abroad among the brethren, that that Disciple should not die. And Jesus did not say to him: He should not die; but: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? This is that Disciple, who giveth testimony of these things, and hath written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. discipulus ille non moritur. Et non dixit ei Jesus: Non moritur; sed : Sic eum volo manere donec veniam, quid ad te? Hic est discipulus ille, qui testimonium perhibet de his, et scripsit hæc ; et scimus quia verum est testimonium ejus. This passage of the holy Gospel has been much commented upon. Some of the Fathers and Commentators interpret it as signifying, that St. John was to be exempt from death, and that he is still living in the flesh, awaiting the coming of the Judge of the living and the dead. It is certain that this opinion regarding our Apostle has been entertained; and one of the arguments in its favour was this very passage. But, the general opinion of the Holy Fathers is, that nothing further is implied by it, than the difference between the two vocations of St. Peter and St. John. The former shall follow his divine Master, by dying, like Him, on the cross; the latter shall remain he shall live to a venerable old ageand at length, Jesus shall come and take him out of this world, by sending him a sweet and peaceful death. During the Offertory, the Church makes a remembrance of the flourishing Palms which grew up around the Beloved Disciple; she tells us of the spiritual children he had trained, and of the Churches he had founded; all which, like young cedars round the venerable parent-tree on Libanus, multiplied under the fostering care of their Father. OFFERTORY. The just shall flourish, like the palm-tree; he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus. Justus ut palma florebit; sicut cedrus, quæ in Libano est multiplicabitur. SECRET. Suscipe, Domine, munera quæ in ejus tibi solemnitate deferimus, cujus nos confidimus patrocinio liberari. Per Dominum. Receive, O Lord, the offerings we make to thee, on his feast, by whose intercession we hope to be delivered. Through, &c. Commemoration of Christmas Day. Oblata, Domine, munera, nova Unigeniti tui nativitate sanctifica: nosque a peccatorum nostrorum maculis emunda. Sanctify, O Lord, our offerings by the new Birth of thine Only Begotten Son, and cleanse us from the stains of our sins. Commemoration Suscipe, Domine, munera, pro tuorum commemoratione Sanctorum; ut sicut illos passio gloriosos effecit, ita nos devotio reddat inPer Dominum. nocuos. of St. Stephen. Receive, O Lord, these offerings in memory of thy Saints; and as their sufferings have made them glorious, so may our devotion render us free from sin. Through, &c. The Preface as in page 70: but on the OctaveDay it is as below.* * PREFACE. Vere dignum et justum est æquum et salutare, te Domine suppliciter exorare, ut gregem tuum, Pastor æterne, non deseras, sed per beatos Apostolos tuos continua protectione custodias. Ut iisdem rectoribus gubernetur, quos operis tui vicarios eidem contulisti præesse Pastores. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militia cœlestis exercitus, hymnum gloriæ tuæ canimus, sine fine dicentes: Sanctus, &c. It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, humbly to beseech thee, that thou, O Lord, our eternal Shepherd, wouldst not forsake thy flock, but keep it under thy continual protection, by thy blessed Apostles. That it may be governed by those whom thou hast appointed its vicars and pastors. And therefore with the Angels and Archangels, with the Thrones and Dominations, and with all the heavenly host, we sing an everlasting hymn to thy glory, saying: Holy, &c. The mysterious words of the Gospel are repeated in the Communion, that is, at the moment when Priest and people have partaken of the Victim of salvation; they convey this teaching-that he who eats of this Bread, though he must die the death of the body, will yet live for the coming of the supreme Judge and Rewarder. Commemoration of Christmas Day. Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that as the Saviour of the world, who was born this day, procured for us a divine birth, he may, also, bestow on us immortality. Præsta, quæsumus, omnipotens Deus: ut natus hodie Salvator mundi, sicut divinæ nobis generationis est auctor, ita et immortalitatis sit ipse largitor. Commemoration of St. Stephen. May the mysteries we have received, O Lord, be a help to us; and, by the intercession Auxilientur nobis, Domine, sumpta mysteria; et intercedente beato Stephano, U Martyre tuo, sempiterna of the blessed Martyr Stephen, protectione confirment. Per strengthen us with thy perpeDominum. tual protection. Through, &c. VESPERS. The Antiphons and Psalms are sung as yesterday, the Feast of St. Stephen: they are given in page 234. After the last Psalm, the Office of St. John is resumed, commencing as follows: * According to the Monastic Rite it is as follows: B. Breve. Constitues eos principes, Super omnem terram. Constitues. V. Memores erunt nominis tui, Domine. * Super. Gloria Patri. Constitues. Exsultet cœlum laudibus, Qui cœlum verbo clauditis, Nos a peccatis omnibus Quorum præcepto subditur Ut cum judex advenerit, Amen. ANTIPHON OF THE Magnificat. ANT. There went abroad among the brethren this saying, that that disciple should not die and Jesus did not say to him: He should not die; but So I will have him to remain till I come. LET US PRAY. Mercifully, O Lord, enlighten thy Church; that being taught by blessed John, thine Apos ANT. Exiit sermo inter fratres, quod discipulus ille non moritur: et non dixit Jesus: Non moritur ; sed: Sic eum volo manere donec veniam. OREMUS. Ecclesiam tuam, Domine, benignus illustra, ut beati Joannis Apostoli tui et Evan |