of the demoniacal assault. Alleluia. Verse. He chose him. At the Gospel. The crown received from the king, blessed Zeno distributed to the poor, saying: If the Lord works lofty deeds, to Him be everlasting praises rendered and glory. Alleluia. Antiphon. Holy confessor Zeno, shepherd of the Lord's flock, we beseech thee, intercede for us, that we may deserve to be with thee in the heavens. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. II.— SHORT LESSONS AND HYMNS. (From various manuscripts

and breviaries.) On St. Zeno bishop, at Vespers. Lesson. The Lord established for His holy Zeno an everlasting covenant, and gave him a great priesthood. Sanctified from the womb. Verse. Into all the earth. Hymn (From a manuscript of the chapter of Verona). Zeno, renowned Pontiff, splendid athlete of Christ, be present to our voices, which we devoutly pour forth to thee. O glorious Patron, maker of our health, that we may worthily render songs, break asunder our crimes. Deign to be present to thy servants, O lovable leader: may our breasts ever perceive thy divine powers. Thou art our refuge, thou our most powerful strength, thou our salvation and protection and our jubilation. O Shepherd, holy and bright, kindly succor us (Cor.

succor), and look upon us suppliants, receive the vows of thy servants. To God the Father be glory, and to His only Son, with the Spirit the Paraclete, both now and forever. Amen. At Nocturns. Hymn. Jesus, Redeemer of all, etc. At Lauds. Lesson. The Lord knew His holy Zeno in His blessings, preserved for him His mercy, and he found grace before the eyes of the Lord. The Lord loved him and adorned him. Verse. He clothed him with a robe of glory. And adorned. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Another hymn, first line. O God, the crown of Thy soldiers, the hope and reward, attend with gracious ears to our unworthy voices. Thou who didst place bishop Zeno, pure from every crime, drawn forth from the cage of the flesh, above the heavens.

Oh, by his bountiful merits, loosen our crimes here, free us from harms, and in the ages to come. Thee all things alike praise, O highest arbiter of all, whose kingdom is stable through the age without time. Amen. Verse. Thou art a priest forever. Three Hymns (From the Benedictine Breviary manuscripts of the monks and nuns of Verona.) Of St. Zeno at Vespers, Hymn I. There shines forth the mirror of the world, Zeno the wondrous prelate, whose solemn feasts the year's cycle brings to us. Who, fervent in the faith of Christ, spurning this present age, endowed with the flower of virtues, possessed the reward of heaven. He, bearing the burden of the flesh, wrought many miracles, so that, as the brightest light shines, he put to flight the blind shadows.

Indeed, fishing in the river, he saw, falling headlong from a wagon, his rustic with the oxen sinking into the depths of the stream. When the pious man perceived that the most wicked foe had wrought this, he poured out prayers to the Lord, beseeching His aid. The grace of Christ came to the rescue, which rewards those who believe in it; it freed this man, restoring his former safety. To God the Father be glory, etc. At Nocturns, Hymn II. After this he healed the only daughter of the emperor, whom the most evil demon had then made his lodging. The channel of the river Athesis, swelling beyond its wont, mounted up to the lofty summit of the church. Forthwith the most worthy merits of the holy man shine forth, for the water remained solid, though its nature is fluid.

We therefore beseech Thee as suppliants, O most holy prelate Zeno, that thou mayest make the Lord of heaven propitious to us; so that, after our crimes are washed away, we may enjoy his glory, destined to possess happy solemnities forever. Grant this, O most loving Father, etc. At Lauds, Hymn III. The feasts of the holy prelate Zeno, who followed the Lord, return to be honored—he who hallowed for us a renowned day by his blessed end. He had been a great priest of the Most High, preaching, penetrating to the nations beyond the sea; thence God takes care to send him to the city of Verona. There, having gained much people for God, he instructs them with words, he made firm with deeds; at last, suffering death for God, he lives unto the age. Now in eternity he shines bright by his merits, illustrious and manifest to all the world, who, while living in the body, strove to please God alone.

