St. John of Matha

Confessor

Double

mtv

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

COLLECT OF THE DAY

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

First Vespers

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Similábo eum * viro sapiénti, qui ædificávit domum suam supra petram.

Ant. on Magnif:  I will liken him * unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock.

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Deus, qui per sanctum Joánnem órdinem sanctíssimæ Trinitátis ad rediméndum de potestáte Saracenórum captívos cælitus institúere dignátus es : præsta, quæsumus; ut, ejus suffragántibus méritis, a captivitáte córporis et ánimæ, te adjuvánte, liberémur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who by thy revelation to thy blessed John didst institute the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, for the redemption of captives from the power of the infidel ; grant, we beseech thee; that at the intercession of his merits, we may by thee be delivered from all bondage both of body and soul.  Through.

Ant:  Hic vir, despíciens mundum et terréna, triúmphans, divítias cælo cóndidit ore, manu.

Ant:  Lo, a servant of God, who esteemed as naught all things earthly, and by word and work laid him up treasures in heaven.

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

Oremus.
Intercéssio nos, quæsumus, Dómine, beáti Romuáldi Abbátis comméndet : ut, quod nostris méritis non valémus, ejus patrocínio assequámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the prayers of thy holy Abbot, blessed Romuald may commend us unto thee : that we, who have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, may by his advocacy find favour in thy sight.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

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 Confessor not a Bishop, Series 1,  Beatus vir.

Scripture Lessons

Lessons from Common of Confessors

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.

Joánnes de Matha, órdinis sanctíssimæ Trinitátis redemptiónis captivórum institútor, Falcóne in Província natus est paréntibus pietáte et nobilitáte conspícuis.  Studiórum causa Aquas Séxtias, mox Parísios proféctus, confectóque theologíæ currículo, magistérii láuream adéptus, doctrínæ et virtútum splendóre enítuit.  Quibus motus Parisiénsis antístes, ad sacrum presbyterátus órdinem præ humilitáte reluctántem promóvit, eo consílio, ut in ea civitáte cómmorans, sapiéntia et móribus studiósæ juventúti prælucéret.  Cum autem in sacéllo ejúsdem epíscopi, ipso cum áliis astánte, primum Deo Sacrum offérret, cælésti favóre méruit recreári.  Nam Angelus cándida et fulgénti veste indútus, cui in péctore crux rúbei et cærúlei colóris assúta erat, bráchiis cancellátis et super duos captívos ad látera pósitos, Christiánum unum, álterum Maurum, exténsis, appáruit.  Qua visióne in éxtasim raptus, intelléxit prótinus vir Dei, se ad rediméndos ab infidélibus captívos destinári.

St. John of Matha, the founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Ransom of Prisoners, was born at Faucon, in Provence, and was the child of parents equally distinguished for their rank and their godly life.  He went for his education first to Aix and then to Paris.  At the University of Paris, where he went through the course of Divinity and took the degree of Doctor, he became eminent for learning and virtue.  For this reason the Bishop of Paris ordained him Priest, an honour from which his lowliness caused him to shrink, in the hope that he should induce him to remain at Paris, and be a bright example of wisdom and manners to the students who resorted thither.  He offered up the Holy Sacrifice to God for the first time in the private Chapel of the Bishop, and in the presence of that Prelate and divers other persons.  In the midst of the ceremony, a vision from God appeared to John.  There appeared to him an angel, clad in raiment white and glistering ; having sewn on his breast a cross of red and blue.  His arms were crossed before him, and his hands were upon the heads of two slaves, one a Christian and the other a Moor.  And immediately the man of God was in the spirit, and knew that he was called to the work of ransoming bondsmen from the power of the unbelievers.

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

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

R.  Honéstum fecit illum Dóminus, et custodívit eum ab inimícis, et a seductóribus tutávit illum : * Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam.
V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas, et osténdit illi regnum Dei.
R.  Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam.

R.  The Lord multiplied the fruit of his labours and defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait. * And gave him perpetual glory.
V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God.
R.  And gave him perpetual glory.

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.

