St. Francis of Paula

Confessor

Double

Common

1st Vespers

Matins

Lauds

2nd Vespers

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Deus, humílium celsitúdo, qui beátum Francíscum Confessórem Sanctórum tuórum glória sublimásti : tríbue, quæsumus ; ut ejus méritis et imitatióne, promíssa humílibus præmia felíciter consequámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who dost exalt the humble, who didst raise up thy blessed Confessor Francis to the glory of thy Saints : grant, we beseech thee ; that, by his merits, and by the imitation of his humility, we may attain with gladness to the rewards that thou hast promised to them are lowly of heart.  Through.

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

First Vespers

V.  Amávit eum Dóminus, et ornávit eum, allelúja.
R.  Stolam glóriæ índuit eum, allelúja.

V.  The Lord loved him, and adorned him, alleluia.
R.  He clothed him with a robe of glory, alleluia.

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

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

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Deus, humílium celsitúdo, qui beátum Francíscum Confessórem Sanctórum tuórum glória sublimásti : tríbue, quæsumus ; ut ejus méritis et imitatióne, promíssa humílibus præmia felíciter consequámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who dost exalt the humble, who didst raise up thy blessed Confessor Francis to the glory of thy Saints : grant, we beseech thee ; that, by his merits, and by the imitation of his humility, we may attain with gladness to the rewards that thou hast promised to them are lowly of heart.  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.

Francíscus Paulæ, quod est Calábriæ óppidum, loco húmili natus est ; quem paréntes, cum diu prole caruíssent, voto facto, beáti Francísci précibus suscepérunt.  Is adoléscens divíno ardóre succénsus, in erémum secéssit, ubi annis sex victu ásperam sed meditatiónibus cæléstibus suávem vitam duxit.  Sed cum virtútum ejus fama lóngius manáret, multíque ad eum pietátis stúdio concúrrerent, fratérnæ caritátis causa e solitúdine egréssus, ecclésiam prope Paulam ædificávit, ibíque prima sui órdinis fundaménta jecit.

This Francis was born of humble parents at Paola, a town in Calabria.  His parents, who had long been childless, obtained him, after making a vow, by the prayers of blessed Francis.  While he was yet a youth, the love of God moved him to withdraw into a desert place, where he lived for six years, hardly as to the body, but sumptuously in meditation on things heavenly.  Nevertheless, when the fame of his holy life was noised abroad, and many betook themselves to him, that they might learn godliness, he was drawn out of the desert by love to his neighbour, and built a church near Paola, wherein he laid the first foundation of his Order.

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, allelúja.
V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas, et osténdit illi regnum Dei.
R.  Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam, allelúja.

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, alleluia.
V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God.
R.  And gave him perpetual glory, alleluia.

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.

Erat in mirífica loquéndi grátia : perpétuam virginitátem servávit : humilitátem sic cóluit, ut se ómnium mínimum díceret, suósque alúmnos Mínimos appellári volúerit.  Rudi amíctu, nudis pédibus incédens, humi cubábat.  Cibi abstinéntia fuit admirábili : semel in die post solis occásum reficiebátur, et ad panem et aquæ potum, vix áliquid ejúsmodi obsónii adhibébat, quo vesci in Quadragésima licet : quam consuetúdinem, ut fratres sui toto anni témpore retinérent, quarto eos voto adstrínxit.

In his words there was a wonderful charm : he kept his virginity always ínviolate : he was so great a lover of lowliness that he used to call himself the last of all, and would that his disciples should be called the Minims, which is, being interpreted, the Least of the brethren.  His raiment was coarse ; he went always bare-footed ; and he slept on the ground.  The extreme smallness of the amount of food which he took was extraordinary.  He ate only once a day, and that after sunset.  Then he took only bread and water, with scarcely any of such condiment as is allowed in Lent.  He bound his disciples by a fourth vow, added to those of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, to observe the same rule of eating as himself.

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, allelúja.
V.  Induit eum Dóminus lorícam fídei, et ornávit eum.
R.  Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum, allelúja.

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

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.

Multis miráculis servi sui sanctitátem Deus testári vóluit, quorum illud in primis célebre, quod a nautis rejéctus, Sicíliæ fretum strato super flúctibus pállio, cum sócio transmísit.  Multa étiam futúra prophético spíritu prædíxit.  A Ludovíco undécimo Francórum rege expetítus magnóque in honóre est hábitus.  Dénique annum primum et nonagésimum agens, Turónis migrávit ad Dóminum, anno salútis millésimo quingentésimo séptimo : cujus corpus dies úndecim insepúltum, ita incorrúptum permánsit, ut suávem étiam odórem effláret.  Eum Leo Papa décimus in Sanctórum númerum rétulit.

