Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church

Double

mtv (unless I Vespers is said)

Common

Lauds

Oremus.
Deus, qui pópulo tuo ætérnæ salútis beátum Hilárium minístrum tribuísti : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, quem Doctórem vitæ habúimus in terris, intercessórem habére mereámur in cælis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, by whose providence blessed Hilary was sent to guide thy people in the way of everlasting salvation : grant, we beseech thee, that as we have learned of him the doctrine of life on earth, so we may be found worthy to have him for our advocate in heaven.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

At Second Vespers of the Octave Day of the Epiphany

Poitiers Cathedral

Ant:  O Doctor óptime, Ecclésiæ sanctæ lumen, beáte Hílari, divínæ legis amátor, deprecáre pro nobis Fílium Dei.

Ant:  O Doctor right excellent, O light of Holy Church, O blessed Hilary, lover of the divine law, entreat for us the Son of God.

Oremus.
Deus, qui pópulo tuo ætérnæ salútis beátum Hilárium minístrum tribuísti : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, quem Doctórem vitæ habúimus in terris, intercessórem habére mereámur in cælis.  (Per Dóminum.)

Let us pray.
O God, by whose providence blessed Hilary was sent to guide thy people in the way of everlasting salvation : grant, we beseech thee, that as we have learned of him the doctrine of life on earth, so we may be found worthy to have him for our advocate in heaven.  (Through.)

Ant:  Iste Sanctus pro lege Dei sui certávit usque ad mortem, et a verbis impiórum non tímuit ; fundátus enim erat supra firmam petram.

Ant:  This is a Saint who strove for the truth, even unto death, and feared not the words of sinful men, forasmuch as he was founded upon a sure foundation.

V.  Glória et honóre coronásti eum, Dómine.
R.  Et constituísti eum super ópera mánuum tuárum.

V.  Thou hast crowned him with glory and worship, O Lord.
R.  And hast made him to have dominion of the works of thy hands.

Oremus.
Concéde, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus : ut ad meliórem vitam Sanctórum tuórum exémpla nos próvocent ; quátenus, quorum solémnia ágimus, étiam actus imitémur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that, by the example of thy Saints, we may so learn to amend our lives ; that, as we outwardly observe their festivals, so we may likewise imitate their holiness.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Sunday Compline

Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

Invitatory and Hymn

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

First Nocturn

The Lessons for the First Nocturn are taken from the occurrent Scripture.  If, however, they are to be taken from the Common, they are read from that of a Doctor of the Church,  Sapientiam.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Doctor

Second Nocturn

Absolutio: Ipsíus píetas et misericórdia nos ádjuvet, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May his loving-kindness and mercy assist us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 4: Deus Pater omnípotens sit nobis propítius et clemens.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 4:  May God the Father Almighty shew us his mercy and pity.
R.  Amen.

Hilárius, in Aquitánia nóbili génere natus, doctrína et eloquéntia excélluit.  Qui primum in matrimónio quasi mónachi vitam egit : deínde propter singuláres virtútes Pictavórum epíscopus creátur : quod munus episcopále sic gessit, ut a fidélibus summam laudem consequerétur.  Quo témpore, cum terróribus, bonórum spoliatióne, exsílio, et omni crudelitáte Constántius imperátor Cathólicos vexáret, nisi ad Ariánas partes transírent ; Hilárius tamquam firmíssimum murum se Ariánis oppónens, illórum furórem in se concitávit.  Itaque multis petítus insídiis, tandem dolo Saturníni Arelaténsis epíscopi, de synodo Biterrénsi in Phrygiam relegátus est : ubi et mórtuum suscitávit, et libros duódecim scripsit de Trinitáte contra Ariános.

Hilary was born of a noble family in Aquitaine, and is distinguished as a divine and an orator.  He was married in his earlier life, but even then lived the life of a monk : and on account of his remarkable holiness, was ultimately made Bishop of Poitiers, in which office he did his duty so as to gain the universal praise of the faithful.  At that time the Emperor Constantius was persecuting the Catholics by threats, by the plundering of their goods, by exile, and at length, by every species of cruelty, in order to force them to yield to the Arian heresy.  Against the Arians Hilary set himself up as a brazen wall, and turned upon himself the fierceness of their anger.  They assailed him by many artifices, and at last Saturninus, Bishop of Arles, at the Council of Beziers, procured his banishment to Phrygia.  During this exile he raised a dead man to life, and wrote a work in twelve books on the Trinity, against the Arians.

