Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ - First Vespers

          Transfiguration of our

                Lord Jesus Christ       

                   

                   FIRST VESPERS     

Ant. Jesus took Peter, * and James, and John his brother, and brought them up into an high mountain apart and was transfigured before them.

Psalm 109 

109:1 The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand: Until I make thy enemies thy footstool.

109:2 The Lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thy enemies.

109:3 With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day star I begot thee.

109:4 The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.

109:5 The Lord at thy right hand hath broken kings in the day of his wrath.

109:6 He shall judge among nations, he shall fill ruins: he shall crush the heads in the land of many.

109:7 He shall drink of the torrent in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. 
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. Jesus took Peter, * and James, and John his brother, and brought them up into an high mountain apart and was transfigured before them.

Ant. His Face did shine as the sun, * and His raiment exceeding white as snow. Alleluia.

Psalm 110 

110:1 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; in the council of the just, and in the congregation.

110:2 Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all his wills.

110:3 His work is praise and magnificence: and his justice continueth for ever and ever.

110:4 He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord: He hath given food to them that fear him.

110:5 He will be mindful for ever of his covenant: He will shew forth to his people the power of his works.

110:6 That he may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles: the works of his hands are truth and judgment.

110:7 All his commandments are faithful: confirmed for ever and ever, made in truth and equity.

110:8 He hath sent redemption to his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever.

110:9 (bow head) Holy and terrible is his name: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

110:10 A good understanding to all that do it: his praise continueth for ever and ever.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. 
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. His Face did shine as the sun, * and His raiment exceeding white as snow. Alleluia.

Ant. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias, * talking with Jesus.

Psalm 111 

111:1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.

111:2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.

111:3 Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.

111:4 To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and compassionate and just.

111:5 Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth: he shall order his words with judgment: Because he shall not be moved for ever.

111:6 The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not fear the evil hearing.

111:7 His heart is ready to hope in the Lord: His heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies.

111:8 He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory.

111:9 The wicked shall see, and shall be angry, he shall gnash with his teeth and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. 
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias, * talking with Jesus.

Ant. Then answered Peter, * and said unto Jesus Lord, it is good for us to be here.

Psalm 112

112:1 Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord.

112:2 (bow head) Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.

112:3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.

112:4 The Lord is high above all nations; and his glory above the heavens.

112:5 Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high: and looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth?

112:6 Raising up the needy from the earth, and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill:

112:7 That he may place him with princes, with the princes of his people.

112:8 Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. 
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. Then answered Peter, * and said unto Jesus Lord, it is good for us to be here.

Ant. While he yet spake, * behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them.

Psalm 116 

116:1 O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

116:2 For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. 
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. While he yet spake, * behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them.

Chapter 

Phil 3:20-21

We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious Body.

R. Thanks be to God.

Hymn

All ye who would the Christ descry,

Lift up your eyes to him on high:

There mortal gaze hath strength to see

The token of his majesty.

A wondrous sign we there behold,

That knows not death nor groweth old,

Sublime, most high, that cannot fade,

That was ere earth and heaven were made.

Here is the King the gentiles fear,

The Jews' most mighty King is here

Promised to Abraham of yore,

And to his seed forevermore.

'Tis he the prophets' words foretold,

And by their signs shown forth of old;

The Father's witness hath ordained

That we should hear with faith unfeigned.

Jesu, to thee our praise we pay,

To little ones revealed today,

With Father and blest Spirit One

Until the ages' course is done.

Amen.

V. Thou wast manifested in thy glory in the Presence of the Lord.

R. Therefore the Lord hath clothed thee with majesty.

Magnificat Antiphon

Ant. Christ Jesus, being the Brightness * of the Father's glory, and the express Image of His Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He was about purging our sins, was pleased, as on this day, to manifest forth His glory upon an high mountain.

Our Lady’s Canticle

1:46. My soul doth magnify the Lord.

1:47. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

1:48. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

1:49. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.

