Probationes Quasdam Liturgiae Gallicanae

APPENDIX Containing certain proofs of the Gallican Liturgy and the Gallican cursus.

I. THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, AT THE MASS, THE OFFICE,

From the Mozarabic Missal a.

Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings of peace, alleluia, and that announceth good things, alleluia: keep thy feasts, O Judah, alleluia, and render thy vows to the Lord, alleluia. The Lord shall give the word to them that bring good tidings with great power. Ps. And render. Glory and honor to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit for ever and ever, amen. And render.

Let the priest say: through all things for ever and ever. ℟. Amen.

In the Advent of the Lord we do not say, Glory in the highest, on the Lord's days and ferias, but only on festival days.

The Prayer

O God, who through the angelic choirs didst will to announce the Advent of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who through the heralding of angels didst show, as they cried out, Glory in the highest to God, and on earth peace to men of good will, grant that in the festivity of this Sunday's resurrection, peace restored to the earth may grow strong, and may remain renewed in the charity of brotherly love. ℟. Amen.

Let the priest say:

Through your mercy, O our God, who are blessed and live and rule all things for ever and ever. ℟. Amen. • The Lord be always with you. ℟. And with your spirit.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. Chapter 10.

℟. Thanks be to God.

Behold, the Lord, the God of hosts, shall break the little flask in terror, and those of lofty stature shall be cut down, and the high shall be brought low, and the thickets of his forest shall be overthrown with iron, and Lebanon with its heights shall fall. [Chapter 11.] And there shall come forth a rod from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up from his root, and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and piety; and the spirit of the fear of the Lord shall fill him. He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears; but he shall judge the poor in justice, and shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. And justice shall be the girdle of his loins, and faith the belt of his reins. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion and the sheep shall abide together, and a little child shall lead them. The calf and the bear shall feed together, and their young shall rest together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the infant weaned from the breast shall delight over the hole of the asp, and the child weaned shall put his hand into the den of the basilisk.

They shall not harm and shall not kill on all my holy mountain, for the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters of the sea covering it. In that day the Root of Jesse, who stands as a sign for the peoples, the nations shall entreat him, and his sepulchre shall be glorious. ℟. Amen.

Let the priest say at the left horn of the altar: The Lord be always with you. ℟. And with your spirit. Psalmody. Who gives snow like wool, scatters mist like ashes; who sends forth his ice like morsels of bread. Before the face of his cold, who shall stand? He sends forth his word and melts them; his spirit blows and the waters flow. ℟. Before.

Let the priest say: Keep silence.

The reading of the Epistle of Paul the apostle to the Romans. Chapter 15.

Let the choir respond: Thanks be to God.

Brethren. I myself am confident concerning you, that you also are full of love, filled with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another. But I have written to you more boldly, brethren, in part, as bringing you into remembrance, because of the grace that was given to me by God, that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus among the nations, sanctifying the Gospel of God, that the offering of the nations may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Spirit. I have therefore glory in Christ Jesus toward God.

I do not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, in word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about even to Illyricum I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ. And so I have preached this Gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation, as it is written: They to whom he was not announced shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand. For which cause also I was hindered very much from coming to you, and I have been prevented until now. But now, having no more place in these regions, and having a desire to come to you these many years past; when I begin to journey into Spain, I hope that as I pass through I may see you, and be brought on my way thither by you, if first I have in part enjoyed you. Now therefore I will go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor of the saints who are in Jerusalem. For it has pleased them, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in carnal things. When therefore I have accomplished this, and have assigned to them this fruit, I will pass through you into Spain. And I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the abundance of the blessing of Christ. ℟. Amen.

Let the priest say: The Lord be always with you. ℟ And with your spirit. A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke. Chapter 3.

℟. The choir: Glory to you, O Lord.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene; under the high priests Annas and Caiaphas; the word of the Lord came upon John the son of Zechariah in the desert; and he came into all the region of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. He said therefore to the crowds that had come out to be baptized by him: You brood of vipers, who has shown you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance. And do not begin to say: We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. For already the axe is laid to the root of the tree. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. And the crowds were asking him, saying: What then shall we do?

But he answered and said to them: Whoever has two tunics, let him give to the one who has none; and whoever has food, let him do likewise. But tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him: Teacher, what shall we do? And he said to them: Do nothing more than what has been appointed for you. And soldiers also asked him, saying: What shall we do as well? And he said to them: Do violence to no one, nor make false accusation, and be content with your wages. But as the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts about John, whether perhaps he himself might be the Christ, John answered, saying to all: I indeed baptize you with water, but one mightier than I is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, whose winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will cleanse his threshing floor, and gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. And with many other things indeed he exhorted and preached the gospel to the people. ℟. Amen.

Let the priest say: The Lord be always with you. ℟. And with.

Let the choir say Praise. Alleluia. ℣. Send us help, Lord, from the holy place, and out of Zion deliver us, alleluia. Meanwhile, when the choir says Alleluia, the priest offers the host with the chalice, and with the prayers that follow.

May this offering be acceptable to thy Majesty, almighty eternal God, which we offer to thee for our sins and crimes, and for the stability of the holy catholic and apostolic..... for the worshippers of the faith. Through Christ our Lord. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. In laying down the paten upon the corporals. Then let him take the chalice, sanctifying thus. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Prayer.

We offer to thee, Lord, the chalice to be blessed for the blood of Christ thy lily, and we beseech thy clemency, that before the sight of thy divine Majesty, with the odor of sweetness it may ascend, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Let him place the chalice upon the altar, and take the little vessel without sanctification, and place it upon the chalice, saying thus:

Prayer.

Graciously accept this offering, we beseech you, Lord, and forgive the sins of all who offer it and of those for whom it is offered to you, through Christ our Lord, amen.

And let him say with hands joined, bowing:

Prayer

May we be received by you, Lord, in a spirit of humility and a contrite heart, and so let our sacrifice be made that we may be received by you today, that it may be pleasing in your sight, Lord God. Come, Holy Spirit, sanctifier, sanctify this sacrifice prepared for you from my hands. Here let him place incense in the thurible, and let him begin the sacrifice if he wishes. Afterwards let the priest bow toward the middle of the altar with hands joined, and say in a loud voice: Assist me, brothers, with your prayers, and pray for me to God. Let the choir respond: May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit assist you. And let the priest turn to the people and make the offertory if he wishes, and let the choir say the sacrifice. The Lord will reign in Jerusalem, and in the sight of the elders, alleluia. These things the Lord will say: he shall be as a father to those who dwell in Jerusalem, and to those who dwell in Zion, and I will give the key of the house of David upon his shoulder, and you shall open; and there is no one who may shut Jerusalem, alleluia.

Here let the priest take water into his hands, and say silently over the offering with three fingers: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, you reign, O God, for ever and ever, amen.

Let him bow before the altar, and say silently this prayer:

I will come to you in the humility of my spirit, I will speak to you, for you have given me great hope and strength. Do you therefore, son of David, who, revealed in mystery, came to us in the flesh, open the secrets of my heart with the key of your cross, sending one of the Seraphim, who with that burning coal which was taken from your altar may cleanse my defiled lips, purify my mind, and supply me with matter for teaching, so that the tongue which through charity serves the benefit of neighbors may not sound out the fall of error, but may echo the proclamation of truth without end, through you, my God, who live and reign for ever and ever, amen.

HERE BEGINS THE MASS.

