In Festo Sanctae Andreae (Nov. 30), Acta

In Festo Sanctae Andreae (Nov. 30), Acta

From Matins of the Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle (Second Nocturn)

Source: www.breviary.net

Lesson iv
Andréas Apóstolus, Bethsáidæ natus, qui est Galilææ vicus, frater Petri, discípulus Joánnis Baptístæ, cum eum de Christo dicéntem audísset : Ecce Agnus Dei ; secútus Jesum, fratrem quoque suum ad eúmdem perdúxit.  Cum póstea una cum fratre piscarétur in mari Galilææ, ambo a prætereúnte Christo Dómino ante álios Apóstolos vocáti illis verbis : Veníte post me, fáciam vos fíeri piscatóres hóminum ; nullam interponéntes moram, et relíctis rétibus, secúti sunt eum.  Post cujus passiónem et resurrectiónem, Andréas, cum in Scythiam Európæ, quæ ei província ad Christi fidem disseminándam obtígerat, venísset, deínde Epírum ac Thráciam peragrásset ; doctrína et miráculis innumerábiles hómines ad Christum convértit.  Post, Patras Achájæ proféctus, et in ea urbe plúrimis ad veritátem evangélicam perdúctis, Ægéam procónsulem, prædicatióni evangélicæ resisténtem, libérrime increpávit, quod, qui judex hóminum habéri vellet, Christum Deum ómnium júdicem, a dæmónibus elúsus, non agnósceret.	The Apostle Andrew was born at Bethsaida, a town of Galilee, and was the brother of Peter.  He was a disciple of John the Baptist, and heard him say of Christ, Behold the Lamb of God, whereupon he immediately followed Jesus, bringing his brother also with him.   Some while after, they were both fishing in the Sea of Galilee, and the Lord Christ, going by, called them both, before any other of the Apostles, in the words, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.  They made no delay, but left their nets, and followed him.  After the death and Resurrection of Christ, Andrew was allotted Scythia as the province of his preaching, and, after labouring there, he went through Epirus and Thrace, where he turned vast multitudes to Christ by his teaching and miracles.  Finally he went to Patras in Achaia, and there also he brought many to the knowledge of Gospel truth.  Aegeas the Proconsul resisted the preaching of the Gospel, and the Apostle freely rebuked him, bidding him know that while he held himself a judge of his fellow men, he was himself hindered by devils from knowing Christ our God, the Judge of all.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Homo Dei ducebátur ut crucifígerent eum : pópulus autem clamábat voce magna, dicens : *Innocens ejus sanguis sine causa damnátur. V.  Cumque dúcerent eum ut crucifigerétur, factus est concúrsus populórum clamántium et dicéntium. R.  Innocens ejus sanguis sine causa damnátur.	R.  The man of God was led to be crucified, and the people cried out with a loud voice, saying : *  The innocent blood of this just person is condemned without a cause. V.  And when they led him out to crucify him, all the people ran together and cried, saying. R.  The innocent blood of this just person is condemned without a cause.
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
Tum Ægéas irátus, Désine, inquit, Christum jactáre, cui simília verba nihil profuérunt, quóminus a Judæis crucifigerétur.  Andréam vero de Christo nihilóminus líbere prædicántem quod pro salúte humáni géneris se crucifigéndum obtulísset, ímpia oratióne interpéllat, ac demum hortátur, ut sibi cónsulens, diis velit immoláre.  Cui Andréas : Ego omnipoténti Deo, qui unus et verus est, ímmolo quotídie, non taurórum carnes, nec hircórum sánguinem, sed immaculátum Agnum in altári ; cujus carnem posteáquam omnis pópulus credéntium manducáverit, Agnus, qui sacrificátus est, ínteger perservérat et vivus.  Quam ob rem ira accénsus Ægéas, jubet dum in cárcerem detrúdi unde pópulus Andréam fácile liberásset, nisi ipse sedásset multitúdinem, veheméntius rogans, ne se ad optatíssimam martyrii corónam properántem impedírent.	Then Aegeas, being angry, answered him, Boast no more of this thy Christ.  He spake words even such as thine, but they availed him not, and he was crucified by the Jews.  Whereto Andrew boldly answered that Christ had given himself up to die for man's salvation ; but the Proconsul blasphemously interrupted him, and bade him look to himself, and sacrifice to the gods.  Then said Andrew, We have an altar, whereon day by day I offer up to God, the Almighty, the One, and the True, not the flesh of bulls nor the blood of goats, but a Lamb without spot : and when all they that believe have eaten of the Flesh thereof, the Lamb that was slain abideth whole and liveth.  