In Festo Sancti Ephræm Syri (Jun. 18), Acta

In Festo Sancti Ephræm Syri (Jun. 18), Acta

From Matins of the Feast of St. Ephrem the Syrian, Deacon, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church
Online Source: www.breviary.net

Second Nocturn
Absolutio: Ipsíus píetas et misericórdia nos ádjuvet, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum.R.  Amen.	Absolution:  May his loving-kindness and mercy assist us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever. R.  Amen.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 4: Deus Pater omnípotens sit nobis propítius et clemens. R.  Amen.	Benediction 4:  May God the Father Almighty shew us his mercy and pity. R.  Amen.
Lesson iv
Ephræm, génere Syrus, Nisibéno patre natus est.  Adhuc júvenis ad sanctum Jacóbum epíscopum se cóntulit, a quo baptizátus, brevi ita sanctitáte et doctrína profécit, ut in schola Nísibi, Mesopotámiæ urbe, florénte magíster fúerit constitútus.  Post Jacóbi epíscopi mortem, Nísibi a Persis capta, Edéssam proféctus est ; ubi primum in monte inter mónachos consédit, deínde, ut plúrimos ad se confluéntes hómines vitáret, vitam duxit eremíticam.  Edessénæ Ecclésiæ diáconus ordinátus, et ob humilitátem sacerdótium recúsans, ómnium virtútum splendóre enítuit, et pietátem et religiónem vera sapiéntiæ professióne sibi comparáre satégit.  Spem omnem in solo Deo defíxam habens, quævis humána ac transitória contémnens, divína ac sempitérna assídue concupiscébat.	Ephraem was of Syrian descent, and son of a citizen of Nisibis.  While yet a young man he went to the holy bishop James, by whom he was baptized, and he soon made such progress in holiness and learning as to be appointed master of a flourishing school at Nisibis, a city of Mesopotamia.  After the death of the bishop James, Nisibis was captured by the Persians, and Ephraem went to Edessa.  Here he settled first on the mountain among the monks, and then, that he might avoid the great numbers of men who flocked to him, he adopted the eremitical life.  He was ordained deacon of the Church of Edessa, but refused the priesthood out of humility.  He was conspicuous with the splendour of every virtue and strove to acquire piety and religion by professing true wisdom.  He placed all his hope in God alone, despised all human and transitory things, and always longed for the divine and eternal.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
The city of Edessa (modern-day Urfa)
R.  Honéstum fecit illum Dóminus, et custodívit eum ab inimícis, et a seductóribus tutávit illum : * Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam, allelúja.V.  Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas, et osténdit illi regnum Dei. R.  Et dedit illi claritátem ætérnam, allelúja.	R.  The Lord multiplied the fruit of his labours and defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait. * And gave him perpetual glory, alleluia. V.  The Lord guided the righteous in right paths, and shewed him the kingdom of God. R.  And gave him perpetual glory, alleluia.
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
St. Basil, Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Cæsaréam Cappadóciæ, divíno ductus Spíritu, cum petiísset, ipsum ibi os Ecclésiæ Basilíum vidit, et utérque mútua consuetúdine opportúnum in modum usus est.  Ad innúmeros erróres refelléndos, qui, tunc témporis grassántes, Ecclésiam Dei divexábant, atque ad mystéria Dómini nostri Jesu Christi sédulo illustránda, plúrimas édidit lucubratiónes, Syro sermóne compósitas, et fere omnes in linguam Græcam versas ; atque, teste sancto Hierónymo, ipse ad tantam venit claritúdinem, ut post lectiónem Scripturárum, públice in quibúsdam Ecclésiis ejus scripta recitaréntur.	When, led by the Spirit of God, he went to Caesarea in Cappadocia, there he saw Basil, that mouthpiece of the Church, and both enjoyed mutual companionship in a suitable manner.  In order to refute the countless errors which were rife at that time, and which were troubling the Church of God, and in order to expound zealously the divine mysteries of our Lord Jesus Christ, he wrote many studies in Syrian, almost all of which have been translated into Greek.  St. Jerome  beareth witness that he attained such fame, that his writings were read publicly in certain churches after the reading from the Scriptures.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Amávit eum Dóminus, et ornávit eum : stolam glóriæ índuit eum, * Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum, allelúja.V.  Induit eum Dóminus lorícam fídei, et ornávit eum. R.  Et ad portas paradísi coronávit eum, allelúja.	R.  The Lord loved him and adorned him; he clothed him with a robe of glory : * And crowned him at the gates of Paradise, alleluia.V.  The Lord hath put on him the breast-plate of faith, and hath adorned him. R.  And crowned him at the gates of Paradise, alleluia.
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
Mosaic of the Holy Theotokos St. Sophia, Constantinople
Univérsa illíus ópera, tam spléndido doctrínæ lúmine reférta, effecérunt, ut idem Sanctus, adhuc vivens, tamquam Ecclésiæ Doctor, magno honóre hábitus fúerit.  Métrica quoque cántica compósuit in laudem beatíssimæ Vírginis Maríæ ac Sanctórum : quam ob causam a Syris Spíritus Sancti cíthara mérito fuit appellátus.  In mirífica ac pia devotióne erga eámdem Vírginem Immaculátam primum excélluit.  Méritis plenus, Edéssæ, in Mesopotámia, décimo quarto Kaléndas Júlii, decéssit sub Valénte príncipe : eúmque, instántibus plúribus Sanctæ Románæ Ecclésiæ Cardinálibus, Patriárchis, Archiepíscopis, Epíscopis, Abbátibus, et religiósis famíliis, Benedíctus Papa décimus quintus, ex Sacrórum Rítuum Congregatiónis consúlto, universális Ecclésiæ Doctórem declarávit.	His works taken as a whole, so infused with the bright light of learning, brought it about that this holy man, while yet alive, was held in great honour, and was even considered a Doctor of the Church.  He also composed songs in verse, in honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saints, and for this reason he was appropriately named by the Syrians the Harp of the Holy Ghost.  He was noted for his great and tender devotion towards the immaculate Virgin.  He died, rich in merits, at Edessa in Mesopotamia on the 18th day of June in the reign of Valens.  Pope Benedict XV, at the instance of many Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, and religious communities, declared him by a decree of the Congregation of Sacred Rites to be a Doctor of the universal Church.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
The death of St. Ephraem Syrus at Edessa
R.  Iste homo perfécit ómnia quæ locútus est ei Deus, et dixit ad eum : Ingrédere in réquiem meam : * Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus, allelúja. V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna. R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus, allelúja. V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R.  Quia te vidi justum coram me ex ómnibus géntibus, allelúja.	R.  This is he which did according to all that God commanded him ; and God said unto him : Enter thou into my rest : * For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people, alleluia.V.  This is he which despised his life in this world, and is come unto an everlasting kingdom. R.  For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people, alleluia.V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R.  For thee have I seen righteous before me among all people, alleluia.