Let the priest say: The Lord be always with you. ℟. And with your spirit

Oratio.

Awaiting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, most beloved brothers, with all our vows, let us implore the omnipotence of God the Father, that he may purify our hearts and keep our bodies immaculate. May he grant the minds of the faithful the ability to seek faithfully what can profit their salvation. Let us await with a secure conscience the one who is to come, whom we believe to be exalted above every principality and power. Let us also be solicitous at every moment, that we may be worthy to have as our beginning the one whom we believe and confess is to come in glory to judge us, the living and the dead. ℟. Amen. Let the priest say: Through your mercy, O our God, who are blessed, and live, and rule all things for ever and ever. ℟. Amen. Let the priest say, raising his hands: Let us pray. ℟. The choir: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God, eternal King, to you be praise and thanks.

Afterwards let the priest say:

Let us keep the holy catholic Church in our prayers, that the Lord in his mercy may deign to increase her in faith, hope, and charity. Let us keep in mind all the fallen, the captive, the sick, and the stranger, that the Lord in his mercy may deign to redeem, heal, and strengthen them. ℟. The choir: Grant this, eternal, almighty God.

Let the priest say another prayer:

Purify, Lord God, almighty Father, the hidden things of our sins, and in your mercy wash away all the stains of our sins. And grant, Lord, that by the blessing of your loving-kindness, cleansed from our offenses, we may await without fear the dread and terrible coming of our Lord Jesus Christ your Son; and so, with you showing mercy, may we deserve to receive here the forgiveness of all our transgressions, that in the future we may perceive your judgment to be wholly most gentle toward us, and, made partakers of your right hand, may we deserve to receive from you the reward of eternal life, and obtain your invincible, infinite, and most mighty kingdom. ℟. Amen.

Let the priest say: Through your mercy, our God, in whose sight the names of the holy apostles and martyrs, confessors and virgins are recited. ℟. Chorus. Amen. Let the priest say: Let our priests offer to God the Lord the offering, the Roman pope, and the rest for themselves and for all the clergy and the peoples of the Church entrusted to them, or for the whole brotherhood. Likewise all the priests, deacons, clerics, and the peoples standing around offer in honor of the saints for themselves and their own. ℟. Chorus: They offer for themselves and for the whole brotherhood.

Let the priest say: Making commemoration of the most blessed apostles and martyrs, of the glorious holy Mary the virgin, of Zachariah, John, the Infants, Peter, Paul, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, Simon and Jude, Matthias, Mark and Luke. ℟. The choir: And of all the martyrs. Let the priest say: Likewise for the spirits of those at rest, of Hilary, Athanasius, Martin, Ambrose, Augustine, Fulgentius, Leander, Isidore, David, Julian, likewise Julian, Peter, likewise Peter, John, Servus Dei, Visitani, Viventi, Felix, Cyprian, Vincent, Gerontius, Zachariah, Cenapoli, Dominic, Justus, Saturninus, Salvatus, likewise Salvatus, Bernard, Raymond, John, Celebruni, Gundisalvus, Martin, Roderic, John, Guterius, Sancius, likewise Sancius, Dominic, Julian, Philip, Stephen, John, likewise John, Felix. ℟. The choir: And of all those at rest.

Let the priest say after the names:

We beseech you, Lord Jesus Christ, that the coming of your beloved presence may so remain in us that our hearts may never withdraw from you; and so enroll us now in the eternal calling, that we may not be put to shame at the future, when you come to judge the world. ℟. Chorus: Amen. Let the priest say: For you are the life of the living, the health of the sick, and the rest of all the faithful departed, for ever and ever. ℟. Chorus: Amen.

Prayer for peace.

Let the priest say:

Lord God almighty, who for the redemption of the human race willed to send down to us, through the womb of the virgin Mary, your coeternal and coequal Son, by the announcement of an angel, and deigned to send John before the coming of your Son himself as herald, so that through his truthful preaching in the desert wilderness the penitent people might receive pardon for their old crimes, and the world, through the new man proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God, might merit to obtain the full and ineffable grace of the divine Trinity: grant us in this time of the Advent of your Only-begotten the same grace of peace which you deigned to bestow in ages past; and join us to be numbered among those in the encounter of faith whom we know to have been washed in the waters of repentance in the Jordan by John at the beginning of the faith, and afterward baptized by you through the Son in the Holy Spirit and fire. Let the chorus respond: Amen.

Let the priest say: For you are our true peace and unbroken love; you live with him and reign with him in the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. ℟. The choir: Amen. Let the priest say with hands lifted up to heaven: The grace of God the Father almighty, the peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be always with us all. ℟. The choir: And with all of good will. Let the priest say: As you stand, make peace. ℟. The choir: I give you my peace, I commend my peace to you; not as the world gives do I give you peace. A new commandment I give you, that you love one another. Let it be repeated: I give you my peace. ℟. Glory and honor to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit for ever and ever, amen. Let it be repeated: My peace.

Meanwhile, when the choir says: My peace, let the priest receive the peace from the paten, saying thus: Hold the kiss of love and peace, that you may be fit for the sacred mysteries of God. And immediately let him give the peace to the deacon or to the boy, and the boy to the people. Afterward let the priest bow with hands joined and say: I will go in to the altar of God. ℟. The choir: To God, who gives joy to my youth. Let the priest place his hand upon the chalice and say: Hearts up to the Lord. ℟. The choir: We have them up to the Lord. Let the priest say: Lift up your hearts. ℟. The choir: Let us lift them up to the Lord. Let the priest say, bowing with hands joined: To God and to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is in the heavens, let us render worthy praises and worthy thanks.

And saying: Let us give thanks, let the priest lift his hands on high. ℟. The choir: It is worthy and just. Afterwards let the priest say:

The Inlatio.

It is worthy and just that we give thanks to you, holy Lord, eternal Father, almighty God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, whom John, the faithful friend, preceded by being born; preceded in the deserts of the wilderness by preaching, preceded by baptizing; preparing also the way of judgment and of the Redeemer, he called sinners to repentance; and gaining a people for the Savior, he baptized in the Jordan those confessing their own sins; renewing men, he conferred full grace, but admonished them to await the presence of the most loving Savior; he himself did not forgive the sins of those coming to him, but promised that forgiveness of sins would be for those who would believe in the one to come; so that those descending into the water of repentance might hope for the remedy of pardon from him whom they heard was to come, full of truth and grace. Christ is therefore baptized by him in the visible element and the invisible Spirit; they were led through obedience to mercy; through the son of the barren woman to the son of the Virgin; through John, a great man, to Christ, man and God. Whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit angels and archangels, thrones, dominions and powers adore, saying thus:

℟. The choir:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of the glory of your majesty; hosanna to the son of David, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest.

Let the priest say after the Sanctus:

Truly holy and glorious is our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, whom we believe to have been incarnate of old for the salvation of the human race; and now we await him to come to judgment in the glory of his brightness with all the saints, himself the Lord and eternal Redeemer.

Then let the priest say in silence, with hands joined, bowing before the altar, this prayer.

Be present, be present, good Jesus, high priest, in our midst, as you were in the midst of your disciples; sanctify this offering, that we may receive it sanctified through the hands of your holy angel, holy Lord and eternal Redeemer. Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night on which he was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, blessed † it and broke it: and he gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat: This is my body which shall be given for you. Here let the body be lifted up. As often as you eat it, do this in commemoration of me. Likewise also the cup, after he had supped, saying: This † is the cup of the new Testament in my blood, which shall be poured out for you and for many for the remission of sins. Here let the cup be lifted up, covered with the little veil. As often as you drink it, do this in commemoration of me.

