Vigil and Common of an Apostle
Printed pages 1–7 · the Common of Saints
[Common of Saints.]1
Vigil of an Apostle or Evangelist
At Mass. Office.
As for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God: my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever. I will always give thanks unto thee for that thou hast done: and I will hope in thy name, for thy saints like it well.2
Ps. Why boastest thou thyself, thou tyrant: that thou canst do mischief?3
Collect.
We beseech thee, almighty God, to grant that our service preceding the festival of blessed N., thy apostle, may obtain for us the aid of his intercession more and more. Through etc.
1. Lesson. Ecclus. xliv. 22, 23; xlv. 1–7.
The blessing of . . . robe of glory.
2. Lesson. Prov. iii. 13–20.
Happy is the man . . . drop down the dew.
Gradual.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree: and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus, in the house of the Lord.4
V. To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the morning: and of thy truth in the night season.5
If it be a Sunday the Alleluya is taken from the Common of an Apostle.6
1 Commune Sanctorum proprium non habentium. 2 Ps. lii. 9, 10. 3 Ib. 1. 4 Ps. xcii. 11, 12. 5 Ib. 2. 6 i.e. the Alleluiatic Verse, see pp. 3, 4.
Warren, Part II, printed p. 2 · open scan1. Gospel. St. John, xv. 1–7.
I am the true vine . . . done unto you.
2. Gospel. St. John, xv. 5–7.
I am the vine . . . done unto you.
Offertory.
Thou hast crowned him with glory and worship, and madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands, O Lord.1
Secret.
May the offering of our worship be acceptable unto thee, O Lord, and make us to come in greater purity to the apostolic festival. Through, etc.
Ferial Preface.
Communion.
His honour is great in thy salvation: glory and great worship shalt thou lay upon him, O Lord.2
Postcommunion.
Grant to us, eternal Benefactor, that we may everywhere be protected by the pious intercession of him whose festival we have prevented with devotion, through those holy gifts which we have received. Through, etc.
1 Ps. viii. 5, 6. 2 Ps. xxi. 5.
Common of an Apostle
At Mass. Office.
How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God: O how great is the sum of them!3
In Easter-tide Alleluya.
Ps. O Lord, thou hast searched me out and known me: thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising.4
3 Ps. cxxxix. 17. 4 Ib. 1.
Warren, Part II, printed p. 3 · open scanCollect.
Hearken unto thy people, O Lord, who pray to thee under the patronage of thy holy apostle N., that they being ever defended by thy help, may be able to serve thee in godly quietness. Through etc.
1. Epistle. Ephes. ii. 19–22.
Now, therefore, ye are . . . through the Spirit.
2. Lesson. Acts, v. 12–16.
And by the hands . . . healed every one.
1. Gradual.
How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God: O how great is the sum of them.1
V. If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand.2
2. Gradual.
Their sound is gone out into all lands: and their words into the ends of the world.3
V. The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament sheweth his handy-work.4
3. Gradual.
Thou shalt make them princes in all lands. I will remember thy name, O Lord.5
V. Instead of thy fathers thou shall have children: therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee.6
1. Alleluya. How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God: O how great is the sum of them.7
2. Alleluya. V. Their sound is gone out into all lands: and their words into the ends of the world.8
3. Alleluya. V. By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.9
1 Ps. cxxxix. 17. 2 Ib. 18. 3 Ps. xix. 4. 4 Ib. 1. 5 Ps. xlv. 17, 18. 6 Ib. 7 Ps. cxxxix. 17. 8 Ps. xix. 4. 9 Acts, v. 12.
Warren, Part II, printed p. 4 · open scan4. Alleluya. V. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.1
Tract in Septuagesima.
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he hath great delight in his commandments.2
V. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.2
V. Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.2
1. Sequence.
Illustrious council of apostles holy,
ruling the divers kingdoms of the world,
The Church's guide in life and conversation,
Which, by thy doctrines, in the faith stand fast.
Lo! Antioch and Rome yield unto thee,
O Peter, both their kingdom and their throne:
Greece, Alexander's realm, thou Paul hast seized.