St. Felix of Valois

Quo vero matúrius in re tanti moménti procéderet, in solitúdinem secéssit, ibíque divíno nutu factum est, ut Felícem Valésium in ipsa erémo jam multis annis degéntem repérerit : cum quo ínita societáte, se per triénnium in oratióne, et contemplatióne, omniúmque virtútum stúdio exércuit.  Cóntigit autem, ut, dum secum de rebus divínis prope fontem colloqueréntur, cervus ad eos accésserit, crucem inter córnua gerens rúbei et cærúlei colóris.  Cumque Felix ob rei novitátem mirarétur, narrávit ei Joánnes visiónem in prima Missa hábitam ; et exínde fervéntius oratióni incumbéntes, ter in somnis admóniti, Romam proficísci decrevérunt, ut a summo Pontífice novi órdinis pro rediméndis captívis institutiónem impetrárent.  Eléctus fúerat eo témpore Innocéntius tértius ; qui, illis benígne accéptis, dum secum de re propósita delíberat, in festo sanctæ Agnétis secúndo, Lateráni intra Missárum solémnia ad sacræ Hóstiæ elevatiónem, Angelus ei cándida veste, cruce bicolóri, spécie rediméntis captívos appáruit.  Quo viso, Póntifex institútum approbávit, et novum órdinem sanctíssimæ Trinitátis redemptiónis captivórum vocári jussit, ejúsque professóribus albas vestes cum cruce rúbei et cærúlei colóris præbuit.

That he might set himself with due forethought to the carrying out of his work, he withdrew into a certain desert, and there, by the will of God, he found Felix of Valois, who had already spent many years in that place.  With him he joined company, and they passed three years together in continual prayer, meditation, and all spiritual exercises.  It came to pass, one day, when they were sitting on the bank of a spring, that there came to them a stag having between his horns a cross of red and blue.  Felix cried out in wonder at that sight, and John then told him of the vision that had appeared to him when he was saying his first Mass.  Thenceforth they gave themselves with redoubled fervour to prayer, and, being three times warned in sleep, they determined to go to Rome, and pray the Pope to institute an Order for the ransom of captives.  They arrived at the time of the election of Innocent III, who received them courteously, and entertained in his mind their petition.  While he was in consideration, he went to the Lateran Cathedral, on the second Feast of St. Agnes, and there, while Mass was being solemnly sung, at the moment of the elevation of the Sacred Host, there appeared to him an angel, clad in raiment white and glistering, having sewn on his breast a cross of red and blue, and making as though he would free prisoners.  Thereupon the Pope founded the Order, commanding that it should be called the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Ransom of Captives, and that they who professed in it should be clad in white raiment, having sewn on their breasts a cross of red and blue.

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 hath put on him the breast-plate of faith, and hath 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 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.

Sic stabilíto órdine, sancti fundatóres in Gálliam rediérunt, primóque cœnóbio Cervi Frígidi in diœcési Meldénsi constrúcto, ad ejus régimen Felix remánsit ; et Joánnes Romam cum áliquot sóciis revérsus est, ubi Innocéntius domum, ecclésiam et hospitále sancti Thomæ de Formis in monte Cælio eis donávit cum multis redítibus et possessiónibus.  Datis quoque lítteris ad Miramolínum regem Maróchii, opus redemptiónis felíci auspício inchoátum fuit.  Tum ad Hispánias, sub jugo Saracenórum magna ex parte oppréssas, Joánnes proféctus est, regúmque, príncipum atque aliórum fidélium ánimos ad captivórum et páuperum commiseratiónem commóvit.  Monastéria ædificávit, hospitália eréxit, magnóque lucro animárum plures captívos redémit.  Romam tandem revérsus, sanctísque opéribus incúmbens, assíduis labóribus attrítus et morbo conféctus, ardentíssimo Dei et próximi amóre exæstuans, ad extrémum devénit.  Quare frátribus convocátis, eísque ad opus redemptiónis cælitus præmonstrátum efficáciter cohortátis, obdormívit in Dómino sextodécimo Kaléndas Januárii, anno salútis millésimo ducentésimo décimo tértio ; ejúsque corpus in ipsa ecclésia sancti Thomæ de Formis condígno honóre tumulátum fuit.

