In Festo Omnium Sanctorum (Nov. 1): Sermo

In Festo Omnium Sanctorum (Nov. 1): Sermo

Source: www.breviary.net

Sermo sancti Bedæ Venerábilis Presbyteri	The Lesson is taken from the Sermons of St. Venerable Bede the Priest
Sermo 18 de Sanctis
The Church of All Saints in Rome, in former times the Roman temple dedicated unto all the gods, and known as the Pantheon
Hódie, dilectíssimi, ómnium Sanctórum sub una solemnitátis lætítia celebrámus festivitátem ; quorum societáte cælum exsúltat, quorum patrocíniis terra lætátur, triúmphis Ecclésia sancta coronátur.  Quorum conféssio quanto in passióne fórtior, tanto est clárior in honóre ; quia, dum crevit pugna, crevit et pugnántium glória, et martyrii triúmphus multíplici passiónum génere adornátur, perque gravióra torménta, gravióra fuére et præmia.  Dum cathólica mater Ecclésia, quæ per totum orbem longe latéque diffúsa est, in ipso cápite suo Christo Jesu edócta est contumélias, cruces et mortem non timére ; magis magísque roboráta, non resisténdo sed perferéndo, univérsis, quos ágmine ínclyto carcer pœnális inclúsit, pari et símili calóre virtútis, ad geréndum certámen, glóriam triumphálem inspirávit.	Dearly beloved : Today we keep holy-day, with one great cry of joy, in memory of all the Saints ; whose presence is a gladness to heaven ; whose prayers are a blessing to earth ; whose victories are the crown of holy Church ; whose testimony is now to be honoured in proportion to the glory imparted to it by the agony which was endured in the giving of it.  For the greater the torment, the richer the reward ; and the fiercer the battle, the brighter the glory of the fighters whose triumph in martyrdom was in this wise adorned with more sufferings.  Our mother the Catholick Church, which is spread far and wide throughout all this planet, hath learnt, from Christ Jesus her Head, to fear neither shame nor cross nor death, but to increase in strength by enduring suffering rather than by resisting it.  Therefore she was able to breathe into each one of that noble band, which persevered under condemnation to suffering, a spirit of courage like unto her own, even the hope of conquest and glory, whereby they were envigorated to persevere manfully in conflict unto the very end.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Præcúrsor Dómini venit, de quo ipse testátur :* Nullus major inter natos mulíerum Joánne Baptísta. V.  Hic est enim prophéta, et plus quam prophéta, de quo Salvátor ait. R.  Nullus major inter natos mulíerum Joánne Baptísta.	R.  The Forerunner of the Lord cometh, to whom that Lord himself bare witness, saying : *  Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. V.  A Prophet? yea, and much more than a prophet, for this is he of whom the Saviour said. R.  Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ. R.  Amen.	Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal. R.  Amen.
Lesson v
O vere beáta mater Ecclésia, quam sic honor divínæ dignatiónis illúminat, quam vincéntium gloriósus Mártyrum sanguis exórnat, quam inviolátæ confessiónis cándida índuit virgínitas!  Flóribus ejus nec rosæ nec lília desunt.  Certent nunc caríssimi, sínguli ut ad utrósque honóres amplíssimam accípiant dignitátem, corónas vel de virginitáte cándidas vel de passióne purpúreas.  In cæléstibus castris pax et ácies habent flores suos, quibus mílites Christi coronántur.	O truly blessed Mother Church, whom God's mercy doth so illúmine!  Whom the glorious blood of victorious Martyrs doth adorn!  Whom the ínviolate virginity of so many pure souls doth clothe with raiment white and glistening!  Neither roses nor lilies are wanting in thy garlands.  Therefore dearly beloved, let us each one of us strive to attain the goodly crown of one or the other of these dignities, either the glistening whiteness of chastity, or the red dye of suffering.  In the heavenly army both peace and war have chaplets of their own, to crown Christ's soldiers withal.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Isti sunt qui vivéntes in carne, plantavérunt Ecclésiam sánguine suo : * Cálicem Dómini bibérunt, et amíci Dei facti sunt. V.  In omnem terram exívit sonus eórum, et in fines orbis terræ verba eórum. R.  Cálicem Dómini bibérunt, et amíci Dei facti sunt.	R.  These are they who whilst yet in the flesh planted the Church in their own blood ; * Who drank of the Lord's Cup, and so are become the friends of God. V.  Their sound is gone out unto all the lands, and their words unto the ends of the earth. R.  Who drank of the Lord's Cup, and so are become the friends of God.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris. R.  Amen.	Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love. R.  Amen.
Lesson vi
Dei enim ineffábilis et imménsa bónitas étiam hoc provídit, ut labórum quidem tempus et agónis non exténderet nec longum fáceret aut ætérnum, sed breve et, ut ita dicam, momentáneum : ut in hac brevi et exígua vita agónes essent et labóres, in illa vero quæ ætérna est, corónæ et præmia meritórum ; ut labóres quidem cito finiréntur, meritórum vero præmia sine fine durárent ; ut post hujus mundi ténebras visúri essent candidíssimam lucem, et acceptúri majórem passiónum cunctárum acerbitátibus beatitúdinem, testánte hoc idem Apóstolo, ubi ait : Non sunt condígnæ passiónes hujus témporis ad superventúram glóriam, quæ revelábitur in nobis.	Moreover, the unutterable and infinite goodness of God hath provided this, namely, that the time of working and wrestling is not over-long, much less everlasting, but as it were for a moment.  That is, only in this short and scanty life is there wrestling and working, but the crown and the prize endureth for a life which is eternal.  The work is soon over, but the wage is paid for ever.  And when the night of this world is ended, the Saints see the clearness of the essential light, and receive a blessedness outweighing the pangs of any torment, as testifieth the Apostle Paul : The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Sancti mei, qui in carne pósiti, certámen habuístis, * Mercédem labóris ego reddam vobis. V.  Veníte, benedícti Patris mei, percípite regnum. R.  Mercédem labóris ego reddam vobis. V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R.  Mercédem labóris ego reddam vobis.	R.  O ye my Saints and Righteous Ones, who have conténded valiantly in the flesh,  * I will render you a reward of your labours. V.  Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom. R.  I will render you a reward of your labours. V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R.  I will render you a reward of your labours.