And when it has come to the place where he says: In remembrance of me, the presbyter shall say it in a loud voice on all days except festivals. In like manner where he says: Into the brightness from the heavens. And on each occasion let the choir respond: Amen.

As often as you shall eat this bread and drink this cup, you shall proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. Into the brightness from the heavens. ℟. The choir: Amen.

Let the presbyter say after the Pridie:

Prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, sanctify this living victim by the illumination of your coming, that we who taste of it may be cleansed from guilt and may deserve to receive your grace without end. ℟. Amen.

Afterward let the presbyter say:

By your gift, holy Lord, who for us your unworthy servants create all these things exceedingly good, make holy, give life, bless, and bestow upon us, that it may be blessed by you, our God, for ever and ever. ℟. The choir: Amen.

And then let the presbyter take the body of the Lord from the paten and place it upon the uncovered chalice, and say in a loud voice on all days, namely festivals and Sundays, except in places where there will be a proper antiphon for the breaking of the bread:

The Lord be always with you. ℟. And with your spirit.

Let the presbyter say:

The faith which we believe in the heart, let us speak with the mouth. And let the priest lift up the body of Christ so that it may be seen by the people. And let the choir say the Symbol two by two, that is:

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, creator of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord our Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, homoousion with the Father, that is, of the same substance with the Father; through whom all things were made, which are in heaven and which are on earth; who for us men and for our salvation descended from the heavens; and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was buried, on the third day he rose again; he ascended to the heavens, he sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he is to come to judge the living and the dead, of whose kingdom there will be no end, and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life-giver, and proceeding from the Father and the Son, to be adored and glorified with the Father and the Son; who spoke through the prophets. And one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We await the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

And then let the presbyter do thus: Let him break the Eucharist through the middle, and place half the part on the paten, and from the other part let him make five particles, and place them on the paten; and let him take the other part, and make four particles, and place them on the paten similarly, made in order through those compartments which are above. And immediately let him cleanse his fingers well; and with the chalice covered, let him make the Memento for the living.

Afterward let the presbyter say this prayer equally at the Lord's Prayer.

Let us pray.

Word of the Father, who was made with us, that you might dwell in us; grant us, that we who already believe that you have come may be snatched from every contagion of sins, when we have proclaimed abroad the oracles of your precept. Our Father, who are in the heavens. ℟. Amen. Hallowed be your name. ℟. Amen. Your kingdom come. ℟. Amen. Your will be done as in heaven and on earth. ℟. Amen. Give us today our daily bread. ℟. For you are God. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. ℟. Amen. And lead us not into temptation. ℟. But deliver us from evil. Let the presbyter say: Delivered from evil, always confirmed in good, may we merit to serve you, God and our Lord. Set, Lord, an end. Here let him strike his breast, to our sins: give joy to the troubled, grant redemption to captives, health to the sick, rest to the dead: grant peace and security in all our days.

Break the boldness of our enemies, and hear, O God, the prayers of all your faithful Christians, on this day and at all times. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. ℟. Amen.

Let the presbyter do thus: Let him now take from the paten the particle that is called the Kingdom, and place it upon the chalice. At the time of the resurrection, that is, let him say three times: The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered, alleluia. Let the chorus respond each time: You who sit above the cherubim, the root of David, alleluia. And afterwards let him say this prayer to himself in a low voice:

Holy things to the holy, and the union of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ; let it be granted to us who receive and drink for forgiveness, and to the faithful departed for rest. And let him put the particle into the chalice, and cover the chalice, and say aloud thus, if there is no deacon present:

Bow yourselves for the blessing. The Lord be always with you. ℟. And with your spirit. The blessing. May the only-begotten Son of God enlighten you with the light of his coming, he who did not disdain to redeem you at the price of his own blood. ℟. Amen. May he gird you with the virtues of peace and enrich you with abundant gifts. ℟. Amen. And may you always have as your protector the Lord himself, whom the almighty Father raised up from the tribe of Judah as victor. ℟. Amen. Let the priest say: Through the mercy of our God himself, who is blessed, and lives, and rules all things for ever and ever. • Amen. The Lord be always with you. ℟. And with. Let the choir say: Taste and see that the Lord is sweet. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall always be in my mouth. P. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and he will not forsake all who hope in him. P. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory and honor to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen. P. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. In saying Taste and see, let the priest take another particle following, which is called Glory, and place it upon the chalice, and say in silence this prayer: I will receive the heavenly bread from the table of the Lord, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. And let the priest say, Remember the dead, holding that particle over the chalice, and having said Remember, let him say these prayers which follow.

My Lord God, grant me so to receive the body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that through it I may be counted worthy to receive forgiveness of all sins and to be filled with your Holy Spirit, our God, who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer.

Hail for ever, most holy flesh of Christ, supreme sweetness for all eternity: I will receive the heavenly bread, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. Here let him make the sign with the Host, and let him take the particle that he holds in his hand, and let him cover the chalice, and let him come to the paten, and let him consume all the particles in order. And then let him take the paten, and place it upon the chalice, and let him cleanse his thumb well with his finger and say this prayer:

Hail for ever, heavenly drink, who are sweet to me before all things and above all things.

Another prayer.

May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep my body and soul unto eternal life. Amen. Here let him receive the blood; and when the priest has taken the blood, let him immediately say this prayer:

My Lord God, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, make me always to seek and love you, and never to depart from you through this holy communion which I have received, for you are God, and besides you there is no other for ever and ever, amen.

Let the choir sing the communion: Refreshed by the body and blood of Christ, we praise you, O Lord, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Let the priest go to the horn of the altar, and say this prayer: Refreshed by the body and blood of Christ and likewise sanctified, let us give thanks to God the Father almighty, that we, having the same resurrection and sanctification here, may also receive glory in the age to come. ℟. Amen. Let the priest say: Through your mercy, O our God, who are blessed, and live, and rule all things for ever and ever. ℟. Amen. The Lord be always with you. And with your spirit. Let the priest or deacon say: The solemn rites are completed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; let our vow be accepted with peace. ℟. Thanks be to God. This prayer above said is made in the middle of the altar.

In this Mass and in others the priest does not turn to the people, except when he has said: Help me, brothers, in your prayers.

II. ON THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AT THE MASS OFFICE.

From the same Mozarabic Missal.

Alleluia, Blessed is he who comes, alleluia, in the name of the Man, alleluia, alleluia.

God is the Lord and has shone upon us. P. In the name of the Lord. ℣. Glory and honor to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit for ever and ever, amen. P. In the name of the Lord.

Let the priest say: Through all ages of ages. ℟. Amen.

Let the priest say: Glory in the highest to God.

After the Glory in the highest has been said, let him say this prayer:

Today a treasure has been born to us. Today the lamp of the Virgin, which the Holy Spirit set aflame, has appeared as the true light. Today the physician of the blind has been born. Today the health of the paralyzed. Today the strength of the weak, the power of the sick. Today the resurrection of the dead, our Savior, has come. Today in the burning night a new light has appeared to us. Today our Savior has come to us, whom the prophets foretold would be born of the virgin Mary. Today, placed in the manger, the eternal Bread of light is shown to us, who said: I am the true bread which came down from heaven. But if anyone eats of this bread, he will not hunger for ever. Grant us, Lord, through the glory of your nativity to be freed from our own evils, and always to glory in your praises. ℟. Amen.