The Order being thus established, the holy Founders returned into France, and built their first Convent at Cerfroid, in the diocese of Meaux.  Felix remained in charge of this house, and John went back to Rome with several companions.  To them Innocent gave the house, church, and hospital of St. Thomas in Formis on the Caelian Hill, with great endowments and property.  Moreover he gave them a letter of introduction to Miramolin, King of Morocco, and they began with bright hopes the work of ransoming captives.  John next betook himself to Spain, great part of which was then in the hands of the Saracens, and stirred up the hearts of the kings, princes, and all the faithful to have pity on slaves and the poor.  He built convents, founded hospitals, and ransomed many bondsmen, to the great gain of souls.  At last he returned to Rome, still busied in good works, but worn out by unceasing toil, and weakened by sickness.  As he drew near the end of his earthly pilgrimage, his burning love for God and for his neighbour suffered no diminution.  He called together his brethren, and earnestly exhorted them to go on with that work of ransom which had been pointed out to them from heaven, and then fell asleep in the Lord, on the 21st day of December in the year of salvation 1213.  His body was buried with due honour in the Church of St. Thomas in Formis.

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 homo perfécit ómnia quæ locútus est ei Deus, et dixit ad eum : Ingrédere in réquiem meam : * Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus.

R.  This is he which did according to all that God commanded him ; and God said unto him : Enter thou into my rest : * For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people.
V.  This is he which despised his life in this world, and is come unto an everlasting kingdom.
R.  For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  For thee have I seen righteous before me among all 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.

Joánnes de Matha, Falcóne in Província piis et nobílibus paréntibus natus, cum primum Deo Sacrum offérret, per visiónem intelléxit, se ad rediméndos ab infidelibus captívos destinári.  Quare divíno nutu in erémum secéssit, ubi Felícem Valésium in ea jam multis annis degéntem réperit.  Ibi fervéntius cum oratióni vacárent, ter in somnis admóniti, Romam profécti, ab Innocéntio Papa tértio approbatiónem novi órdinis sanctíssimæ Trinitátis pro rediméndis captívis obtinuérunt.  Tum primum cœnóbium in diœcési Meldénsi construxérunt, cui regéndo Felix remánsit.  Joánnes vero Romam cum áliquot sóciis revérsus est, ubi Innocéntius domum, ecclésiam et hospitále sancti Thomæ de Formis in monte Cælio eis donávit.  Datis quoque lítteris ad Miramolínum regem Maróchii, opus redemptiónis felíciter inchoátum fuit.   Tum Joánnes ad Hispánias, sub jugo Saracenórum magna ex parte oppréssas, proféctus, ómnium ánimis ad captivórum commiseratiónem commótis, hospitália eréxit et plures captívos redémit, Romam demum revérsus, assíduis fractus labóribus et morbo conféctus, óbiit in Dómino, sextodécimo Kaléndas Januárii, anno millésimo ducentésimo décimo tértio.

John of Matha was born at Faucon in Provence of devout and noble parents.  When he was celebrating his first Mass, he understood from a vision that he was to devote himself to ransoming those taken captives by the infidels.  Because of this sign from God, he retired into the wilderness, where he found Felix of Valois, who had been living in that same place for many years.  Here they both devoted themselves most fervently to prayer.  After being advised three times in dreams, they  went to Rome and obtained the approbation of Pope Innocent III for the new Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Ransoming of Captives.  They then built their first monastery in the diocese of Meaux, and Felix remained there as superior.  But john returned to Rome with some companions, where Innocent gave them the house, church, and hospital of St. Thomas in Formis on the Coelian Hill.  He also gave them letters to present to Miramolin, King of Morocco, and thus the work of ransoming captives was auspiciously begun.  Then John went to Spain, a great part of which was oppressed under the Saracen yoke.  Having moved the hearts of all to pity the captives, he built hospitals and ransomed many prisoners.  At length, he returned to Rome ; there, broken in health by his toils and by illness, he died in the Lord on the 21st day of December, in the year 1213.

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

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

A Trinitarian monk in the traditional habit of his Order

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

In the Third Nocturn, the Gospel Homily Sint lumbi vestri præcincti is read from the Common of a Confessor not a Bishop, Series 1.

Gospel Homily from Common of Confessors

Lauds

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, intra in gáudium Dómini tui.

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: enter into the joy of thy Lord.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, qui per sanctum Joánnem órdinem sanctíssimæ Trinitátis ad rediméndum de potestáte Saracenórum captívos cælitus institúere dignátus es : præsta, quæsumus; ut, ejus suffragántibus méritis, a captivitáte córporis et ánimæ, te adjuvánte, liberémur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who by thy revelation to thy blessed John didst institute the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, for the redemption of captives from the power of the infidel ; grant, we beseech thee; that at the intercession of his merits, we may by thee be delivered from all bondage both of body and soul.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH