Wednesday, November 18, 2015

DEDICATION OF THE BASILICAS OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES

                Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls 


Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss. Peter and Paul
                 November 18
      The Roman Breviary - Matins
Among the hallowed places which have from of old time been held in honour among Christians, the most famous and sought after were those where the bodies of the Saints were buried, or where there was some trace or token of the Martyrs. Among these spots so hallowed hath been ever among the most noteworthy that place on the Vatican Hill which is called the Confession of St Peter. Thither Christians do come from all parts of the earth as unto the rock of faith and the foundation-stone of the Church, and surround with godly reverence and love the spot hallowed by the grave of the Prince of the Apostles.

              The Baptism of Constantine, Raphael

Whither came the Emperor Constantine the Great upon the eighth day after his Baptism, and, taking off his crown, cast himself down upon the ground, and wept abundantly. Then presently he took a spade and pick-axe, and began to break up the earth, whereof he carried away twelve baskets-full in honour of the twelve Apostles, and built a Church upon that spot, appointed for the Cathedral Church of the Prince of the Apostles. This Church was hallowed by holy Pope Silvester upon the 18th day of November, in like manner as he had hallowed the Church of the Lateran upon the 9th day of the same month. In this Church did the Pope set up an altar of stone, and pour ointment thereon, and ordain that from thenceforth no altars should be set up, save of stone. The same Emperor Constantine likewise built a very stately Church upon the road to Ostia, in honour of the holy Apostle Paul, which Church also was hallowed by the blessed Silvester. These Churches the Emperor enriched by grants of much land, and adorned with exceedingly rich gifts.



The Church of St Peter upon the Vatican fell in course of time to ruins, and having been rebuilt from the foundations, enlarged and garnished, by the zeal of many Popes, was solemnly consecrated anew by Urban VIII., upon the same day, in the year 1628. The Church of St Paul upon the road to Ostia was almost entirely consumed by fire in the year 1823, but was rebuilt in a more splendid form and, as it were, raised from the dead, by the unwearied zeal of four successive Popes. In the year 1854 Pius IX. seized the happy occasion when the doctrine concerning the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which he had just set forth, had drawn together to Rome a great multitude of Cardinals and Bishops from all quarters of the Catholic world, solemnly to dedicate this new Church in their presence upon the 10th day of December in the year aforesaid; but he decreed that the yearly Feast in honour of that dedication should be kept upon this day, being the same as that of the Dedication of the Church of St Peter.

                     St. Paul outside the Walls

The Dedication of the Basilicas of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
Greater Double – White Vestments
Missa 'Terribilis'

INTROIT - Genesis 28: 17
Terribilis est locus iste: hic domus Dei est et porta cœli: et vocabitur aula Dei.
Ps: 83: 2, 3. Quam dilecta tabernacula tua, Domine, virtutum! concupiscit, et deficit anima mea in atria Domini. Gloria Patri.

Terrible is this place: it is the House of God, and the gate of Heaven; and it shall be called the Court of God.
Ps. How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! my soul longeth and fainteth for the Courts of the Lord.
Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

O God, Who year by year dost renew for us the day of consecration of this, Thy holy temple, and dost ever bring us again in safety to these holy Mysteries: hear the prayers of Thy people and grant: that whosoever enters this Temple to ask blessings of Thee, may rejoice in the obtaining of all his petitions. Through our Lord.

EPISTLE - Apocalypse 21: 2-5
In those days I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from the throne, saying: Behold the tabernacle of God with men, and He will dwell with them. And they shall be His people, and God Himself with them shall be their God: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away. And He that sat on the throne, said: Behold, I make all things new.

GRADUAL - Psalm 44: 17-18
This place was made by God, a priceless mystery, it is without reproof. O God, before Whom stands the choir of Angels, give ear to the prayers of Thy servants.

ALLELUIA: Matthew 16: 18
Alleluia, alleluia. I will worship towards Thy holy temple: and I will give glory to Thy Name. Alleluia.



GOSPEL - Luke 19: 1-10
At that time: Jesus entering in, walked through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who He was: and he could not for the crowd, because he was low of stature. And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, that he might see Him: for He was to pass that way. And when Jesus was come to the place, looking up, He saw him, and said to him: Zacheus, make haste and come down: for this day I must abide in thy house. And he made haste and came down, and received Him with joy. And when all saw it, they murmured, saying, that He was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner. But Zacheus standing, said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wronged any man of anything, I restore him fourfold. Jesus said to him: This day is salvation come to this house: because he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Homily by Pope St Gregory the Great
Bk. xxviii. Of Moral Reflections on Job, ch. 27.
If we would be truly wise, and behold wisdom herself, we must humbly acknowledge ourselves to be fools. Let us cast away harmful wisdom, and learn praiseworthy folly. For this reason indeed is it written God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise. 1 Cor. i. 27. And again it is said If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. iii. 18. And unto this doth the very Gospel bear witness, wherein it is said that Zacchasus sought to see Jesus, Who He was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him; for He was to pass that way. For this name Sycamore, being interpreted, signifieth the Foolish Fig.


Little Zacchaeus therefore accepted the humiliation of having recourse to the sycamore and saw the Lord. They who humbly choose to be fools in the estimation of the world, have a deep insight into the wisdom of God. The press standeth in our way, on account of our little stature, when we are fain to see the Lord; for the toilsome din of worldly business tormenteth our weak minds, so as to hinder our perceiving the light of the truth. But we climb up wisely into the sycamore tree, if we willingly give up our minds to that folly which God giveth unto us. What can be more utter folly (in this world) than not to seek for that we have lost, to leave that whereof we have been robbed in the hands of our despoilers, to take no revenge for wrongs which have been done us, yea, even to offer to him that taketh away our cloak, our coat also, and be patient?

The Lord biddeth us, as it were, to climb up into the sycamore, where He saith Of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again. Luke vi. 30. And again Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matth. v. 39. From the boughs of this sycamore tree, the Lord is seen passing by. He may indeed, as yet, not be seen face to Face, but by this wise folly the inward eye may see the Wisdom of God, as it were, passing by, even that Wisdom Which they that are wise in their own conceit cannot see. They are mixed up in the overbearing press of their own imaginations, and have not yet found the sycamore tree where into to climb up, if they would see the Lord.

OFFERTORY - 1 Paralipomenon (1 Chron.) 29: 17, 18
O Lord God, in the simplicity of my heart I have joyfully offered all these things; and I have seen with great joy Thy people which are here present: O God of Isræl, keep this will.


SECRET
Give heed, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to our prayers: that while we set before Thee these present gifts, we may be found worthy, by Thy help, to come to everlasting rewards. Through our Lord.

COMMON PREFACE
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:


SANCTUS
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria Tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

COMMUNION - Matthew 21: 13
My house shall be called a house of prayer, saith the Lord: in it every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.


POSTCOMMUNION
O God, Who, out of living and chosen stones dost prepare an eternal dwelling- place for Thy Majesty: help Thy suppliant people: that as Thy Church profits by material expansion, so may it also grow by spiritual increase. Through our Lord.



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