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

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

R.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.
V.  Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei.
R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

R.  I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast.
V.  The enemy shall not be able to do him violence ; the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
R.  My hand shall hold him fast.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal.
R.  Amen.

Quadriénnio post coácto concílio ad Seleucíam, Isáuriæ urbem, Hilárius adésse compúlsus est : ac deínde Constantinópolim proféctus, ubi extrémum fídei perículum animadvértit, tribus libéllis públice datis, audiéntiam imperatóris popóscit, ut de fide cum adversáriis coram disputáret.  Verum cum Ursácius et Valens Ariáni epíscopi, quos Hilárius scriptis confutárat, præséntis eruditiónem pertiméscerent, Constántio persuasérunt, ut spécie honóris eum in suum episcopátum restitúeret.  Tunc Hilárium e prælio hæreticórum reverténtem, ut inquit sanctus Hierónymus, Galliárum ecclésia compléxa est : quem ad episcopátum secútus est Martínus, qui póstea Turonénsi præfuit ecclésiæ ; tantúmque illo doctóre profécit, quantum ejus póstea sánctitas declarávit.

In the fourth year of his exile took place the Council of Seleucia in Isauria, at which Hilary was obliged to be present, but afterwards withdrew to Constantinople.  Here he realized more sharply the awful nature of this crisis in the history of Christianity, published three pamphlets in the form of letters to the Emperor, and demanded from that Prince leave to hold a public disputation in his presence.  The Arian Bishops Ursacius and Valens, whom Hilary had already confuted in writing, were afraid to meet him in debate, and therefore induced Constantius, under pretence of pardon, to send him back to his Bishoprick.  His mother, the Church of Gaul, to use the language of Jerome, received him with open arms on his return from the battle with the hereticks.  He was followed to Poitiers by Martin, afterwards Bishop of Tours, whose after holiness was a fruit of his teaching.

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

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

R.  Pósui adjutórium super poténtem, et exaltávi eléctum de plebe mea : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.
V.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum.
R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.

R.  I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people. * My hand shall hold him fast.
V.  I have found David, my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him.
R.  My hand shall hold him fast.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love.
R.  Amen.

Magna deínceps tranquillitáte Pictavórum ecclésiam administrávit : Galliámque univérsam addúxit, ut Arianórum impietátem condemnáret.  Multos libros scripsit mira eruditióne ; quos omnes sanctus Hierónymus ad Lætam, sine ulla erróris suspicióne legi posse testátur illis verbis : Hilárii libros inoffénso decúrrat pede.  Migrávit in cælum Idibus Januárii, Valentiniáno et Valénte imperatóribus, anno post Christum natum trecentésimo sexagésimo nono.  Eum a multis Pátribus et concíliis insígnem Ecclésiæ Doctórem nuncupátum, atque uti talem in áliquot diœcésibus cultum, tandem instánte synodo Burdigalénsi Pius nonus Póntifex máximus, ex sacrórum Rítuum Congregatiónis consúlto, universális Ecclésiæ Doctórem declarávit et confirmávit, ac ipsíus festo die Missam et Offícium de Doctóribus ab ómnibus recitári jussit.

Henceforth he ruled the Church of Poitiers in great peace.  By his exertions the Church of Gaul was led to denounce the Arian blasphemy.  His wonderful learning is seen in his numerous works, of which Jerome writeth to Laeta that he deemeth them quite faultless.  One can follow Hilary in his books, saith he, without tripping once.  He passed from earth to heaven upon the thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord 369, in the reign of the Emperors Valentinian and Valens.  He had already been called an illustrious Doctor of the Church, by many Fathers and Councils, and was so styled in the Liturgy in some dioceses, when at length, Pope Pius IX, at the prayer of the Synod of Bordeaux, and in accordance with a resolution of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, proclaimed and confirmed the title, and commanded that the Mass and Office of his Feast should be everywhere said as those of a Doctor.

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

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

R.  Iste est, qui ante Deum magnas virtútes operátus est, et omnis terra doctrína ejus repléta est : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.

R.  This is he who wrought mighty deeds and valiant in the sight of God, and all the earth is filled with his doctrine: * May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.
V.  He was a man who despised the life of the world and attained unto the kingdom of heaven.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.

If this Feast be reduced to the rank of Simple, and Lesson IX of this Feast is to be said according to the Rubrics, the following abbreviated version may be used.