Prophecy. Reading from the book of Isaiah the prophet. Chapter 9.

℟. Thanks be to God.

In the first time the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali was relieved, etc., up to the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. ℟. Amen.

Let the priest say: The Lord be always with you. ℟. And with your spirit.

Let the choir say while singing:

The Lord said to me: You are my Son, today I have begotten you. ℣. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. P. I. Let the priest say: Keep silence.

The beginning of the epistle of the apostle Paul to the Hebrews, Chapter 1.

• Thanks be to God.

Brothers, in many and various ways, etc., up to and your years shall not fail. Let the choir respond: Amen.

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke. Chapter 2.

And it came to pass, while they were there, that the days were fulfilled for her to give birth: and she gave birth to a son, etc., up to as it was said to them. ℟. Amen. Praise.

Alleluia. ℣. The Lord has sent redemption to his people, he has commanded his covenant forever: holy and terrible is his name. P. Alleluia. Let the priest say: Help me, brothers, in your prayers. Sacrifice. A little child is born to us, and a son is given to us: and the government has been placed upon his shoulder, alleluia, alleluia.

MASS.

Behold now is the acceptable time, behold now is the day of salvation. The light has come forth from the earth; let us go out from the darkness. The Advocate has descended from heaven; let us do what we ought. The Redeemer of the world has appeared; let us cry out for freedom. The physician has come to the sick; let us bring forth our wounds. The living bread has been given to believers; let us receive it. The perennial fount has been opened to the faithful; let us fill our souls, by whose mercy, power, and grace, in that progress of faith, in the cultivation of justice, in the step of confession, in the affections of chastity, he may make us stand, in whom he proves that he has begotten souls for himself, not dried them up. And in that state may our life delight in him, and bear fruit for us, in which God, remaining of our race and not of our crime, has inserted himself into us to be born in us, and has appeared to die for us. ℟. Amen. By the granting of the grace of his compassion, whose kingdom and empire are perpetual and glorious for ever and ever. ℟. Chorus: Amen.

Another prayer.

We invoke you, Lord Jesus Christ, you who save men in the plural, and the man powerful in God in the singular; we praise you, we ask that you be present, spare, have mercy, forgive; grant in the heart, and fulfill our vows; grant in the mouth, and hear our words; grant in the work, and bless our deeds. We do not ask that bodily birth of yours be renewed for us, as it was once done on this day; but we ask that your invisible divinity be embodied in us, so that what was granted channel-wise, yet singularly then to Mary, may now be granted spiritually to the Church: that undoubted faith may conceive you, that the mind freed from corruption may give birth to you, that the soul, ever overshadowed by the power of the Most High, may hold you. Do not depart from us, but proceed from us. Be truly our Emmanuel, God with us. Deign to remain in us and to fight for us; for when you fight, we conquer. Loose us, we beseech you, from the rotting swaddling clothes of sins, you who for our sins deigned to be bound even in the filth of swaddling clothes. May your milk nourish the little ones of your Church, and may the delicate food of vegetables feed those so weak that, to receive stronger and solid food, they may grow in strength daily. And may we so know how to show a purified will and a most firm faith that we may strive continually, with your help, to reach eternal life. ℟. Amen.

After the names.

We, your unworthy and lowly priests, sacrificing spiritual victims to your tremendous majesty, offer to you, O God, an immaculate victim, whom the maternal womb brought forth with unstained virginity, modesty brought forth, sanctification begot, integrity poured out; and being sacrificed, the victim lives, and living is continually sacrificed; a victim which alone can prevail to please God, because he is the Lord. This victim, O highest Father, we offer to you for your holy Church, for the satisfaction of a sinful world, for the cleansing of our souls, for the health of all the sick, and for the rest or indulgence of the faithful departed, that, their lot being changed from mournful dwellings, they may enjoy the happy fellowship of the just. ℟. Chorus: Amen.

Prayer for peace.

To you, O God, at once high and lowly, Christ Jesus, we your lowly servants humbly pray, that the peace which, about to ascend to the heavens, you commended to your dear ones by your knowledge, you would grant, increase, perfect, and guard. And so let your peace be in your strength, and abundance in your towers, lest the kisses of office be coverings of hidden poison; but you who gave peace to men of good will while the angels sang, make us on this day of the Nativity messengers and sons of peace. ℟. Amen.

The Preface.

It is worthy and just that we render to your omnipotence and goodness the praises which you have granted us to be able to offer, most merciful Father; because after many ages, on this day—not after many ages—Christ Jesus your only-begotten, who was always with you and with himself, has been born for us: he became the son of his handmaid, the Lord of his mother; the offspring of Mary, the fruit of the Church; he is brought forth by the one, received by the other; through the one he comes forth as a little child, through the other he is magnified as wonderful. The one bore him for the salvation of the peoples, the other bears the peoples; the one carried life, the other the laver; in the limbs of the one Christ was poured in, in the waters of the other Christ was clothed. Through the one, he who was is born; through the other, he who had perished is found. In the one the Redeemer of the nations is given life; in the other the nations are given life. Through the one he came to take away sins; through the other he took away the sins for which he came. Through the one he wept for us; through the other he healed us. In the one an infant, in the other a giant. There he is an exile, here he triumphs. Through the one he bore childish playthings, through the other he subjected kingdoms. He caressed the one with the delight of a little child, he betrothed the other with the faith of a bridegroom. At last the uncorrupted commerce of a precious love stands forth. The bridegroom gave gifts to his bride, living waters—that is, Christ to the Church—by which she might be washed once for the merit of pleasing him. He gave the oil of gladness, that by its fragrant ointment she might be anointed with chrism.

He called her to his table, satisfied her with the fat of wheat, filled her with the wine of gladness, set upon her the ornament of righteousness; he gave her a robe of gold woven with a variety of virtues; he laid down his own soul for her; the spoils of death, trampled and trodden underfoot, he, about to reign as victor, presented to her as a dowry; he gave himself to her as food and drink and clothing. He promised that he would give her an eternal kingdom; he pledged that she would be established as Queen at his right hand; he granted to her also what was granted to the Mother: to be filled, not violated; to give birth, not to be corrupted; to that one once, to this one always, to sit as a bride in the bridal chamber of beauty, and to multiply sons in the womb of piety—fruitful offspring, not a fetid will. Thus she too, made rich in him and through him, brings humble gifts to her spouse and Lord; for in offering this from her own, what she believed; this from his example, that she loved him in return; this from his gift, that she both could what she willed, and willed what she could. He gave her martyrs as roses, virgins as lilies, the continent as violets. These things he sent to her through the ministers of his will, the apostles, gathered together at the expense of his work. Hence now, standing at his right hand in happy and glorious perpetuity, she praises him in confession together with you, almighty Father, and with the Holy Spirit, reigning with all the angels, and says. ℟. Choir, Holy, Holy, Holy.

Let the priest say after the Sanctus:

Truly holy, truly blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who came from heaven to dwell on earth: he was made flesh, that Christ the Lord and eternal Redeemer might dwell in us.

Let the priest say after the Pridie:

These your gifts and commandments, Lord, we who serve you set before your altar as whole-burnt offerings of bread and wine, beseeching the most abundant loving-kindness of your mercy, that in the same Spirit by whom incorrupt virginity conceived you in the flesh, the undivided Trinity may sanctify these sacrifices; so that when they have been received by us with no less trembling than reverence, whatever lives wickedly against the soul may perish; whatever is dead may in no way live again. ℟. Amen.

