Missae Sancti Zenonis E Vetustis Mss Sacramentorum Libris

(CLXXIX) MASSES OF SAINT ZENO FROM THE ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT SACRAMENTARY BOOKS OF THE VERONESE CHURCH. MASS I. Prayer — Rejoicing and congratulating ourselves on the venerable festivity of this day, which is illuminated by the commemoration of your holy priest and confessor Zeno, O Lord, grant, propitiously entreated by his worthy prayers, that, refreshed with the joy of spiritual nourishment, we may follow the path of salvation which he taught, by imitating it. Through the Lord. Another prayer. — O God, who gladden us with the annual solemnity of the blessed confession of your holy priest and confessor Zeno, grant, we beseech you, that, with the crafty assault of the enemy overcome by your strength, we may, through his intercession, merit to attain to eternal joys. Through. Secret. — We beseech you, almighty Father God, look propitiously upon the offerings presented to you, and, through the intercession of your blessed priest and confessor Zeno, may our weakness be kept unharmed from the hidden impulse of the tempter, and may these offerings, devoutly received by angelic hands and consecrated, be joyfully borne before the sight of your glorious and tremendous majesty as a sweet fragrance. Through.

Preface. — It is truly fitting. You have deigned to lead blessed Zeno, abundantly satiated with the copious sweetness of love for your holy name, to the longed-for brightness of contemplating your Divinity: whom the invincible clemency of your mercy rendered more powerfully unharmed amidst worldly pomps, so that he was neither swollen by the great magnitude of flattering prosperity, nor bent by the stormy assault of the wave-like falseness of adversities. For he was steadfast in faith, patient in charity, adorned with the liveliness of pure chastity, and a most famous worker of salvation in the miracles of virtues; and also, in carrying out the doctrine of the Lord's dignity entrusted to him, he daily refreshed the peoples by eroding them with the nourishment of life from divine speech, and what the comely soldier of heaven faithfully preached was to be followed, this the wondrous steward devoutly and unceasingly took care to fulfill in deed. Therefore we, O almighty Lord, author of all things, suppliantly beseech you, that, on this day when we recall the most celebrated feast of his precious death, you, entreated by his most sacred prayers, may grant us that, absolved from the bonds of our sins and defended from the cunning ferocity of the enemy's attack, we may merit, with you as our guide, to arrive at the kingdoms of heaven. Through Christ.

For Communion. — Having received, O Lord, the most holy mysteries of redemption, we pray that, strengthened by the fullness of this saving remedy and supported by the most salutary aids of the blessed intercession of your holy priest and confessor Zeno, we may merit to attain the joys of the eternal feast. Through. Another. — Guard us, we beseech you, O Lord, as we frequent the birthdays of your saints, and always rouse our wills to fulfill the saving precepts of your commandments. Through. MASS II. Prayer. — O God, who are the most powerful illuminator of your bishops, grant, we beseech you, that, informed by the magnificent examples of your most blessed priest and confessor Zeno, we may pass through the darkness of this age without danger. Through. Secret. — Let us pray, almighty God: may the grateful prayer of blessed Zeno obtain from you pardon for our faults. Through. [CLXXXI] Postcommunion. — Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who annually keep watch at the venerable translation of your glorious confessor Zeno, by worthily following his manner of life, may merit to be partakers of his joys. Through.

MASS III. Prayer. — Celebrating today with holy devotion the venerable day of your blessed Confessor Zeno, we faithfully beseech you, Lord, the preserver of all, that you, clement and propitious, may incline to our prayers, just as you bestowed mercy upon him. Through. Secret. — O God, who bring bright light into the world through shining pearls, who prepared an eternal crown in the heavens for the blessed Pontiff Zeno, deign also to be present to us, your servants, standing before the sight of your majesty. Through. [CLXXXII] For Communion. — O God, who made such a Pontiff for the Church, who appointed such a Priest in our times, who could offer the purest and immaculate host. Through. MASS IV. Prayer. — Almighty eternal God, who are the wonderful splendor of your Saints, and who on this day raised your blessed Confessor Zeno to the glory of eternal blessedness, grant propitiously that we, whose feast we venerate on earth, may be fortified in heaven by his intercession and aid before your mercy. Through.