Hilárius, in Aquitánia nóbili génere natus, doctrína et eloquéntia excélluit.  Pictavórum epíscopus creátus, tale munus sic gessit, ut a fidélibus summam laudem consequerétur.  Ob cathólicam fidem, quam strénue propugnávit, quadriénnio apud Phrygiam relegátus, inter ália mirácula, mórtuum suscitávit.  Duódecim libros scripsit de Trinitáte contra Ariános, et Gálliam univérsam addúxit, ut Arianórum impietátem condemnáret.  Multos libros scripsit mira eruditióne ; quos omnes sanctus Hierónymus ad Lætam sine ulla erróris suspicióne legi posse testátur illis verbis : Hilárii libros inoffénso decúrrat pede.  Migrávit in cælum Idibus Januárii, anno trecentésimo sexagésimo nono.  Eum Pius nonus Póntifex máximus, instánte synodo Burdigalénsi, Doctórem universális Ecclésiæ declarávit et confirmávit.

This Hilary was born of a noble family in Aquitaine, and is distinguished as a divine and an orator.  Made Bishop of Poitiers, he exercised his ministry so as to gain the universal praise of the faithful.  His vigorous campaign for the Catholick faith led to a four-year exile in Phrygia.  There he raised a dead man to life and performed other miracles.  He wrote twelve books on the Trinity, against the Arians, and induced all Gaul to condemn the Arian blasphemy.  He wrote many books shewing his wonderful learning ; St. Jerome writeth to Laeta that he deemeth them quite faultless : One can follow Hilary in his books, saith he, without tripping once.  He passed from earth to heaven upon the thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord 369.  Pope Pius IX, at the prayer of the Synod of Bordeaux, proclaimed and confirmed him as Doctor of the universal Church.

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

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

After the conclusion of the Second Nocturn, the Third Nocturn is begun according to the current weekday, as given in the table below.

Third Nocturn

Absolutio: A vínculis peccatórum nostrórum absólvat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May the Lord Almighty and merciful break the bonds of our sins and set us free.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 7: Evangélica léctio sit nobis salus et protéctio.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 7:  May the Gospel's holy lection be our safeguard and protection.
R.  Amen.

In illo témpore : Dixit Jesus discípulis suis:   Vos estis sal terræ.  Quod si sal evanúerit, in quo saliétur?  Et réliqua.

At that time : Jesus said unto his disciples:  Ye are the salt of the earth : But if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  And so on, and that which followeth.

Vos estis sal terræ.  Quod si sal infatuátum fúerit, ad níhilum valet id quod saliétur.  Sal, ut árbitror, terræ nullum est.  Quómodo ergo Apóstolos sal terræ nuncupávit?  Sed propríetas est quærénda dictórum, quam et Apostolórum offícium, et ipsíus salis natúra monstrábit.  Sal est in se uno cóntinens aquæ et ignis eleméntum, et hoc ex duóbus est unum.

Ye are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  There is, to my thinking, no such thing as salt of the earth.  How them can the Apostles be called the salt of the earth?  We must seek out the true meaning of these words, and the same will be made plain when we consider the office of the Apostles, and the nature of salt itself.  Now salt is a compound of elements, for it joineth in itself a certain weakness like unto water, and a certain power like unto fire, so that it hath a double nature.

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

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

R.  Amávit eum Dóminus, et ornávit eum : stolam glóriæ índuit eum, * Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum.
V.  Induit eum Dóminus lorícam fídei, et ornávit eum.
R.  Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum.

R.  The Lord loved him and adorned him ; he clothed him with a robe of glory : * And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.
V.  The Lord put upon him the breastplate of faith, and adorned him.
R.  And crowned him at the gates of Paradise.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 8:  Cujus festum cólimus, ipse intercédat pro nobis ad Dóminum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 8:  May he whose feast day we are keeping, be our Advocate with God.
R.  Amen.

Hic ígitur in omnem usum humáni géneris efféctus, incorruptiónem corpóribus, quibus fúerit aspérsus, impértit, et ad omnem sensum condíti sapóris aptíssimus est.  Apóstoli autem sunt rerum cæléstium prædicatóres et æternitátis velut satóres ; immortalitátem ómnibus corpóribus, quibus eórum sermo aspérsus fúerit, conferéntes.  Mérito ígitur sal terræ nuncupáti sunt, per doctrínæ virtútem, saliéndi modo, æternitáti córpora reservántes.

Salt is therefore able to serve the use of man in divers ways, for wherever it is added, it both preserveth from corruption and giveth savour.  And to the Apostle was given a similar two-fold power.  For the words which they scattered upon the world, as preachers of the kingdom of heaven, do act as a preservative unto immortality.  Meetly then are they called the salt of the earth, the savour of whose teaching doth keep sweet the receiver thereof even unto life everlasting.