Then Aegeas being filled with wrath, bound the Apostle in prison.  Now, the people would have delivered him, but he himself calmed the multitude, and earnestly besought them not to take away from him the crown of martyrdom, for which he longed and which was now drawing near.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  O bona crux, quæ decórem et pulchritúdinem de membris Dómini suscepísti ; áccipe me ab homínibus, et redde me magístro meo : * Ut per te me recípiat, qui per te me redémit. V.  Beátus Andréas expánsis mánibus ad cælum orábat, dicens : Salva me, bona crux. R.  Ut per te me recípiat, qui per te me redémit.	R.  O gracious cross, made so fair and goodly by the sweet body of my Lord, welcome me from amongst men, and join me anew to my Master, * That as by thee he redeemed me, so by thee also he may take me unto himself. V.  Blessed Andrew stretched forth his hands to heaven, praying : O good cross, be my salvation. R.  That as by thee he redeemed me, so by thee also he may take me unto himself.
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
Igitur paulo post in tribúnal  prodúctum, cumÆgéas crucis extolléntem mystéria sibíque suam impietátem exprobrántem diútius ferre non posset, in crucem tolli, et Christi mortem imitári jussit.  Addúctus Andréas ad locum martyrii, cum crucem vidísset, longe exclamáre cœpit : O bona crux, quæ decórem ex membris Dómini suscepísti, diu desideráta, sollícite amáta, sine intermissióne quæsíta, et aliquándo cupiénti ánimo præparáta : áccipe me ab homínibus, et redde me magístro meo ; ut per te me recípiat, qui per te me redémit.  Itaque cruci affíxus est : in qua bíduum vivus pendens, et Christi fidem prædicáre numquam intermíttens, ad eum migrávit, cujus mortis similitúdinem concupíerat.  Quæ ómnia presbyteri et diáconi Achájæ, qui ejus passiónem scripsérunt, se ita ut commemoráta sunt, audísse et vidísse testántur.  Ejus ossa primum Constantíno imperatóre Constantinópolim, deínde Amálphim transláta sunt.  Caput, Pio secúndo Pontífice, Romam allátum, in basílica sancti Petri collocátum est.	Some short while after, he was brought before the judgment seat, where he extolled the mystery of the cross, and rebuked Aegeas for his ungodliness.  Then Aegeas could bear with him no longer, but commanded him to be crucified, in imitation of Christ.  Andrew, then, was led to the place of martyrdom, and, as soon as he came in sight of the cross, he cried out : O precious cross, made so fair and goodly by the sweet body of my Lord, how long have I desired thee! how warmly have I loved thee! how constantly have I sought thee!  And, now that thou art come to me, how is my soul drawn to thee!  Welcome me from amongst men, and join me anew to my Master, that as by thee he redeemed me, so by thee also he may take me unto himself.  So he was fastened to the cross, whereon he hung living for two days, during which time he ceased not to preach the faith of Christ, and, finally, passed into the Presence of him the likeness of whose death he had loved so well.  All the above particulars of his last sufferings were written by the Priests and Deacons of Achaia, who bear witness to them of their own knowledge.  Under the Emperor Constantine the bones of the Apostle were first taken to Constantinople, whence they were afterwards brought to Amalfi.  In the Pontificate of Pope Pius II, his head was carried to Rome, where it is kept in the Basilica of St. Peter.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
Amalfi, Italy
R.  Expándi manus meas tota die in cruce ad pópulum non credéntem, sed contradicéntem mihi : * Qui ámbulant vias non bonas, sed post peccáta sua. V.  Deus ultiónum Dóminus, Deus ultiónum líbere egit : exaltáre, qui júdicas terram, redde retributiónem supérbis. R.  Qui ámbulant vias non bonas, sed post peccáta sua. V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R.  Qui ámbulant vias non bonas, sed post peccáta sua.	R.  All day long have I stretched forth my hands upon the cross unto a disobedient and gainsaying people, * Which walketh in a way that is not good, but after their own sins. V.  O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself : arise, thou Judge of the world, reward the proud after their deserving. R.  Which walketh in a way that is not good, but after their own sins. V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R.  Which walketh in a way that is not good, but after their own sins.