The savage Ethiopians, Matthew, thou
Hast with the white fleece of the lamb invested,
Which with no spot or blemish is defiled.
Thomas, Bartholomew, John, Philip, Simon,
James, both the Great and Less, Andrew, Thaddæus,
Ye warriors of God of high renown,
The east and west, yea, and the whole round world,
Account it joy that they may call you fathers
For whom they look to sit in judgment on them;
For which cause unto you, ye holy men,
The universe, as is its bounden duty,
Doth tribute pay of reverence and honour.
2. Sequence.
Let the Church catholic sing Alleluia!
Extolling high the apostolic band;
1 St. John, xv. 16. 2 Ps. cxii. 1–3.
Warren, Part II, printed p. 5 · open scanOf whom, by virtue of the holy cross,
Peter, their prince, ascended up to heaven.
The Doctor of the world his triumph wins
In Nero's time, in Romulus' great city.
The cross on Andrew glory doth confer,
And both the Jameses wear the martyr wreath;
The one Ægeas'1 hand, the other twain
The nation of the Jews to heaven consigned.
In token of their Master's approbation
Matthew and John have each a special favour:
The one by Hyrtacus2 is slain, the other
Jesus himself to his own banquet bids.
Philip, that learned teacher of the truth,
In Scythia, preaching, finished his course.
Thomas in India by a lance was slain;
Simon and Jude, whilst they the holy message
Intrusted to their lips to Persia bear,
Each in the blood-red martyr-robe are clad;
Bartholomew speaks words of life to Ind;
By lot Matthias was apostle named.
Then let the earth, the courts of heaven, applaud,
The Church here present add her acclamations,
The apostles high and holy acts extolling.
These are the candlesticks before God's face;
These in the palace of the mighty King
Exalted sit, in place pre-eminent.
Salt of the earth, light of the world, are these,
Like heavenly luminaries brightly shining
These bear the palm, these wear the crown already;
Already for them is the table set.
Oh, then, how great, how glorious, how joyous
Their festal day, which now we celebrate!
Let this our annual commemoration,
Our mention of their acts, our praises due,
Be pleasing to them in the courts above.
1 Proconsul of Achaia. 2 Hyrtacus (Hirtacus), king of Ethiopia, under whom St. Matthew suffered martyrdom.
Warren, Part II, printed p. 6 · open scan1. Gospel. St. John, xv. 17–25.1
These things I command . . . without a cause.
2. Gospel. St. Matt. x. 16–22.
Behold, I send you . . . shall be saved.
3. Gospel. St. Matt. xix. 27–29.
Then answered Peter . . . everlasting life.
4. Gospel. St. Matt. xvi. 13–19.
When Jesus came . . . loosed in heaven.
5. Gospel. St. Luke, xxii. 24–30.
There was also a strife . . . tribes of Israel.
1. Offertory.
Their sound is gone out into all lands; and their words into the ends of the world.2
2. Offertory.
Thou shalt make them princes in all lands: they shall remember thy name from one generation to another.3
3. Offertory.
How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God: O how great is the sum of them.4
In Easter-tide, Alleluya.
Secret.
We beseech thee, O Lord, that we who keep the feast of thy blessed apostle N. may receive thy favours through his aid for whom we offer to thee the sacrifice of praise. Through etc.
Preface.
And humbly to beseech thee etc.5
1 Omitting verse 23 and part of verses 21 and 22, but evidently accidentally through homœocatarcton. 2 Ps. xix. 4. 3 Ps. xlv. 17, 18. 4 Ps. cxxxix. 17. 5 Preface [No. 8], p. 39.
Warren, Part II, printed p. 7 · open scanCommunion.
Ye which have followed me shall sit upon thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel, saith the Lord.1
In Easter-tide, Alleluya, alleluya.
Postcommunion.
Defend us, O merciful God, by these holy gifts which we have received, and ever rule us under the guardianship of thy blessed apostle N. whose festival we celebrate. Through etc.
1 From St. Matt. xix. 28.