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

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

R.  In médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os ejus, * Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.
V.  Jucunditátem et exsultatiónem thesaurizávit super eum.
R.  Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus.

R.  In the midst of the congregation he opened his mouth : * And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.
V.  He shall find joy, and a crown of gladness.
R.  And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And the Lord filled him with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding..

If Lesson ix is to be taken from an occurring Feast or Sunday, it is given in its proper place, as announced in the Ordo.

Alternate Ninth Lesson

For St. Felix, Priest and Martyr :

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 9: Ad societátem cívium supernórum perdúcat nos Rex Angelórum.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 9: May the King of Angels give us fellowship with all the citizens of heaven.
R.  Amen.

Felix Nolánus présbyter, cum in idóla veheméntius inveherétur, ab infidélibus várie vexátus, in cárcerem conjícitur.  Unde ab Angelo nocte edúctus, quærere jussus est Maximiánum Nolæ epíscopum : qui cum sénio conféctus desperáret se ferre posse supplícia persequéntium, se abdíderat in silvam.  Quo cum Felix Deo duce pervenísset, sanctum epíscopum humi jacéntem pene mórtuum videt ; quem recreátum ac sublátum in húmeros, apud fidélem víduam reficiéndum curávit.  Sed cum is íterum idolórum cultóres impietátis argúeret, facto in ipsum ímpetu, fúgiens in angústo duórum paríetum intervállo se occultávit ; qui áditus cum repénte araneárum telis pertéxtus visus esset, némini recéntis látebræ suspiciónem relíquit.  Inde ígitur evádens Felix in ædibus piæ mulíeris tres menses látuit.  Cum vero Dei Ecclésia requiéscere cœpísset, Nolam rédiens, multísque ibi vitæ exémplis, et doctrínæ præcéptis, miraculísque ad Christi fidem convérsis, constánter étiam recusáto ejus urbis episcopátu, obdormívit in Dómino, sepultúsque est prope Nolam in loco, quem in Pincis appellábant.

Felix was a priest of Nola, who on account of his fiery zeal against idolatry, suffered much persecution from the heathens, and was cast into prison.  From thence an angel delivered him by night, and bade him go to Maximian, Bishop of Nola.  This Bishop, enfeebled by old age, had at length despaired of power to withstand the torments of the persecutors, and had hidden himself in a wood.  Thither came Felix, by the will of God, and found the holy bishop lying half-dead upon the ground.  He succoured him, and carried him upon his shoulders to the house of an holy widow.  On another occasion, Felix, having again provoked the anger of the devil-worshippers, became an object of their pursuit, from which he hid himself in a narrow place between two walls.  Hardly had he entered, when some spiders wove their webs across the entrance, which the enemy perceiving, concluded that no man had entered, and passed by.  After leaving this hiding-place, Felix lay for three months in the house of an holy woman.  After the Lord gave peace to his Church, the Saint returned to Nola, where he turned many to Christ by his life, his preaching, and his miracles.  He steadily refused to accept the Bishoprick, fell asleep in the Lord, and was buried at Nola in the place called The Pines.

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

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

Lauds

Poitiers Cathedral

V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas.
R.  Et osténdit illi regnum Dei.

V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths.
R.  And shewed him the kingdom of God.

Ad Bened. Ant:  Euge, serve bone * et fidélis, quia in pauca fuísti fidélis, supra multa te constítuam, dicit Dóminus.

Ant. on Bened:  Well done, good and faithful servant: * thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, saith the Lord.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, qui pópulo tuo ætérnæ salútis beátum Hilárium minístrum tribuísti : præsta, quæsumus ; ut, quem Doctórem vitæ habúimus in terris, intercessórem habére mereámur in cælis.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, by whose providence blessed Hilary was sent to guide thy people in the way of everlasting salvation : grant, we beseech thee, that as we have learned of him the doctrine of life on earth, so we may be found worthy to have him for our advocate in heaven.  Through.

Ant:  Qui odit ánimam suam in hoc mundo, in vitam ætérnam custódit eam.

Ant:  He that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

V.  The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree.
R.  And shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus.

Oremus.
Concéde, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus : ut ad meliórem vitam Sanctórum tuórum exémpla nos próvocent ; quátenus, quorum solémnia ágimus, étiam actus imitémur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God : that, by the example of thy Saints, we may so learn to amend our lives ; that, as we outwardly observe their festivals, so we may likewise imitate their holiness.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Vespers from the Chapter onwards is of the following day, with a Commemoration of the preceding, and of St. Maurus, Abbot.