It was the will of God to make the holiness of his servant manifest by many miracles.  The most notorious of these is that on one occasion when some seamen refused to take him over the Straits of Messina, he spread his cloak upon the sea, and crossed over on it with his companion.  In the spirit of prophecy he foretold many things to come.  Louis XI, King of France, held him in great worship, and bade him to his court.  At last, at Tours, in the ninety-first year of his age, and the 1507th of our salvation, he departed hence to be ever with the Lord.  His body was not buried for eleven days after his death, but it not only shewed no signs of corruption but even gave forth a sweet savour.  Pope Leo X caused him to be numbered among the Saints.

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

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

The Cathedral at Tours

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, allelúja.
V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna.
R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus, allelúja.

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, alleluia.
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, alleluia.
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, alleluia.

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.

Francíscus Paulæ in Calabria natus est.  Adoléscens, divino ardore succénsus, in eremum secessit, ubi annis sex victu ásperam sed mediatiónibus cæléstibus suávem vitam duxit.  Cum autem virtútum ejus fama longe manaret, multique ad eum pietátis studio concurrerent, caritátis causa, e solitúdine egréssus, ecclésiam prope Paulam ædificávit, ibique prima sui ordinis fundaménta jecit.  Perpetuam virginitátem servávit ; humilitátem sic coluit, ut se ómnium minimum diceret, suosque alumnos Mínimos appellári volúerit.  Rudi amictu, nudis pédibus incédens, humi cubábat.  Caritáti ita addictus fuit, ut sui ordinis tésseram esse jusserit.  Multis miráculis servi sui sanctitátem Deus comprobávit, quorum illud in primis célebre, quod a nautis rejéctus.  Sicíliæ fretum, strato super flúctibus pallio, cum socio transmisit.  Multa étiam prophetico spíritu prædixit.  Turónis migrávit ad Dóminum, anno salútis millésimo quingentésimo séptimo ætátis anno nonagésimo primo.

Francis of Paula, born in Calabria, even as a young man burned with love of God and withdrew to an hermitage where, for six years, he lived a life hard in its austerity but sweetened by meditating on heavenly things.  When the fame of his virtues spread abroad, many came to him to be trained in the love of God ; and, emerging from his solitude for the sake of charity, he built a church near Paola, and there laid the first foundations of his Order.  Her preserved his virginity all his life ; and so cultivated humility that he called himself the least of all men and wished his followers to be named Minims.  Clad in poor garments, he went about barefoot and slept on the ground.  He cherished charity so greatly that he made it the motto of his Order.  God witnessed to the holiness of his servant by many miracles, one of which is particularly famous : when he was refused passage on a ship by the sailors, he spread out his cloak on the waves and so crossed the straits of Sicily with his companion.  He also predicted many things in the spirit of prophecy.  At Tours, he went to the Lord, in the year of salvation 1507, in the ninety-first year of his age.

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

In the Third Nocturn, the Gospel Homily Nolite timere is read from the Common of a Confessor not a Bishop, Series 2.

Gospel Homily from Common of Confessors

The Church of San Franceso di Paola, Naples
 

Lauds

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

Ad Bened. Ant:  Euge, serve bone * et fidélis, quia in pauca fuísti fidélis, supra multa te constítuam, intra in gáudium Dómini tui.  Allelúja.

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.  Alleluia.

BENEDICTUS

Oremus.
Deus, humílium celsitúdo, qui beátum Francíscum Confessórem Sanctórum tuórum glória sublimásti : tríbue, quæsumus ; ut ejus méritis et imitatióne, promíssa humílibus præmia felíciter consequámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who dost exalt the humble, who didst raise up thy blessed Confessor Francis to the glory of thy Saints : grant, we beseech thee ; that, by his merits, and by the imitation of his humility, we may attain with gladness to the rewards that thou hast promised to them are lowly of heart.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH
 

Second Vespers

Sanctuary of San Francesco di Paola
Paola, Italy

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

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

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

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

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

Oremus.
Deus, humílium celsitúdo, qui beátum Francíscum Confessórem Sanctórum tuórum glória sublimásti : tríbue, quæsumus ; ut ejus méritis et imitatióne, promíssa humílibus præmia felíciter consequámur.  Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.
O God, who dost exalt the humble, who didst raise up thy blessed Confessor Francis to the glory of thy Saints : grant, we beseech thee ; that, by his merits, and by the imitation of his humility, we may attain with gladness to the rewards that thou hast promised to them are lowly of heart.  Through.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH