In Festo S. Augustini (Aug. 28), Acta

In Festo S. Augustini (Aug. 28), Acta

From Matins of the Feast of St. Augustine, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor.
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
The Baptism of St. Augustine by Bishop St. Ambrose, Holy Saturday, A.D. 387
Augustínus, Tagáste in Africa honéstis paréntibus natus ac puer docilitáte ingénii æquáles longe súperans, brevi ómnibus doctrína antecélluit.  Adoléscens, dum esset Carthágine, in Manichæórum hæresim íncidit.  Póstea Romam proféctus, inde Mediolánum missus ut rhetóricam docéret, cum ibi frequens Ambrósii epíscopi esset audítor, ejus ópera incénsus stúdio cathólicæ fídei, annos natus trigínta tres ab ipso baptizátur.  Revérsus in Africam, cum religióne vitæ sanctimóniam conjúngens, a Valério, notæ sanctitátis epíscopo Hipponénsi, présbyter factus est.  Quo témpore famíliam instítuit religiosórum, quibúscum victu commúni eodémque cultu utens, eos ad apostólicæ vitæ doctrinæque disciplínam diligentíssime erudiébat.  Sed, cum vigéret Manichæórum hæresis, veheméntius in illam ínvehi cœpit, Fortunatúmque hæresiárcham confutávit.	Augustine was born of honourable parents at Tagaste in Africa.  As a boy his great intelléctual sharpness caused him to distance all his companions in learning.  When he was living at Carthage as a young man, he fell into the heresy of the Manicheans.  He afterwards went to Rome, and was thence sent to Milan to teach rhetorick.  At Milan he often went to hear the sermons of Bishop Ambrose, by whose labours he was drawn to the Catholic Church, and by whom he was baptized at the age of thirty-three.  After his return to Africa, Valerius, the illustrious and saintly Bishop of Hippo, finding him to unite holiness of life with Catholic profession, made him a Priest.  At this time he founded a sort of family of godly men, who lived and worshipped in common with him, and whom he earnestly formed upon the model of the Apostolic life and teaching.  The Manichean heresy flaming forth with violence, he began strongly to attack it, and confounded the arch-heretic Fortunatus.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei. V.  Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei. R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.	R.  I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast. V.  The enemy shall not be able to do him violence ; the son of wickedness shall not hurt him. R.  My hand shall hold him fast.
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
Hac Augustíni pietáte commótus Valérius, eum adjutórem adhíbuit episcopális offícii.  Nihil illo fuit humílius, nihil continéntius.  Lectus ac vestítus moderátus ; vulgáris mensa, quam semper sacra vel lectióne vel disputatióne condiébat.  Tanta benignitáte fuit in páuperes, ut, cum non esset ália facúltas, sacra vasa frángeret ad eórum inópiam sustentándam.  Feminárum, et in eis soróris, et fratris fíliæ, contubérnium familiaritatémque vitávit ; quippe qui díceret, etsi propínquæ mulíeres suspéctæ non essent, tamen quæ ad eas ventitárent, posse suspiciónem effícere.  Nullum finem fecit prædicándi Dei verbum, nisi gravi morbo oppréssus.  Hæréticos perpétuo insectátus et coram et scriptis, ac nullo loco passus consístere, Africam a Manichæórum, Donatistárum, Pelagianórum aliorúmque prætérea hæreticórum erróre magna ex parte liberávit.	Valerius, moved by the godly zeal of Augustine, joined him with himself as an assistant in his duties of Bishop.  He was lowly and pure in the highest degree.  His furniture and dress were plain, and his food of the commonest sort, which he always seasoned when at table by either reading some religious book, or arguing upon some religious subject.  His tenderness to the poor was such that, failing all other resources, he broke up the hallowed vessels to relieve their wants.  It was his rule not to dwell or be very close friends with any woman, a rule which he did not relax even in the case of his sister and niece, for he was accustomed to say, that although no scandal could arise in the case of such near kinswomen, yet it might arise concerning the women friends who sought their company.  He never ceased to preach the Word of God, until he was disabled by heavy sickness.  He was always an hard follower after heretics, and by his words and his writings never them suffered them to rest anywhere.  In great measure he purged Africa of the Manicheans, Donatists, Pelagians, and other heretics.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Pósui adjutórium super poténtem, et exaltávi eléctum de plebe mea : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei. V.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum. R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.	R.  I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people. * My hand shall hold him fast.V.  I have found David, my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. R.  My hand shall hold him fast.
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
Tomb of St. Augustine at the Church of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, Pavia, Italy
Tam multa pie, subtíliter et copióse scripsit, ut christiánam doctrínam máxime illustrárit.  Quem in primis secúti sunt, qui póstea theológicam disciplínam via et ratióne tradidérunt.  Wándalis Africam bello vastántibus et Hippónem tértium jam mensem obsidéntibus, in febrim íncidit.  Itaque, cum discéssum e vita sibi instáre intellígeret, Psalmos David qui ad pœniténtiam pértinent, in conspéctu pósitos, profúsis lácrimis legébat.  Solébat autem dícere, néminem, etsi nullíus scéleris sibi cónscius esset, commíttere debére ut sine pœniténtia migráret e vita.  Ergo sénsibus íntegris, in oratióne defíxus, astántibus frátribus, quos ad caritátem, pietátem virtutésque omnes erat adhortátus, migrávit in cælum.  Vixit annos septuagínta sex, in episcopátu ad trigínta sex.  Cujus corpus, primum in Sardíniam delátum, deínde a Luitprándo, Longobardórum rege, magno prétio redémptum, Ticínum translátum est ibíque honorífice cónditum.	He wrote so much, and that with such godliness and understanding, that he is to be held among the very chiefest of them by whom the teachings of Christianity have been shewn forth.  He is one of the first of those whom later theologians have followed, in method, and in argument.  He fell sick of a fever what time the Vandals were laying Africa waste, and when they were busy in the third month of besieging Hippo.  When he understood that his departure from this present life was at hand, he caused the Psalms of David which most speak the language of repentance to be placed before him, and read them with tears, for he was wont to say that even if a man's conscience were to accuse him of no sin, he should not dare to leave this world except as a penitent.  His senses remained vigorous to the last, and it was while rapt in prayer, in the presence of the brethren whom he had exhorted to love, godliness, and all goodness, that he departed for heaven.  He lived 76 years, whereof he had been a Bishop nearly thirty-six.  His body was first carried to Sardinia, but Luitprand, King of the Lombards, afterwards bought it for a great price, and took it to Pavia, where it is honourably buried.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
Reliquary of St. Augustine, containing his effigy and relic of his elbow
R.  Iste est, qui ante Deum magnas virtútes operátus est, et omnis terra doctrína ejus repléta est : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna. R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.	R.  This is he who wrought mighty deeds and valiant in the sight of God, and all the earth is filled with his doctrine: * May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.V.  He was a man who despised the life of the world and attained unto the kingdom of heaven. R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.