Let the priest say at the Lord's Prayer:

That which the Way showed us so that we might follow it, that which the Life taught us so that we might speak it, that which the Truth established so that we might hold it fast—to you, O highest Father, let us cry out from the earth with trembling of heart. Our Father.

Let the priest say the blessing:

May the Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sake deigned this day to be born, himself give you life by his nativity. ℟. Amen. And may he who, taking on the infancy of human nature, was clothed in cheap swaddling clothes, clothe you in the garments of the heavenly virtues. ℟. Chorus: Amen. And may he be the inner food of your hearts, who, placed in the manger, willed to show himself to believers as food. ℟. Chorus: Amen. Through the mercy of our God himself, who is blessed, and lives, and rules all things for ever and ever. ℟. Amen.

Let the priest say: The Lord be always with you. Here let the chorus say: Taste and see.

Prayer after communion.

We give thanks to you, Lord God, and we bless you, God, from day to day, who have deigned to bring us to this holy day of your solemnity. Make us to receive this day of your nativity through many courses of years in peace and tranquillity with your faithful people. ℟. Chorus: Amen. Through your mercy, our God, who are blessed and live and rule all things for ever and ever. ℟. Amen. ℟. The Lord be always with you. ℟. And with your spirit. ℟. The solemn rites are completed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: may our vow be accepted with peace. ℟. Thanks be to God.

III. Here begins the letter of Saint Augustine to the holy Bishop of God Bibianus, prelate of the city of Saintes.

From a manuscript codex of Saint-Père of Chartres.

To the truly holy lord, adorned with the palm of triumph and crowned with the pontifical office, Bibianus the orthodox, Augustine, servant of the servants of God, greeting in the Lord. Know that the letters of your apostleship, brought to us by your deacon Trojan, our most beloved son, have reached us; and when your well-being had been certified to us by that page, we rendered immense praises of thanksgiving to God. And although we are absent in body, yet present in Christ-loving charity, we rejoiced greatly at the report of your holiness and at the excellent height of your priesthood, which shines far throughout the world—not only of the West and Gaul, but also of the East and Africa—as the light of your merits runs its course. We pray God that he who began the good work in you may himself complete what has been begun; and at the same time we humbly ask you that, aided by your prayers, we may be found worthy to be freed from the snares of this world. But as for what you deigned to enjoin upon us—that we should send you the order of the church of Hippo Regius, showing how it performs the divine offices in annual harmony through the pages of both the New and the Old Testament—for the present we could not do so, because we had our notaries occupied with the book of the Hexaemeron.

But when that work has been completed, with the Lord's favor, we will presently, obedient to your command, send the book to you through your servant, our son in Christ, the presbyter Eugepius; in it we have briefly set forth, adorning it, the work of the whole year in the divine readings, beginning the order of the Lord's Advent from the eighth day before the Kalends of October, the autumn equinox, for the reason that on that same day John, the forerunner of the Lord, is handed down by our forebears as both conceived through the angel's announcement and slain by the sword of the deadly Herod. There is also, besides the Nativity, another solemnity of John the Baptist, namely on the fourth day before the Kalends of September, when his head is read to have been found, the head of the Lord's forerunner. This, as I think, the dispensation of the Godhead decreed for this reason: that since in the water of baptism we are consecrated by threefold immersion to the ministry—at least that ministry which John preached before the face of Christ—the Church should therefore render his praises in a threefold solemnity. And because it is written of him in the voices of the prophets and in the testimonies of the Savior: Behold, I send my angel, who will prepare the way before your face; therefore we begin the office of Christ's Advent from his conception or his death. For it is fitting that from that same day until the Nativity of Christ the Church should resound, beating the drum, with the instruments of the prophets.

But since there are some who seem foolishly to observe the Lord's Advent from the feast of blessed Martin, bishop of the city of Tours, we do not reprove them, because not all can do all things, and especially since the Apostle says: To each one as God has divided the measure of faith. But the fullness of our order and religion is far otherwise. For Saint Martin came forth long after the Lord's ascension, or departed long after his birth, seeing that he was near to our own times, although in a short time the fame of his holiness and power filled the whole world. Among us, therefore, from his solemnity abstinence from meat and from conjugal union is enjoined upon the children of the Church, so that they may communicate more securely at the Lord's Nativity. But this work is more rightly begun at the conception of Saint John: because he went before the Lord, both through the announcement of the angel and through the contact of signification, while the Lord was being born of the Virgin, but the servant was being born of an old and barren mother; and he himself, enclosed in the womb, exulting with joy, greeted Christ enclosed in the Virgin's womb with a mystical presage. But also when John sensed that the day of his death was at hand, he therefore sent to the Lord, saying: Are you the one who is to come, or do we look for another?

as if he were saying to him: Declare to me whether you will descend through yourself to the gates of hell, or send another to set the human race free; for just as, while you were placed on earth, I by my finger going before you in teaching and baptizing showed you the one who was to rise, so do I wish, commanded by you, O Lord, to announce your advent to the people sitting in darkness and daily entreating you? And for these certain reasons, in the celebration of the Lord's Advent, the solemnity of John the Baptist is placed before it. But also see the order of the seasons harmonizing fittingly with this same thing. At the autumn equinox, when the darkness increases, John is handed down to have been conceived; and under the turning of that same season he suffered. At the equinox when the light is extended and the darkness is diminished, Christ is handed down both to have been conceived in the womb of the Virgin; and under that same course to have been fixed to the yoke of the cross. At the solstice, in which the day begins to be diminished and the night to be increased, John is believed to have been born, as a servant; but at that solstice from which the day is increased and the darkness diminished, the Savior was born of the virgin Mary. For this fourfold course of the revolving year we have also distinguished by ending the end of this book; so that, because the four seasons of the year are seen to be terminated in this order, so also the four volumes of this book may render their distinct office through the circle of the year, after the likeness of the holy Gospel, according to what the wheel marked out below is seen to indicate.

I beseech you, however, and all to whom this form of reading shall come, that you deign to pray to the almighty Lord on my behalf, so that for the labor of this work I may deserve to obtain some small portion of grace before him. Given on the Kalends of June, at Hippo Regius, in the consulship of Arcadius and Honorius, Augusti.

Here ends happily the letter of Saint Augustine, bishop.

IV. A SERMON ON THE VIGIL OF EPIPHANY.

From the old Gallican Lectionary.

Your charity has heard with us, as the Evangelist says: When, he says, God was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king: behold, magi came from the East to Jerusalem, saying: Where is he who is born as King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and we have come to adore him. Happy is that city, brothers, for which God was born as a citizen! It, receiving a singular merit before the coming of the Savior, deserved to be praised first through the prophet, and to learn whom it was receiving. Happy are you, city of Bethlehem! for you are not the least among the princes of Judah. For from you shall come forth the King who shall rule my people Israel. What does Judah do, the blindness of their minds, who have not deserved to understand or to know the coming of the Savior? The answer of the prophet has been fulfilled for all: heaven has brought forth our Savior. For when could he lie hidden whom God had foretold? The city of Bethlehem has received a citizen from the star-bearing regions, and through a new inhabitant a great merit passes over, because what it has merited cannot be ended.