1:50. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

1:51. He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

1:52. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble.

1:53. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

1:54. He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.

1:55. As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. 
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. Christ Jesus, being the Brightness * of the Father's glory, and the express Image of His Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He was about purging our sins, was pleased, as on this day, to manifest forth His glory upon an high mountain.

Let us pray

O God, Who, in the glorious Transfiguration of thine Only Begotten Son didst attest the mysteries of the Faith by the witness of the Fathers, and didst wonderfully signify by a voice out of a bright cloud, the adoption of sons, mercifully grant unto us to be made co-heirs with the very King of glory, and bestow upon us a partaking of His glory.

Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

ST. DOMINIC - MASS PROPERS

Feast of Saint Dominic - Mass Propers

               St. Dominic - August 4

St. Dominic was born in Spain, A.D. 1170. As a student, he sold his books to feed the poor in a famine, and offered himself in, ransom for a slave. At the age of twenty-five he became superior of the Canons Regular of Osma, and accompanied his Bishop to France. There his heart was well-nigh broken by the ravages of the Albigensian heresy, and his life was henceforth devoted to the conversion of heretics and the defense of the Faith. For this end, he established his threefold religious Order. The convent for nuns was founded first, to rescue young girls from heresy and crime, ’Then a company of apostolic men gathered around him, and became the Order of Friar Preachers. Lastly came the Tertiaries, persons of both sexes living in the world. God blessed the new Order, and France, Italy, Spain, and England welcomed the Preaching Friars. Our Lady took them under her special protection, and whispered to St. Dominic as he preached. It was in 1208, while St. Dominic knelt in the little chapel of Notre Dame de la Prouille, and implored the great Mother of God to save the Church, that Our Lady appeared to him, gave him the Rosary, and bade him go forth and preach. Beads in hand, be revived the courage of the Catholic troops, led them to victory against overwhelming numbers, and finally crushed the heresy. His nights were spent in prayer; and, though pure as a virgin, thrice before morning broke he scourged himself to blood. His words rescued countless souls, and three times raised the dead to life. At length, on August 6, 1221, at the age of. fifty-one, he gave up his soul to God.

Feast of Saint Dominic, Confessor and Religious Founder

Greater – Double / White Vestments

Missa ‘Os justi’

INTROIT: Psalm: 36: 30-31

Os justi meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua ejus loquétur judícium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsíus. Ps. Noli æmulári in malignántibus; neque zeláveris faciéntes 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.

Be not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity. Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

Deus, qui Ecclésiam tuam beáti Domínici Confessóris tui illumináre dignátus es méritis et doctrínis: concéde: ut ejus intercessióne temporálibus non destituátur auxíliis, et spirituálibus semper profíciat increméntis. Per Dominum.

O God, Who hast vouchsafed to illuminate Thy Church with the virtues and teaching of blessed Dominic, Thy Confessor, grant that, by his intercession, it may not be destitute of temporal aids and may ever progress in spiritual increase. Through our Lord.

EPISTLE - 2 Timothy 4: 1-8

Carissime: Testíficor coram Deo et Jesu Christo, qui judicatúrus est vivos et mórtuos, per advéntum ipsíus, et regnum ejus: prædica verbum, insta opportúne, importúne: árgue, óbsecra, increpa in omni patiéntia, et doctrína. Erit enim tempus, cum sanam doctrínam non sustinébunt, sed ad sua desidéria coacervábunt sibi magístros pruriéntes áuribus, et a veritáte quidem audítum avértent, ad fábulas autem converténtur. Tu vero vígila, in ómnibus labóra, opus fac evangelístæ, ministérium tuum imple. Sóbrius esto. Ego enim jam delíbor, et tempus resolutiónis meæ instat. Bonum certámen certávi, cursum consummávi fidem servávi. In réliquo reposita est mihi corona justítiæ quam reddet mihi Dóminus in illa die, justus judex: non solum autem mihi, sed et iis, qui dilígunt advéntum ejus.