Secret. — Accept the offerings made to you, etc., as in the Secret of the first Mass. Communion. — Of your holy priest Zeno, etc., as in the first prayer of the first Mass; with this sole difference in the final words: by imitating the way of salvation which he taught, may we obtain pardon. Through. MASS V. Prayer. — We beseech you, Lord, to be propitious to your servants through the glorious merits of your Confessor and Pontiff, Saint Zeno, who rests in the present church, and through his pious intercession may we be protected from all adversities. Through. [CLXXXIII] Secret. — May your clemency, almighty God, receive from our hands the gift offered, and through the prayers of this your Confessor and Pontiff, Saint Zeno, absolve us from all sins. Postcommunion. — Having partaken of the divine mysteries, Lord, which we offered to your venerable majesty for this your Confessor and Pontiff, Saint Zeno, grant, we beseech you, that through them we may obtain pardon for our sins and be refreshed with the gifts of heavenly grace.

OTHER COMMON PARTS PERTAINING TO THE MASSES OF SAINT ZENO, FROM THE VERONESE MANUSCRIPT OF THE MONASTERY OF SAINT ZENO. Introit. — The Lord gave him a covenant of peace, and made him a prince, so that the dignity of the priesthood might be his forever. Psalm. I will sing the mercies of the Lord forever. ℣. Glory. Reading from the book of Wisdom. — Behold the great priest, up to those words “in the odor of sweetness,” which, consulting brevity, we have judged to be omitted. ℟. Behold the great priest, who in his days pleased God. i. There was none found like him, who preserved the law of the Most High. Alleluia. Behold, confessor Zeno, shepherd of the Lord, intercede for the devoted people of God. According to Luke. — At that time Jesus said to his disciples: No one lights a lamp, etc., up to those words “and like a lamp of brightness it will illuminate you.” (LXXXIV) In Paschal Time of the Lord. According to John. — At that time Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, etc., up to the words “and your joy be fulfilled.

Offertory. — My truth and my mercy are with him, and in my name his horn shall be exalted. Communion. — Lord, you entrusted five talents to me: behold, I have gained another five. Well done, good and faithful servant, because you were faithful in small things, I shall set you over many; enter into the joy of your Lord. MASS VI. (From Ambrosian Missals, manuscript and printed.) On the Feast of Saint Zeno, Bishop, 7 December. Over the people. — Almighty eternal God, who adorned blessed Zeno, your Confessor, with the insignia of the pontificate, grant, we beseech you, that by his example and his great intercession we may despise the glory of the world and ever aspire to heaven. Through our Lord. Over the sindon. — God, who made the present day solemn by the glorious death of blessed Zeno, your Pontiff, grant that we may be continually aided by his suffrages with you and sustained by his magnificent intercessions. Through our Lord.

[CLXXIV] Super oblata. — May the illustrious intercession of the blessed Zeno be present for the Church, O God, that it may make our gifts acceptable to the eyes of your majesty and render you placable to us. Through the Lord. Preface. — Eternal God, recalling the merits of your blessed Pontiff and Confessor Zeno, whom you deigned to exalt by your gratuitous kindness in the office of the pontificate and the gift of faith, so that he might shine with immense virtues and not abandon the purpose of holy humility. For he snatched the daughter of the Emperor Gallienus from the power of a demon, and cured the ailments of many with potent power. The river Adige also perceived how great the virtue of such a bishop is, when, exceeding its usual bounds, it dared not enter the approaches of the consecrated temple. Worthily, therefore, we do not keep silent about his praises in your name; worthily we proclaim his miracles with festive praises; worthily we pay to you, Lord, the giver of all good things, the vows of thanks together with him. Through Christ the Lord.

Postcommunion. — May the glorious merits of your blessed Pontiff and Confessor Zeno, we beseech you, O Lord, always protect us from all evils, in whose solemnity we receive your Holy Gifts rejoicing. Through the Lord.