But after that offspring, revealed and seen by a heavenly sign, that infancy, worthy of veneration, disturbed the magi. There was nothing at all contemptible in those infant cries, because God looked upon human senses; but after the magi, having tested the trustworthiness of that star itself, deceived the king's command, they held to foreign regions; avoiding the sight of King Herod, they wished to show more fully what they feared. The king feels a greater sting, to whom what he fears is not shown. But when the anxious king learned that, the time for coming having passed, the deceiving magi had turned aside, and the unknown sight of the infant distracted his mind with various emotions, he betrayed this by the cruel art of his counsel, so that by killing he might seek to find the infant who was to succeed him, as it is written: When Herod saw that he had been mocked by the magi, he was exceedingly angry, and sent that all the infants in Bethlehem and in all its borders of two years old and under should be killed. Happy was the sport of the little ones, the condition of dying, who merited to suffer for Christ. The mad savagery of the raging king profited those who died: while with diligent cruelty he sought his successor, in his anger he made them worthy martyrs. For Herod, whom a raving mind raised up with the torches of fury as much as the love of sweet power inflamed, sent his executioners to seek out the infants, as if he who could find God when he wished.

The king's servants go into the city, bearing a cruel command and carrying a harsh decree; they hastened with swords to the tears of mothers. An infant war was waged in the houses, and with savagery fighting alone on its own side, the cruelty of bereavement stood out. Infants were slaughtered in their cradles, in whom there was not yet any awareness of being born; and that first beginning of limbs learns that its funeral comes before its body. The first beginnings of limbs were being slain, the tiniest sucklings, and the little ones received from their mothers were hurled against the hardness of stones, so that, to the execrable evil, the rough mass of rocks scattered their limbs. And the earth unwillingly received those slain and crushed, and again she herself offered burial to mortals, who had lately received the newborn with joy. Before the eyes of mothers the wailings of infants were stifled, and they carried their tears back into their mothers' eyes. Our Savior was sought amid the funerals of infants: who for this permitted infants to be killed in his stead, so that others might learn to die for him. The houses swam with the blood of little ones; nor was there anyone who could console another, because there was no one who did not have tears. Unconquered bereavement had made all equal, and the common evil was everywhere borne in mourning. The stifled wailings of the little ones demanded greater groans. No house, no place had remained free from bereavement, where loving cruelty was not present. The brief wounds of their limbs lay there, and with veiled face, colored by grim pallor, they brought tears to the minds of all.

The whole city was filled with tiny deaths, and with the offspring of all cut off, only that escaped which did not deserve to have wailing. In that destruction of sons, with mothers intent on the slaughter of the Hebrews, one fortunate woman escaped, who was a virgin after childbirth. What did it profit to fill the earth with so many funerals? What did it avail to dry up so many breasts flowing with milk, when God foretold the coming evil beforehand? It is clear, therefore, that the Jewish people were preparing destruction for the newborn Lord; and to such a degree did God Christ wish to teach at that same time, because the Jew did not know what was happening. But because the Lord Christ was prevented from his passion or delayed, he preferred to be taught by virtues rather than to be killed before the time.

V. THE TESTAMENT OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS MATRON ERMENTRUDIS

From the autograph of Dionysius on Egyptian papyrus.

......... let the most sacred treasury receive. But if you keep all that I have inserted in this testament..... whatever I have assigned to you above, let them remain in your right for all time..... in this testament, to whomever I have not assigned it, to you, sweetest son, I desire it to belong. Likewise....... by the assignment of the good memory of Deorovaldus I give to you a silver reed worth more or less 25 solidi. And on my part I give to you a silver caucus worth 30 solidi, and half of the sheep which Vigilius tends, with the shepherd named Gaugiulfus. In like manner, from Latiniacus and Balbiniacus, both clothing and bronze vessels or utensils, and of the oxen half of everything, to you, sweetest son, I command to have.

By an equal arrangement, at the direction of Deorovald of good memory, I give to you, sweetest son, from his portion and from my own property, the slaves by these names: Unnegiselus, Aunemundus, and the daughters of Patricius, that is Fedana, and Ausegunda, and Aguechildis, and Baccio, together with a herd of pigs; two vine-plots, situated on Mount Maurilio, which Theodaharius and Garimundus cultivate. A third vine-plot, situated on Mount Metobaure, with the vinedresser Guntracharius.... A fourth vine-plot, situated at Taurimacum, which Imnerdus cultivates with the vinedresser Munegiselus. A fifth vine-plot, situated on Mount Vultoricinum, which Sevila cultivates, with the vinedresser. All these things written above, sweetest son, I have determined that you shall hold by my will and by the direction of Deorovald of divine memory. The vineyard situated on Mount Me....., which Habundancius cultivates, I order to be given, the half, to the holy church of ...; the other half of that same vineyard I order my sweetest grandson Bertigisilus to hold. The vineyard which the woman Agita held; and the vineyard which Imnacharius cultivates, I order my sweetest granddaughter Deorovara to hold together with that same Imnacharius. The vine-plants which are beside the vineyard of Sevila, I order my sweetest grandson Bertericus to hold. The vineyard which Vincimalus cultivates on Mount Vultoricinum, and the girl by the name Sunnechildis, and the maidservant by the name Iveria, together with the son of Leudinus, I order my sweetest one Beriovara to hold.

Likewise to my sweetest grandson Bertegisilus I appoint to have an ichriarlum of silver, and the slaves by these names, Sunniulfus and his sister Gibethrudis, and the daughters of Anthimius, and the son of The...na the younger. To my granddaughter Deorovara I appoint to be given a silver dish marked with a cross, and the slaves by these names, Tanecbildis, Imnegunthis, and Imnegisilus; and a set of bedclothes for the one bed which shall be the better, and a boy by the name of Gundofredus, and a maidservant by the name of Theigundis, and also a girl by the name of Audechildis. To my sweetest grandson Bertericus I order to be had a boy by the name of Medigisilus.

To the established basilicas at Paris, that is to the basilica of Saint Peter, I appoint to be given a silver vessel worth twelve solidi, and a golden brooch set with gems for the chin. To the basilica of the Lady Mary I order to be given a silver gavata worth twelve solidi, and a golden cross worth seven solidi. To the basilica of the lord Stephen I wish to be given a golden ring with black enamel, worth four solidi. To the basilica of the lord Gervasius I command to be given a golden ring having my name written upon it. To the basilica of Saint Sinsurianus, in which my son Deorovaldus of good memory rests, I command to be given, for my devotion and for the repose of Deorovaldus, a bridle worth twelve solidi, and a saddled horse, and the carriage in which I was accustomed to sit, with its oxen; and a set of bedclothes with all its bedding. Another carriage with its oxen and all its equipment I order to be given to the church of the village of Bonisiacus. Likewise the estate whose name is Volonnum,.

with its appurtenances, to the above-written church of Bonisiacus, I order to be held for the remedy of my soul. To the sacrosanct church of the city of Paris I order to be given a silver missorium worth fifty solidi. To the basilica of the Holy Cross and of the Lord Vincent I command ten silver spoons to be given. One lectarium in a pair, and one pareclus of my clothing, I order to be given to the brothers at the table of the basilica of Saint Dionysius. Another pareclus of clothing I appoint to be given to the brothers at the village of Bonisiacus. A third pariculus of clothing I order to be given to Emilia at the village. Likewise, for the remedy of my soul, and by the bequest of my son Deorovaldus of good memory, the estate whose name is Latiniacus, situated in the territory of Meldis, with its fields, colonicae pertaining to the same, with meadows, pastures, woods, and all its right and boundary, since it fell to the portion of my above-mentioned son Deorovaldus, with all integrity I order to be given to the basilica of Saint Sinsurianus, where he is known to have his burial, for his rest. Likewise the swineherd named Gundilane, with the herd of pigs, and Baudomere with the herd of sheep, and the troop of beasts of burden which are at the above-written estate Latiniacus, I order to be held by the aforesaid basilica of Saint Sinsunanus.