Dearly beloved, I charge thee before God and Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the living and the dead, by His coming, and His Kingdom. Preach the word: be instant in season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience, and doctrine. For there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but according to their own desires they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned unto fables. But be thou vigilant, labor in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. Be sober. For I am even now ready to be sacrificed; and the time of my dissolution is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith. As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just Judge, will render to me in that day; and not only to me, but to them also that love His coming.

GRADUAL: Psalm 91: 13, 14

Justus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus Libáni multiplicábitur in domo Dómini: Ad annuntiándum mane miserícórdiam tuam, et veritátem tuam per noctem.

The just man shall flourish like the palm-tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus in the house of the Lord.

(Ps. 91: 3) To show forth Thy mercy in the morning, and Thy truth in the night.

ALLELUIA - Osee 14: 6

Allelúia, allelúia. Justus germinábit sicut lilium: et florébit in ætérnum ante Dóminum. Allelúia.

Alleluia, alleluia.The just shall spring as the lily: and flourish forever before the Lord.

GOSPEL: Luke 12: 35-40

In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis suis: Sint lumbi vestri præcíncti, et lucérnæ ardéntes in mánibus vestris, et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis: ut, cum vénerit, et pulsáverit, conféstim apériant ei. Beáti servi illi, quos cum vénerit dóminus, invénerit vigilántes: amen dico vobis, quod præcínget se, et fáciet illos discúmbere, et tránsiens ministrábit illis. Et si vénerit in secúnda vigília, et si in tértia vigília vénerit, et ita invénerit, beati sunt servi illi. Hoc autem scitóte, quóniam si sciret paterfamílias, qua hora fur vénirit, vigiláret útique, et non síneret pérfodi domum suam. Et vos estote paráti, quia qua hora non putátis. Fílius hóminis véniet.

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: “Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands, and you yourselves like to men, who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh, shall find watching. Amen, I say to you, that He will gird Himself, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them. And if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Be ye then also ready; for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.”

Homily by Pope St Gregory the Great

13th on the Gospels

Dearly beloved brethren, the words of the Holy Gospel, which have just been read, lie open before you, and, lest their very plainness should make them seem to some to be hard, we will go through them with such shortness as that neither may they which understand not remain unenlightened, nor they which understand be wearied. The Lord saith Let your loins be girded about. Now, we gird our loins about, when by continency we master the lustful inclination of the flesh. But, forasmuch as it sufficeth not for a man to abstain from evil deeds, if he strive not to join thereto the earnest doing of good works, it is immediately added And your lights burning. Our lights burn when, by good works, we give bright example to our neighbor; concerning which works the Lord saith Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Which is in heaven.

Here, then, are two commandments, to gird our loins about, and to keep our lights burning the cleanness of purity in our body, and the light of the truth in our works. Whoso hath the one and not the other, pleaseth not thereby our Redeemer; that is, he pleaseth Him not which doth good works, but bridleth not himself from the pollutions of lust, neither he which is eminent in chastity, but exerciseth not himself in good works. Neither is chastity a great thing without good works, nor good works anything without chastity. And if any man do both, it remaineth that he must look by hope toward our Fatherland above, and not have for his reason where through he turneth himself away from vice, the love of honour in this present world.

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. The Lord cometh at the hour of judgment He knocketh when, by the pains of sickness, He biddeth us know that death is nigh. To Him open we immediately, if we receive Him in love. Whoso feareth to leave this body, will not open to the Judge when He knocketh, for he dreadeth to see that Judge, Whom he knoweth that he hath despised. But whosoever knoweth that his hope and works are built upon a good foundation, when he heareth the Judge knock, openeth to Him immediately, for to such an one that coming is blessed, yea, when the hour of death is at hand, such an one haileth with gladness a glorious reward.

OFFERTORY: Psalm 88: 25

Veritas mea, et misericórdia mea cum ipso: et in nómine meo exaltábitur cornu ejus.

