November 26
SAINT
SYLVESTER, ABBOT
From the Liturgical Year - By Dom Guéranger, Abbot
God
often brings the world to those who flee from it, as Sylvester Gozzolini among
others experienced. In the thirteenth century, the world, all in admiration at
the sanctity and the eloquence of the new Orders, seemed to have forgotten the
monks and the desert. God, who never forgets, led his elect silently into
solitude, and the wilderness began again to rejoice and flourish like the lily;
strength was restored to the weak hands and feeble knees of the sons of the
cloister. The austerities of olden days and the fervour of prolonged prayer
were revived at Monte Fano, and extended into sixty other monasteries; the new
religious family of the Sylvestrians was approved by Innocent IV, in 1247. Though
originated seven centuries after St. Benedict, and distinguished from the elder
families by its blue habit, it claims the Patriarch of Cassino for its
legislator and father.
Let
us read the life of St. Sylvester which was inserted in the Breviary by Pope
Leo XIII.
ROMAN
BREVIARY
This Silvester was born of a noble family at Ossimo, in Picenum, and in
his childhood was a wonderful example both in regard to letters and good
living. When he grew older his father sent him to Bologna to study the law, but
God warned him to give himself to divinity, and he thereby incurred the wrath
of his father, which he bore with complacency for ten full years. On account of
his eminent graces he was elected an honorary canon of the Cathedral of Ossimo,
in the which dignity he ministered to the people by his prayers, his example,
and his sermons.
At the funeral of a certain
nobleman he perceived in an open grave the disfigured corpse of a kinsman of
his own who had been very comely in his lifetime, and he said to himself, I am
what he was, and what he is I shall be. Straightway after the funeral he read
the words of the Lord, If any man will come after Me let him deny himself and
take up his cross and follow Me (Matth. xvi. 24.) Thereupon he withdrew into
the desert to seek after greater perfection, and then gave himself up to
watching, praying, and fasting, very often taking no food but uncooked herbs.
In order, however, to cut himself off the more from men, he moved from one
place to another, and at length came to Mount Fano, which is hard by Fabriano,
but was itself then absolutely uninhabited. Then he built a church in honour of
the holy Father Benedict, and founded the congregation of Silvestrians, with a
rule and dress which were revealed to him in a vision by the holy Patriarch
himself.
Satan envied him, strove to
trouble his monks by divers terrors, and made an hostile attack by night upon
the gates of his monastery, but the man of God so overcame the assault of the
enemy that his monks were the more confirmed in their Institute and recognised
the holiness of their father. He shone with the spirit of prophecy and other
gifts. These things he always preserved by the deepest lowliness, whereby he so
stirred up against him the ill-will of the devil that that evil spirit cast him
headlong down the stairs of his oratory, and went near to slay him, but he was
restored to soundness by the helpful gift of the Virgin. This help he
remembered with an unceasing and singular love toward her until the last breath
of his life, the which breath he resigned to God, famous for holiness and
miracles, aged almost ninety years, upon the 26th day of November, in the year
of salvation 1267. The Supreme Pontiff Leo XIII. extended his Office and Mass
to the whole Church.
Commemoration of St. Peter of Alexandria, Martyr
From The
Roman Breviary
This
Peter succeeded that eminent Saint, Theonas, as Pope of Alexandria, (in the
year of our Lord 300,) and the glory of his holiness and teaching hath
enlightened not Egypt only, but the whole Church of God. The wondrous patience
wherewith he bore the roughness of the times in the persecution under Maximian
Galerius caused many greatly to increase in Christian graces. He was the first
who cut off Arius, then a Deacon of Alexandria, from the Communion of the
faithful, on account of his leaning to the Meletian schism. He was condemned to
death by Maximian, and was in prison when there came to him the two Priests
Achilles and Alexander to plead for Arius, but Peter told them that Jesus had
appeared to him in the night clad in a rent garment, and when he asked what was
thereby signified, had said unto him Arius hath torn My vesture, which is the
Church. Also, he foretold to them that they should be Popes of Alexandria after
him, and strictly commanded them never to receive Arius into Communion, because
he knew him to be dead in the sight of God. That this was a true prophecy the event
did shortly prove. At length, in the twelfth year of his Popedom, upon the 26th
day of November, in the year of salvation 311, his head was cut off, and he
went hence to receive the crown of his testimony.
Mass Propers
St Sylvester, Abbott
St. Peter of Alexandria, Bishop and Martyr
Double / White
Missa ‘Os justi’
INTROIT: Psalm 36: 30-31
Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicium: lex
Dei ejus in corde ipsius.
Ps. Noli æmulari in
malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem.
Gloria
Patri.
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak
judgment: the law of his God is in his heart.
Ps. Be not emulous of evildoers:
nor envy them that work iniquity.
Glory
be to the Father.
