St Nicholas
Bishop and Confessor
Nicholas was born at the famous city of
Patara in Lycia. His parents obtained him from God by prayer, and the holiness
of his life was marked even from the cradle. When he was at the breast he never
would suck more than once on Wednesdays and Fridays, and that always after
sunset, though he sucked freely on other days. This custom of fasting he never
broke through during his whole life. While he was still a young man he lost
both his father and mother, after which he gave his whole property away to the
poor. One particular example is given of his Christian charity. There was a certain
needy man in the city who had three marriageable daughters, for whom he could
not get husbands, and so thought to make them harlots. When Nicolas heard of
it, he went to the house by night and threw in by the window such a sum of
money as made a dowry for one of them. This he did a second and a third time,
and thus by his charity they were honourably given in marriage.
When he had given himself entirely to God he set forth for Palestine,
that he might see the Holy places, and worship therein. During this pilgrimage
he embarked once on board a ship when the sky was clear and the sea calm, but
he foretold a great storm, which afterwards arose and raged until the sailors
were afraid; and then the saint by prayer stilled the tempest. After he had returned
home, and his holy life was known to all men, God bade him go to Myra, which is
the chief city of Lycia, at a time when the Bishop had just died and the
Bishops of the Province were called together to choose a successor. While they
deliberated, they received a warning from heaven to choose that Nicolas who
should first come into the church in the morning. In obedience to that warning,
Nicolas was seized at the door of the church, and with universal consent
consecrated Archbishop. In his great ofiice he was an unceasing model of purity,
as he had always been, of gravity, of regularity in prayer, of watching, of
abstinence, of charity, of hospitality, of meekness in exhortation, and of
sternness in rebuke.
He was the comforter of widows and orphans by money, by advice, and by
labour. He was the deliverer of the oppressed, so mightily, that it is related
that the Emperor Constantine once unjustly condemned three Tribunes to death,
and these unhappy men called upon Nicolas, though living and absent, to save
them, who yet appeared in a vision to the Emperor, and forced him by threats to
set them free. When the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian published their edict
against Christianity, Nicolas did not cease to preach the truth at Myra,
wherefore he was seized by the soldiers of the Emperors, carried away from his
See, and thrown into prison, where he remained until the accession of
Constantine. This Prince set him free, and he returned to Myra. He betook
himself to the first Council of Nice, where he was one of the 318 Bishops who
condemned the heresy of Arius. He returned thence to his Bishopric, and, not
long after, became aware of the approach of death. When his last moment was
come, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and, when he saw the Angels coming to meet
him, he began to recite the thirtieth Psalm, “In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust,”
and when he had said, “Into Thy hands I commend my spirit,” he passed to the
heavenly Fatherland. His body was finally removed to Bari in Apulia, where it is
kept with great fame and honour.
St Nicholas
Bishop, Confessor
Double White vestments
Missa ‘Statuit ei Dominu’
INTROIT
Ecclesiasticus 45: 30
Statuit ei Dominus testamentum pacis, et
principem fecit eum: ut sit illi sacerdotii dignitas in æternum. Psalm131: 1
Memento Domine, David: et omnis mansuetudinus ejus. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et
Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula
saeculorum. Amen.
INTROIT
The Lord made to him a covenant of
peace, and made him a prince: that the dignity of priesthood should be to him
for ever. Psalm 131:1. O Lord, remember David: and all his meekness. Glory be
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the
beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
COLLECT
O God, who didst adorn the blessed
Bishop Nicholas with countless miracles: grant, we beseech Thee, that by his
merits and prayers we may be delivered from the flames of hell. Through our
Lord.
Second Collect for the Feria in Advent
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare
the ways of Thine only-begotten Son; that through His coming we may attain to
serve Thee with purified minds. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth.
EPISTLE
Hebrews 13: 7-17
Brethren: Remember your prelates who
have spoken the word of God to you; whose faith follow, considering the end of
their conversation, Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today; and the same for ever.
Be not led away with various and strange doctrines. For it is best that the
heart be established with grace, not with meats; which have not profited those
that walk in them. We have an altar, whereof they have no power to eat who
serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought
into the Holies by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people by His own blood,
suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore to Him without the camp,
bearing His reproach. For we have not here a lasting city, but we seek one that
is to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise always to
God, that is to say, the fruit of lips confessing to His Name. And do not
forget to do good, and to impart; for by such sacrifices God's favor is
obtained. Obey your prelates, and be subject to them. For they watch as being
to render an account of your souls.
GRADUAL
Psalm 88: 21-23
I have found David, my servant: with My
holy oil I have anointed him; for My Name shall help him, and My arm shall
strengthen him. The enemy shall have no advantage over him; nor the son of
iniquity have power to hurt him.
ALLELUIA
Psalm 111: 13
Alleluia, alleluia. The just man shall
flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.
Alleluia.
 |
| St. Nicholas giving alms to the poor and needy of his diocese |
GOSPEL
Matthew 25: 14-23
At that time, Jesus spoke this parable
to His disciples: A man going into a far country called his servants, and
delivered to them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, and to another
two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and
immediately he took his journey. And he that had received the five talents went
his way, and traded with the same, and gained another five. And in like manner
he that had received the two gained other two. But he that had received the
one, going his way, digged into the earth and hid his lord's money. But after a
long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them. And he that
had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord,
thou didst deliver to me five talents, behold I have gained other five over and
above. His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou
has been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord. And he also that had received the two talents
came and said: Lord, thou deliverest two talents to me, behold I have gained other
two. His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou
hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord.
OFFERTORY
Psalm 88: 25
My truth and My mercy shall be with him:
and in My Name shall his horn be exalted.
SECRET
O Lord God, sanctify, we beseech Thee,
these gifts which we offer up on the festival of Thy holy Bishop Nicholas: that
by means of them our life may ever be directed both in adversity and in
prosperity. Through our Lord.
Second Secret for the Feria in Advent
Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by
the prayers and offerings of our humility: and where we have no merits to plead
for us, do Thou help us with Thine aid. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son 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:
The Sanctus
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus
Sábaoth. Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus
qui venit in nómine Dómini.
Hosánna in excélsis.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he
that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
COMMUNION
Psalm 88: 36-38
Once I have sworn by My holiness: his
seed shall endure for ever; and his throne as the sun before Me, and as the
moon perfect for ever; and a faithful witness in heaven.
POSTCOMMUNION
May the Sacrifice which we have
received, O Lord, on the festival of Thy holy Bishop Nicholas, preserve and
protect us for ever- more. Through our Lord
Second Postcommunion for the Feria in Advent
Filled with the food of this spiritual
nourishment, we suppliantly entreat Thee, O Lord, that through our
participation in this Mystery Thou wouldst teach us to despise earthly things
and to love heavenly ones. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord.
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