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Editor’s note: reminder that anyone who devoutly visits a cemetery during the Octave (between November 1st and 8th), praying — even mentally — for the departed, may obtain one plenary indulgence per day, applicable only to the souls in Purgatory, under the usual conditions.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May God the Father Omnipotent, be to us merciful and clement.
℟. Amen.
Reading 4
From the Sermons of the Venerable Bede, Priest at Jarrow.
18th on the Saints.
Therefore, may it be our delight to go on unto this prize of good living. Freely and cheerfully let us strive in the race, running under the eyes of God and of Christ. We have already taken a station above floating and earthly things, and let us allow no love for things fleeting to hamper our running. If the last day shall find us lithe and speedful in the race of good living, we shall never have to complain that our Master is a scanty rewarder of our works.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. The Fore-runner of the Lord cometh, to whom He Himself bare witness, saying:
* Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.
℣. A Prophet? Yea, and much more than a Prophet. This is he of whom the Saviour saith:
℟. Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May Christ to all His people give, for ever in His sight to live.
℟. Amen.
Reading 5
That giveth a red crown for suffering under persecution, the same giveth a white crown to them that under peace, prevail in battles of righteousness. Neither Abraham, nor Isaac, nor Jacob, were slain, and nevertheless in honour for faith and righteousness, they have gained the first place among the Patriarchs, and it is to sit down with them in the kingdom of God that are gathered the faithful, the righteous, and the praiseworthy. We must remember that it is God’s will, and not our own will, that we must do, for he that doeth His will abideth for ever, even as He abideth for ever.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. These are they who while yet they lived in the flesh, planted the Church in their own blood;
* They drank of the Lord’s cup, and became the friends of God.
℣. Their sound is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
℟. They drank of the Lord’s cup, and became the friends of God.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May the Spirit’s fire Divine in our hearts enkindled shine.
℟. Amen.
Reading 6
Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, with mind clear, faith firm, courage true, love thorough, let us be ready to do whatever God willeth, keeping stoutly all the commandments of the Lord, having innocency in simplicity, peaceableness in love, modesty in lowliness, in ministering diligence, in helping them that toil watchfulness, in succouring the poor mercifulness, in standing up for the truth firmness, in keeping of discipline sternness, lest we be found wanting in any good work. These are the steps which the Saints who have already gone home have left marked for us, that we may be able to keep in their footprints, and so to follow them into their joy.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. O ye My Saints, who, being in the flesh, didst have striving
* I will render unto you a reward of your labours.
℣. Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom
℟. I will render unto you a reward of your labours.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. I will render unto you a reward of your labours.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May the Gospel’s holy lection Be our safety and protection.
℟. Amen.
Reading 7
From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 5:1-12
At that time Jesus seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. And so on.
Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
Bk. i. on the Lord’s Sermon, Ch. 4
First, Blessed are the poor in spirit. Secondly, Blessed are the meek. Thirdly, Blessed are they that mourn. They that are blessed under this third heading, having knowledge, do mourn that they possess not yet the Highest Good, which possession belongeth unto the end of their course. But in the fourth place, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness. Here there is that earnest striving, wherewith the mind doth struggle to tear herself away from those things whose deathful sweetness would make her fain to cling unto them. Here is hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and there is sore need of firmness, for what it is a joy to have, it must be a grief to lose. But the fifth heading is the declaration that Blessed are the merciful, and in these words a door of comfort and reward is opened unto the toiling. Entangled in such straits a man can be of no use to himself, unless One that is stronger than he help him; and if he be helped of the Stronger, it is but just that he in turn should help such as is weaker than himself. And so, Blessed are the merciful, for, in their turn, they shall obtain mercy from God.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
* And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding.
℣. Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
℟. And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. They whose feast-day we are keeping, be our Advocates with God.
℟. Amen.
Reading 8
Blessed are the pure in heart. This sixth benediction is pronounced upon those hearts which by pure, clear consciousness of good works are able to look to that Highest Good, Which only the clear, calm mind can perceive. Lastly cometh in the seventh place that Blessed are the peacemakers, that is to say, blessed are they who cultivate wisdom, which is the contemplation of the True, since it is the fruit of this contemplation of the True to produce profound and utter internal peace in man, and to catch the reflection of the Divine, this being the idea which is expressed in the words: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. The eighth phrase is a return to the first, since it showeth lowliness of spirit in its aspect of completion and crowning; and thence the kingdom of heaven is the reward mentioned in both places. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their’s is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. At midnight there was a cry made:
* Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.
℣. Trim your lamps, O ye wise virgins.
℟. Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.
℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May He that is the Angels’ King to that high realm His people bring.
℟. Amen.
Reading 9
Paul saith Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? There are therefore seven things which bring to perfection, for the eighth is the glorification and manifestation of that which is perfected, that from this head others again may begin, and be finished. It seemeth to me also that these heads and sayings have some connection with the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost whereof Isaiah speaketh. But there is a difference of order, for there the highest is taken first, but here the lowest; there the wisdom of God, but here the fear of God, but the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
Te Deum.