COLLECT
O
most merciful God, Who, when the holy Abbot Sylvester was piously pondering
over the vanity of earthly things whilst he stood by an open grave, didst
vouchsafe to call him to the desert, we supplicate Thee that, despising earthly
things, after his example, we may forever enjoy Thy presence. Through our Lord.
Commemoration of St Peter of Alexandria
Look
upon our infirmity, O almighty God, and, because the weight of our own evil
deeds beareth us down, may the glorious intercession of blessed Peter, Thy
Martyr and Bishop, protect us. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE Ecclesiasticus 45: 1-6
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom
He
was beloved of God and men, whose memory is in benediction; He made him like
the saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies; and with his
words he made prodigies to cease; He glorified him in the sight of kings, and
gave him commandments in the sight of his people, and showed him his glory; He
sanctified him in his faith and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh; for
He heard him and his voice, and brought him into a cloud; and He gave him
commandments before his face, and a law of life and instruction.
GRADUAL: Psalm 20: 4-5
Domine,
prævenísti eum in benedictiónibus dulcédinis: posuísti in cápite ejus corónam
de lápide pretióso. Vitam pétiit a te, et tribuísti ei longitúdinem diérum in
sæculum sæculi.
O
Lord, Thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness; Thou hast set on his
head a crown of precious stones. He asked life of Thee, and Thou hast given him
length of days for ever and ever.
ALLELUIA: Psalm 91: 13
Alleluia,
allelúia.
Justus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur. Allelúia.
Alleluia,
alleluia.
The just shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow up like the
cedar of Libanus. Alleluia.
GOSPEL: Matthew 19: 27-29
The continuation of the holy Gospel
according to St. Matthew
At that time, Peter said to Jesus: Behold we have left all things, and
have followed Thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them: Amen I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration,
when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of His majesty, you also shall sit on
twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath
left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or
children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall
possess life everlasting.
Homily by St Jerome, Priest at Bethlehem.
Bk. iii. on Matth xix.
Peter
was a fisherman, he was not rich, he earned his bread by his hand and skill,
and nevertheless he is thus bold, and saith confidently: We have forsaken all.
And because it sufficeth not to forsake only, he addeth that which to do is to
be perfect: and followed thee. We have done that which Thou hast commanded us,
what reward therefore wilt Thou give us? And Jesus said unto them Amen I say
unto you, that ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of
Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. He said not, Ye which have
forsaken all, for this did even Crates the philosopher, and they which have set
nothing by riches are many, but, Ye which have followed Me. This did the
Apostles, and this do believers do.
SAINT PETER ON
THE GLOBE WITH THREE ANGELS By Il Baciccio
In the regeneration, when the Son of Man
shall sit in the throne of His glory, and when the dead shall rise again from
corruption incorruptible, i Cor. xv. 53, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones
of judgment, condemning the twelve tribes of Israel, because, when ye believed
in Me, they would not. John iii. 18. And every one that hath forsaken houses,
or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands,
for My Name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting
life. This place agreeth well with that other where the Saviour saith I came
not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against
his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against
her mother-in-law; and a man's foes shall be they of his own household. Matth.
x. 34. Every one, therefore, that hath set no store by affection, and riches,
and the pleasures of the world, for Christ's faith's sake, and the preaching of
the Gospel, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
OFFERTORY: Psalm 20: 3, 4
Desiderium animæ ejus tribuisti ei, Domine, et voluntate labiorum ejus,
non fraudasti eum: posuisti in capite ejus coronam de lapide pretioso.
Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, O Lord, and hast not withholden
from him the will of his lips: Thou hast set on his head a crown of precious
stones.
SECRET
We beseech Thee, O Lord, that, while we reverently offer these gifts to
Thy divine majesty we may by pious preparation of soul and purity of heart,
following the example of blessed Abbot Sylvester, become worthy to partake
holily of the Body and Blood of Thy Son: Who with Thee livest and reignest.
Commemoration of St Peter of Alexandria
Graciously receive, O Lord, the sacrifice offered to Thee by the merits
of blessed Peter, Thy Martyr and Bishop, and grant that it may be to us an
unfailing help. 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, eternal God: through Christ our Lord. through Whom the Angels praise
Thy Majesty, Dominations worship, 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 Dominus Deus
Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria Tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus
qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
COMMUNION: Luke 12: 42
This is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord setteth over his
family: to give them their measure of wheat in due season.
POSTCOMMUNION
We pray Thee, O Lord, that Thou grant unto us, refreshed with the divine
banquet, to follow closely the footsteps of the holy Abbot Sylvester, that we
may have an abundant reward with the saints in the kingdom of Thy glory.
Through our Lord.
Commemoration of St Peter of Alexandria
Refreshed by participation in the sacred gift, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
our God, that, through the intercession of blessed Peter, Thy Martyr and
Bishop, we may ever experience the effect of the worship we offer. Through our
Lord.
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