O Shepherd shining with eternal triumph, hear thy little servants who make supplication to thee; for the just be their reward, and for those fallen into sin obtain pardon, that, by the great mercy of God, filling up the tenth order of heaven, we may behold His countenance for all the ages of the world. Let us all sound forth glory to the Father, and to thee, O Christ, begotten from on high, with whom abides the Holy Spirit, at once both holy and the Creator. Amen. [CXCIV] A Hymn. (From Vatican manuscript no. 1235.) On the birthday (feast) of St. Zeno. We offer to Christ a hymn of holy Zeno the Bishop, who scorned the world and bargained for the reward of Christ. In his youth he kept the precepts of God, and with generous hand he unceasingly gave alms to the poor. He practised the craft of fishing, following orthodox doctrine; he plunged his hand into the flood, and fished by the grace of God.

Like the Apostle Peter he was allotted worthy merits, and as Shepherd of the Veronese he shone as their Supreme Priest. By frequent fasts also he drove out the vices of the flesh, and often by teaching the people he destroyed the idols of the world. Being a great physician, he healed sick bodies, and often set free souls that were beset by the devil. Filled with such great grace, he passed away into the rest of Christ, and to us he ever displays the greatest wonders. Let us therefore, O peoples, entreat the Confessor of the Most High, that he himself may obtain for us peace and pardon. [CXCV] III. — COMMEMORATION OF ST. ZENO IN THE PRAYERS OR SUFFRAGES AT VESPERS AND LAUDS. (From a manuscript of the Chapter of Verona of the thirteenth century.) Of Saint Zeno, at Vespers. Antiphon: From his mother's womb blessed Zeno was sanctified, and from the cradle blessed. Versicle.

The Lord loved him. At Matins, or at the Morning Praises, the antiphon. Blessed Zeno, having received a crown from the King, distributed it to the poor, saying: If the Lord works lofty things, to Him let perpetual praises and glory be rendered. Versicle: Thou art a Priest. The Prayer. O God, who art the most mighty enlightener of thy bishops, mercifully grant that, formed by the magnificent examples of thy most blessed Priest and Confessor Zeno and fortified by his intercession, we may pass through the darkness of this present world without peril. IV. — A BLESSING ON THE FEAST OF ST. ZENO, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR. (From a fifteenth-century codex inscribed of the Sodality of St. Mary of the House.) Pontifical Blessings.

May the almighty God and Lord grant you abundance of blessing, He who took blessed Zeno to Himself by the virtue of his confession. Amen. And may He who made him to shine forth with miracles adorn you with increase of good works. Amen. So that, instructed by his examples and defended by the intercession of him whose day of burial you celebrate, you may be able to be joined to him in the heavenly realm. Amen. Which may He Himself deign to grant, whose... Amen. [CXCVI] V. — CONSTITUTION OF THEOBALD, BISHOP OF VERONA, EXCERPTED FROM THE CONSTITUTIONS PUBLISHED BY HIM IN THE YEAR 1303, AFTERWARD REPEATED BY BISHOP PETER DELLA SCALA. (From the manuscripts of the Chapter of Verona.) Chapter LXI, on the Festivities of Saint Zeno and of the celebration of the Saints Firmus and Rusticus.

Desiring with fitting devotion and due honours to venerate the glorious Confessor blessed Zeno, the Father and Patron of this city and diocese of Verona, and the blessed martyrs George, Firmus and Rusticus, in the flock entrusted to us, that we may be helped by their merits before God, we command that their feast be solemnly celebrated each year throughout the city and diocese of Verona by people and clergy, and that throughout all the churches of the same city and diocese, on each feria, at Matins and Vespers, a commemoration of them be made, with their antiphon and collect to be read in the aforesaid churches. Therefore, for the three martyrs let one common Antiphon and prayer be said:

O God, who grantest us to keep the memory of thy saints George, Firmus and Rusticus, thy martyrs, etc. The same commemoration was thereafter prescribed by John Matthew Giberti, Bishop of Verona, in book II, chapters 1 and 3 of his Constitutions, to be made not only at Lauds and Vespers, but also at Mass in the collect 'A cunctis' (From all dangers): which is observed even today.