To Goderic and Gunderic, in the above-written villa which I have assigned to the basilica of the lord Sinsurianus, I so order that they labor, so that from it offerings may be supplied daily to that same basilica. To Leudulf, with the vineyard which Sabucito cultivates, for the oratory which is in the villa of Latiniacum, so that offerings may be brought there in like manner, I wish it to be given. Baudulf and Sumthaharius likewise, with oxen, I order that they labor, so that an offering may be made at the basilica of Saint Sinsurianus for the repose of Deorovaldus. In like manner, one foot-measure of vineyard, situated at Tauriniacum, which Pinpo cultivates, to the basilica of the lord George at Cala I command to be given. One foot-measure of vineyard, situated on Mount Buxata, which Juvius cultivates, to the church of Bonisiacus I appoint to be given. The vineyard which Uvassio cultivates, together with Uvassio himself, which he ought to cultivate, to the basilica of the lord Sinsurianus, offerings, I appoint to be given. One foot-measure of vineyard, situated on Mount Blixata, which Leudefredus cultivates, to the basilica of Saint Martin, I order to be given. The names of my freedmen in the testament I appoint to be given: Medibergana, Honorius, Gundileubana, Piana, Sumthulfus, Ciuccirana, Hicchicio, Maxa the wife of Chiobergus, Sinderedus, Angilo, Leudefredus with his wife Vuandilo, Chaideruna, Childeruna, Thrasteberga, Theodacharius, Vigilius with his wife Sunnina, Agio with his son Garilullus, Vincimalus with his wife Maurella, Mellita with her younger son.

To Coccion with his son Daigisil, to Mudilan with her sons Munegisil and Monechrude, to Acchion, Bonan, Leubosainth, to Gibulf son of Vigilius; to Dommoruna, Childeriman, Bason, Childegisel, Childegunth; to Chrodulf… to Sindebergan, Monechild, Æternus, Bauderuna: all these, with all their property—both their small plots, their little dwellings, their little gardens, or their little vineyards—and with whatever they are seen to possess in any goods whatsoever, I order to be free, men and women; and whatever they wish to do with it, let them have free power.

Likewise I order Mumolan to be free with all his property; let him be zealous only to supply the lights in the church of Bonisiaca. I command that Vualacharius, with all his property and with the oxen which he drives, be free on this condition: that he take care only to supply wood for making the offerings. I order Gundefred to labor with two oxen, from which wax may be purchased for the lights of the lord Sinsurianus. To Martinian and Theoderuna with her elder son, with their property, as written above, I order them to be free, as they are well-deserving. In like manner, for the remedy of my soul and by the charge of my son Deorovaldo, to Gygo, Septered with his wife Goderuna, Theodonivia, Baudonivia, Caran, Patricius with his wife Eusebia, Dagaric with his wife Aurovefa, Ciuncilen,

To Blidemund with his daughter Blidechild, to Manileub, to Trasilane, to Eumund; to Imnered with his wife Torigia, to Chadulf, to Aridia, to Rocculane, to Babiccon, to Gunthivera: these, all of them, with all their property—both the small plots, the cottages, the little vineyards, or the little gardens—with what they are seen to possess at the present time, I establish to be freeborn. To Baudulf and Sumthaharius, with the oxen which they drive, I instruct that they labor, so that from it an offering may be continually ministered by the basilica of the Lord Sinsurianus. Thus I give, thus I bind, thus I testify, thus you who are my Quirites bear witness to me; you, the other men and the other women, the nearby men and the nearby women, be disinherited from me; and keep far away—if there are any erasures or crossings-out in this my testament, I made them and ordered them to be made, when I wished it to be reviewed by me rather often. I have also established that it be added: if anyone wishes to come against this testament, or attempts to corrupt my will in any respect, let him be made a stranger from the communion of all the saints and from the thresholds of the churches, and moreover let him remain anathematized before the tribunal of Christ. Done at Paris on the day and at the time written above. The sign of Erminethrude, the testatrix. Mummolus, comes, at the request and in the presence of Erminethrude, subscribed this testament. Scupilie, spatarius, at the request of Erminethrude, subscribed this testament on the day and in the year above written. Munegisel, at the request and in the presence of Erminethrude, witnessed this testament on the day and in the year above written. Baudacharius, defensor, subscribed.

I, Eusebius, at the request of Erminethrude, wrote this testament, read it over, and subscribed.

From the testament of the sigillum of Remigius, bishop of the Remi.

A silver vessel of eighteen pounds, between you, my heir (the church of Reims), and your diocese the church of Laon, having made (that is, to be made) into patens and chalices for the most sacred ministry, I have distributed, as I was able, with God's assent. Another silver vessel, which the illustrious lord Chlodoveus (whom I received from the sacred font of baptism) deigned to give me, I order to be fashioned for you, my heir, the church above mentioned, into a turret and an engraved chalice.... The vineyard which Bebrimodus makes, I leave to you on this condition, that on feast days and every Sunday the offering be made on the sacred altars on my behalf.... I give the vineyard which I planted at Vindonissa, on this condition, that by its fathers, on all feast days and Sundays, in commemoration of me, the offering be made on the sacred altars.

VI. FRAGMENTS OF CEREMONIALS.

On the Passion not to be read on Palm Sunday at private masses.

On Palm Sunday priests are to say only one Collect at private masses; the Gospel: When he drew near; let no one read the Passion, except the brothers who sing in the stalls. (Lanfranc, in the Decretum for the order of Saint Benedict, p. 260.)

At the blessing of palms, at the morning mass only one Collect is to be said; nor is the Passion read, but only that reading of the holy Gospel: When Jesus drew near. It is also prescribed to all priests who sing private masses that they be ready for the two processions which are to be held on that day. (Ulrich, in book i of the Customs of Cluny, chap. 54.)

When we are near the end of the Tract, the sacristan shall ring a small bell to gather the lords to hear the Passion, because it ought not to be read except at the great mass (Customs of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, manuscript, ibid., at the Lord's Supper). After Prime seven psalms shall be said, and the Litany; afterwards we shall come to sit in the cloister. The priests shall go to say their masses, and all ought to celebrate on that day; and they shall celebrate without fire.

VII. THE PASSION OF THE MOST BLESSED MARTYRS SAINTS CANTIANI.

From the manuscript codex of the most distinguished man Ulrich Obrecht.

If anyone wishes diligently to search out all the things that have been done or are done by the saints, he brings forth fruit of edification both for himself and for very many. And just as a fruit-bearing tree is shown not without reason to occupy the earth while it lives, since it too is adorned with its own fruits, and everyone who has partaken of its fruit is fattened. We write as we find in the deeds, what the saints did, what they said, what they suffered. You show yourselves to be catholics, who gladly read and gladly hear the victories of Christ. I ask you who think that these things are to be flown through among the apocryphal writings: through whom is the canon of all the divine Scriptures established? Is it not through those who for that very canon had rather be killed than be conquered? What then did the martyrs hold? The right faith, which is contained in the sacred volumes by the sure number of books. The most sacred letters give thanks to them, which endure through their perseverance. And therefore they wish their deeds to be written down, so that in the sight of God and men the saints may always be praised, who in the sight of unbelievers for the defense of these things endured monstrous torments. Receiving nothing besides the canonical Scriptures, we have diligently written these things, showing that the catholic doctrine was guarded by catholic martyrs. We give an example to posterity, we hand down edification to believers, we demonstrate the art of the warfare of Christ to his soldiers.