My truth and My mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

SECRET

Munera tibi, Dómine, dicáta sanctifica: ut méritis beáti Domínici Confessóris tui nobis profíciant ad medélam. Per Dóminum.

Sanctify, O Lord, the gifts dedicated to Thee, that, by the merits of blessed Dominic, Thy confessor, they may profit for our healing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God

COMMON PREFACE  

Vere dignum et justum est, æquum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, æterne Deus: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Cœli, cœlorumque Virtutes ac beata Seraphim socia exultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti, jubeas, supplici confessione dicentes.

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…

COMMUNION:   Luke 12: 42

Fidelis servus et prudens, quem constítuit dóminus super famíliam suam: ut det illis in témpore trítici mensúram.

A faithful and wise steward, whom the Lord has set over His family; to give them their measure of wheat in due season.

POSTCOMMUNION

Concede, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, qui peccatórum nostrórum póndere prémimur, beáti Dominici Confessóris tui patrocínio sublevémur. Per Dóminum.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we, who are borne down by the weight of our sins, may be sustained by the patronage of blessed Dominic, Thy confessor. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, For ever and ever.

Invention of St. Stephen, Protomartyr

   Finding the Body of St. Stephen

The body of St. Stephen, the first martyr, with those of some other saints, was discovered near Jerusalem in the year 415. Later the body of the saint was taken to Constantinople and finally to Rome, where it now lies beside that of St. Lawrence. The many miracles that occurred on the finding of St. Stephen’s body led to the institution of this festival, besides that of December 26th. A tradition states that Gamaliel, the teacher of St. Paul, had buried the body of St. Stephen at his country house; Nicodemus and Abibas, son of Gamaliel, and Gamaliel himself, were also buried there.

The Finding of the Body of  St. Stephen, Protomartyr  

Semi- Double / Red Vestments

Missa ‘Sederunt principes’

Introitus

Ps 118:23; 118:86; 118:23

Sedérunt príncipes, et advérsum me loquebántur: et iníqui persecúti sunt me: ádjuva me, Dómine, Deus meus, quia servus tuus exercebátur in tuis justificatiónibus.

Ps 118:1- Beati immaculáti in via, qui ámbulant in lege Dómini,

V. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

R. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculórum. Amen

Sedérunt príncipes, et advérsum me loquebántur: et iníqui persecúti sunt me: ádjuva me, Dómine, Deus meus, quia servus tuus exercebátur in tuis justificatiónibus.

Introit

Ps 118:23; 118:86; 118:23

For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications. All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me. For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.

Ps 118:1 - Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications. All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me. For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.

      

Collect

Grant us, we beseech You, O Lord, to imitate what we celebrate, so that we may learn to love even our enemies; because we keep the anniversary of the invention of Him Who knew how to plead even for His persecutors with our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Epistle – Acts: 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Lesson from the Acts of Apostles

And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people. Now there arose some of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death.

Gradual

Ps 118:23; 118:86

For princes sat, and spoke against me: they have persecuted me unjustly,

Ps 6:5

Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercy's sake.

Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia,

I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Alleluia.

Gospel – Matthew: 23:34-39

Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Therefore behold I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you will put to death and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: That upon you may come all the just blood that hath been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. Amen I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered together thy children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldest not? Behold, you house shall be left to you, desolate. For I say to you, you shall not see me henceforth till you say: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Offertory - Acts 6:5; 7:59

The Apostles chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost, And the Jews stoned Stephen, invoking, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Secret

Receive our offerings, O Lord, in memory of Your saints that, as their passion has given them eternal glory, so may this sacrificial act free us from guilt. 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:

The 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 - Acts 7:55; 58; 59

I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, and lay not this sin to their charge.

Post Communion

May the sacrament we have received aid us, O Lord; and by the intercession of blessed Stephen, Your Martyr, may it sustain us under Your everlasting protection. Through our Lord.