Lessons for a Feast of
Several Confessors

On the Feast of several Confessors whether or not they be Bishops, the Office is said as in the Common of a Bishop Confessor or in the Common of a Confessor not a Bishop, but in the Collect and Lessons those words which be in the singular number on the Feast of only one Saint are said in the plural, with the Scripture Lessons as follows.

First Nocturn

Absolutio: Exáudi, Dómine Jesu Christe, preces servórum tuórum, et miserére nobis : Qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivis et regnas in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  Graciously hear, O Lord Jesu Christ, the prayers of thy servants, and have mercy upon us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

Benedíctio 1: Benedictióne perpétua benedícat nos Pater ætérnus.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 1:  May the Father Eternal bless us with a never-ending blessing.
R.  Amen.

Laudémus viros gloriósos, et paréntes nostros in generatióne sua.  Multam glóriam fecit Dóminus, magnificéntia sua a sæculo.  Dominántes in potestátibus suis hómines magni virtúte, et prudéntia sua præditi, nuntiántes in prophétis dignitátem prophetárum, et imperántes in præsénti pópulo, et virtúte prudéntiæ pópulis sanctíssima verba.  In perítia sua requiréntes modos músicos, et narrántes cármina scripturárum.

Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.  The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.  Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies : leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent in their instructions : such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Euge serve bone et fidélis, quia in pauca fuísti fidélis, supra multa te constítuam : * Intra in gáudium Dómini tui.
V.  Dómine, quinque talénta tradidísti mihi, ecce ália quinque superlucrátus sum.
R.  Intra in gáudium Dómini tui.

R.  Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things : * Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
V.  Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents ; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
R.  Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

Benedíctio 2: Unigénitus Dei Fílius nos benedícere et adjuváre dignétur.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 2: May the Son of God, the sole-begotten, mercifully bless and keep us.
R.  Amen.

Hómines dívites in virtúte, pulchritúdinis stúdium habéntes, pacificántes in dómibus suis.  Omnes isti in generatiónibus gentis suæ glóriam adépti sunt, et in diébus suis habéntur in láudibus.  Qui de illis nati sunt, reliquérunt nomen narrándi laudes eórum : et sunt quorum non est memória : periérunt quasi qui non fúerint : et nati sunt, quasi non nati, et fílii ipsórum cum ipsis.

Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations : all these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.  There be of them that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.  And some there be, which have no memorial ; who are perished, as though they had never been ; and their children after them.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Ecce sacérdos magnus, qui in diébus suis plácuit Deo : * Ideo jurejurándo fecit illum Dóminus créscere in plebem suam.
V.  Benedictiónem ómnium géntium dedit illi, et testaméntum suum confirmávit super caput ejus.
R.  Ideo jurejurándo fecit illum Dóminus créscere in plebem suam.

R.  Behold a great priest who in his days pleased the Lord : * Therefore by an oath the Lord assured him that he would increase him among his people.
V.  He established him with the blessing of all men and the Covenant, and made it rest upon his head.
R.  Therefore by an oath the Lord assured him that he would increase him among his people.

R.  Justus germinábit sicut lílium : * Et florébit in ætérnum ante Dóminum.
V.  Plantátus in domo Dómini, in átriis domus Dei nostri.
R.  Et florébit in ætérnum ante Dóminum.

R.  The righteous shall grow as the lily, * And flourish for ever before the Lord.
V.  Such as are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God.
R.  And flourish for ever before the Lord.

Benedíctio 3: Spíritus Sancti grátia illúminet sensus et corda nostra.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 3: May the grace of the Holy Spirit all our heart and mind enlighten.
R.  Amen.

Sed illi viri misericórdiæ sunt, quorum pietátes non defuérunt : cum sémine eórum pérmanent bona, heréditas sancta nepótes eórum, et in testaméntis stetit semen eórum.  Et fílii eórum propter illos usque in ætérnum manent : semen eórum et glória eórum non derelinquétur.  Córpora ipsórum in pace sepúlta sunt, et nomen eórum vivit in generatiónem.  Sapiéntiam ipsórum narrent pópuli, laudem eórum núntiet Ecclésia.

But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.  With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the Covenant.  Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.  Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.  Their bodies are buried in peace ; but their name liveth for evermore.  The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Jurávit Dóminus, et non pœnitébit eum : * Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum secúndum órdinem Melchísedech.
V.  Dixit Dóminus Dómino meo, Sede a dextris meis.
R.  Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum secúndum órdinem Melchísedech.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum secúndum órdinem Melchísedech.

R.  The Lord sware and will not repent, * Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedech.
V.  The Lord said unto my Lord : Sit thou on my right hand.
R.  Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedech.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedech.

R.  Iste cognóvit justítiam, et vidit mirabília magna, et exorávit Altíssimum : * Et invéntus est in número Sanctórum.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Et invéntus est in número Sanctórum.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et invéntus est in número Sanctórum.

R.  This is he which knew righteousness, and saw great wonders, and made his prayer unto the Most High; * And he is numbered among the Saints.
V.  This is he which despised the life of this world, and is come unto an everlasting kingdom.
R.  And he is numbered among the Saints.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And he is numbered among the Saints.

After the conclusion of the First Nocturn, the Second Nocturn is begun according to the proper of today's Feast, or according to the Common, or according to the current weekday, as given in the table below.

Proper Office

Common Office