It is evident that those who are unwilling to read the fighters are unwilling to fight if necessity demands it. Let them impose silence on the unbelievers, let them watch the devil's boxers, who disdain to watch the Lord's athletes. We speak, write, and preach the divine powers. Let the envious forbid it, let the timid impose silence, let the contemptuous strike; let those who read reprove, let those who gladly hear these things accuse; the wounds received for the praise of the emperor will make glorious soldiers, for whose love we gladly desire even to lay down our souls. The labors of Christ's triumphs and victories we have brought forth for the armies from hidden things abroad. We know that the battles which they visibly suffered are invisibly stirred up against us daily, and that those who fight negligently are more sharply wounded. Therefore, that you may handle the weapons, attend to those who wage war; give your mind to these studies, so that the enemy may begin to fear you,

The most blessed martyrs Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianella are shown to have been thoroughly taught the catholic faith by their tutor Proto... who are known to be descended from the family of the Anicii, that is, of the emperor Carinus of divine memory, and are proved to have been born and educated within the city of Rome, in the fourteenth region, while Diocletian was emperor at Rome, and Maximian in the parts of Illyricum, and Carinus also was acting well toward the Christians within the Gauls, who not long afterward died.

After his death, the most wicked Diocletian and Maximian issued decrees throughout all the provinces, that wherever Christians were found, if they scorned to sacrifice, they should be afflicted with various punishments. And when, by these words, the most blessed martyrs Cantianus and his companions had been placed in the city of Rome, having held counsel with the blessed Protus, in order to avoid the iniquitous sentence, they decreed to go around their estates situated in the suburb under the appearance of a visit.

At that same time they returned to the city of Aquileia, in which at that time they possessed no small amount of rural land. But because the light could not lie hidden in the darkness, it was necessary that the Lord crown them for the glory of his name. And when the saints had entered the city of Aquileia, they found a harsher savagery toward Christians than they had left at Rome. For so great a multitude of all the saints or confessors for the name of Christ was being held in the bonds of prison custody, that they could not be counted, namely with Dulcidius the governor acting, together with Sisinnius the count.

Hearing therefore that the saints of God had come, they straightway ordered them to be found by the apparitors, that they might place incense to the gods. Then the most blessed martyrs, looking into heaven, answered: We do not sacrifice to demons, because it is written: All the gods of the nations are demons, but the Lord made the heavens. And again: Let them become like unto them who make them, and all who trust in them. Go therefore and announce to your iniquitous governor that we desire to die for the name of Christ rather than depart from his commandments, because from our very cradles we confess the Lord Jesus Christ. But they, returning, reported to the governor or the count all that had been done.

Then Dulcidius the governor together with Sisinnius the count, greatly stirred up, gave such a suggestion to the impious Diocletian: Most pious one, come to the aid of the Roman laws, for which your victorious right hand bows down the necks of enemies, and provide succor to the all-powerful gods, who are despised by the Christians. For there have arrived three brothers from the city of Rome, striving bravely with one mind, and confessing I know not what Christ, and despising the decrees of your piety. Wherefore decree what you shall have decreed by your command. Having heard these things, the most wicked Diocletian was stirred up more vehemently, and gave this authority, that if they refused to sacrifice, they should be struck with the sentence of capital punishment.

And when the unjust sentence had reached the most blessed martyrs, they mounted a carriage together with their tutor Proto and went out from the city of Aquileia, having the divine Scripture before their eyes, which says: When they persecute you in this city, flee into another. It is reported therefore to the most unjust judges that the saints of God had hastened away. Then Sisinnius the count, together with the executioners, by the command of the most impious emperor Diocletian, follows after.

But the most blessed martyrs, having mounted a carriage yoked with mules, when they wished to withdraw and were making their journey not far from the walls of the city, and one of the animals suddenly fell down in the place which is called Ad Aquas Gradatas, were thereupon seized by the persecutors. How glorious this deed is, and ordained by the Godhead, we ought to consider. For God always brings in those whom he has chosen, as it were victors with a lofty conveyance, into the hall of the heavenly kingdom. For just as Elijah ascended into heaven with a chariot joined to him, so also these came to martyrdom by a carriage sent on ahead; and as the chariot carried him up to rest, so it bore these to glory. And although that chariot was fiery, yet this one is not to be reckoned inferior; because that one carried one prophet, this one sustained three martyrs. But someone says: The fiery chariot carried them more gloriously than the earthly one. Nor indeed did this fail the blessed men. For just as the fiery chariot carried Elijah, so also the fiery faith was already carrying the martyrs.

Christ, I say, who is the light, who is the fire of whom it is written, "Our God is a consuming fire," was carrying them. Therefore, when the persecutor pressed hard upon the blessed men of whom we speak, they mounted a carriage. For what reason? That they might flee? Far be it! Not that they might flee, but that they might come more quickly to martyrdom; not that they might hide, but that they might make themselves known as Christians to all who passed by. Otherwise they could have lain hidden more secretly among many in the city; but they acted thus so that, while they fled through various places, the hearts of the whole people might be set aflame with the love of Christ. But when someone, with a carriage made ready and arranged, travels along the public highway, that ought not to be called flight, but advance. For the holy men by this deed, as if placed in a triumphal chariot, were declaring and saying: Behold, persecutor, behold, we are setting out; behold, we are going before. Why do you linger? Why do you delay? Follow our footsteps. For we do not wish to be seen as being led to punishment, who profess that we go before to glory.

Then Sisinnius the count, hearing these things, ordered the blessed martyrs to be seized; and as judge he urged them to offer incense to Jove. But the most blessed servants of God, detesting this, said that they would never sacrifice to demons, but to the almighty Lord who made heaven, earth, the sea, and all things that are in them. For all idols, and those who worship them, will go with them into everlasting fire. Then the impious count Sisinnius, hearing this, was greatly angered, and commanded the executioners that, if they would not offer incense to Jove, their heads should be struck off. But the most blessed martyrs Cantianus together with Protus his tutor, rejoicing and singing psalms, were led by the executioners. Then the blessed servants of God, with hands stretched out to heaven, poured out prayer to the Lord, saying: Lord Jesus Christ, who to those who persevere in your name have declared yourself to be father and mother, and who have promised, in place of things temporal things future, in place of things perishing things eternal, and in place of earthly riches incorrupt eternal life with felicity: we beseech you, Lover of a pure conscience, that you look down from the height of the heavens upon this hour, that you receive our souls in peace, and command them to be placed among your holy Elect, so that all may know that you alone are God and blessed forever. And when they had finished the prayer, kneeling they received the sword, and received everlasting crowns: and behold, their blood appeared like milk to all who saw,

At that time the venerable man Zoelus the priest, gathering the bodies of the most blessed martyrs, embalmed them with precious spices and placed them in a small casket. And this same holy Zoelus, some time after his own reception, departed to the Lord in this order. But the most blessed martyrs Cantius, Gantianus, and Cantianella suffered on the day before the Kalends of June, while our Lord Jesus Christ reigns, to whom is glory, honor, and power for ever and ever, amen.