In Festo Omnium Sanctorum (Nov. 1): Homilia

In Festo Omnium Sanctorum (Nov. 1): Homilia

Lesson vii
Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthæum	The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Chap. 5, 1-12
In illo témpore : Videns Jesus turbas, ascéndit in montem, et cum sedísset, accessérunt ad eum discípuli ejus.  Et réliqua.	At that time : Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain, and, when he was set, his disciples came unto him.  And so on, and that which followeth.
Homilía sancti Augustíni Epíscopi	A Homily by St. Augustine the Bishop
Liber 1 de Sermone Domini in monte, sub initium
Si quæritur quid signíficet mons, bene intellígitur significáre majóra præcépta justítiæ, quia minóra erant quæ Judæis data sunt.  Unus tamen Deus, per sanctos prophétas et fámulos suos, secúndum ordinatíssimam distributiónem témporum, dedit minóra præcépta pópulo quem adhuc timóre alligári oportébat ; et, per Fílium suum, majóra pópulo quem caritáte jam liberári convénerat.  Cum autem minóra minóribus, majóra majóribus dantur, ab eo dantur, qui solus novit congruéntem suis tempóribus géneri humáno exhibére medicínam.	If it be asked what is signified by the mountain, the same may well be understood to indicate the higher and greater commandments of righteousness, since those that were given to the Jews are the lesser.  In an excellent order of dispensations, the one and same God gave, by his servants the holy Prophets, his lesser commandments unto the people that still had need to be bound by fear ; but by his Son he gave the greater to the people whom it was expedient now to set free by love.  But whether it be the lesser to the lesser, or the greater to the greater, all are alike the gift of him who alone knoweth what is in each epoch the seasonable medicine for mankind.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Sint lumbi vestri præcíncti, et lucérnæ ardéntes in mánibus vestris: * Et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis. V.  Vigiláte ergo, quia nescítis qua hora Dóminus vester ventúrus sit. R.  Et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis.	R.  Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning: * And be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding. V.  Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. R.  And be ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 8:  Quorum festum cólimus, ipsi intercédant pro nobis ad Dóminum. R.  Amen.	Benediction 8:  May they whose feast day we are keeping, be our Advocates with God. R.  Amen.
Lesson viii
Nec mirum est quod dantur præcépta majóra propter regnum cælórum, et minóra data sunt propter regnum terrénum, ab eódem uno Deo, qui fecit cælum et terram.  De hac ergo justítia, quæ major est, per prophetíam dícitur : Justítia tua sicut montes Dei ; et hoc bene signíficat, quod ab uno magístro, solo docéndis tantis rebus idóneo, docétur in monte.  Sedens autem docet, quod pértinet ad dignitátem magistérii.  Et accédunt ad eum discípuli ejus, ut audiéndis illíus verbis hi essent étiam córpore vicinióres, qui præcéptis adimpléndis étiam ánimo propinquábant.  Et apériens os suum docébat eos, dicens.  Ista circumlocútio, qua scríbitur, Et apériens os suum, fortássis, ipsa mora, comméndat aliquánto longiórem futúrum esse sermónem ; nisi forte non vacet quod nunc eum dictum est aperuísse os suum, quod ipse, in lege véteri, aperíre soléret ora prophetárum.	Need we then be surprised that the greater commandments were given for the kingdom of heaven, and the lesser for a commonwealth on earth?  For both are gifts of that one God who is the Maker alike of heaven and of earth.  The higher and greater righteousness is that whereof the Psalmist saith : Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains.  And this may be taken mystically to mean that the teaching given from the mountain is from the Master who alone can give teaching of such strength.  In this connection note how the Gospel saith : And when he was set, (which posture indicateth the majesty of his instruction,) his disciples came unto him.  That is, they came nearer in the flesh, to hear those precepts by the fulfilment of which they should be nearer in spirit.  Then saith the Gospel : He opened his mouth, and taught them.  These words : He opened his mouth : appear to be redundant.  It may be that this more extended instruction is adopted on account of the exceptional length of the discourse to follow.  But it may also be that these words are not really redundant, but the pointed declaration that he now opened his own mouth, who under the old Law, had been used to open the mouths of the Prophets.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Média nocte clamor factus est : * Ecce sponsus venit, exíte óbviam ei. V.  Prudéntes vírgines, aptáte vestras lámpades. R.  Ecce sponsus venit, exíte óbviam ei. V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R.  Ecce sponsus venit, exíte óbviam ei.	R.  At midnight there was a cry made: * Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. V.  Trim your lamps, O ye wise Virgins. R.  Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R.  Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.