Sixth Day of the Octave of All Saints, Matins Lesson

A Homily by Saint Augustine the Bishop

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. How foolish therefore are those who seek to see God, as it were, with bodily eyes, [that is, by seeking him in an unspiritual manner,] for it is with the heart that he is seen. Thus it is written at the beginning of the Book of Wisdom : In simplicity of heart seek him. For a pure heart is one that hath the simplicity of single-mindedness. And just as light can be seen only insofar as the bodily eyes have clear vision, so God can be seen only7 insofar as the heart is clear by reason of its single-mindedness of purpose. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Peace is perfect where there is no strife. And the children of God are peacemakers because there is nothing in them which withstand God. And surely children ought to be like unto their father.

Peacemakers are all those that have peace within themselves. That is, those who have set all the passions of their souls in order. This they do by subjecting their passions to reason, namely, to the mind and spirit. Thus, by conquering their fleshly desires, they have made of themselves a little kingdom of God. In this kingdom, everything is ordered into an harmonious whole, by virtue of the fact that the element which is chief and pre-eminent in man (namely, mind or reason) ruleth, without resistance, over the elements which we have in common with the beasts. And in this fashion, the element of mind or reason, which is pre-eminent in man, is made subject to something pre-eminent to itself, namely, the Truth, even the Only-Begotten Son of God. For no one is able to govern except he be subject unto the higher powers. Now, herein we have set forth the peace which is given on earth to men of good-will. This is the life of one who is thoroughly and completely wise.

From a kingdom such as this, which is a state of complete peace and order, the prince of this world is cast out. For he is one that can rule only through perversity and disorder. When this peace hath been inwardly established and confirmed then whatever persecutions the prince of this world, who is now cast out, shall stir up from without, he only increaseth the glory which doth redound to God. For his unable to tear down anything in that which is so upbuilt. And by the failure of his machinations, he doth but make manifest the strength with which it hath been inwardly built. Hence it followeth : Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Saints Zacharias and Elisabeth, parents of John the Baptist

A Homily by Saint Ambrose the Bishop

St. Ambrose

The divine Scriptures teach us that we are behoven to praise the holy living of those who are worthy of public honour, and of their forebears as well, so that this their transmitted heritage of spiritual resplendence may be made manifest. What other meaning can the holy Evangelist have had in this place but to glorify Saint John Baptist, as well for having been the offspring of such parents, as for his miracles, his life, his gifts, and his sufferings? So likewise is praise ascribed to Hannah, the mother of Samuel ; so also did Isaac draw from his parents that noble godliness which he in his turn bequeathed to his children. Thus it is told not only that Zacharias was a priest of the course of Abia, that is to say, of a family noble among the noblest.

And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron. Thus we see that the noble blood of holy John was inherited not only from parents, but from an ancient ancestry, not illustrious indeed by worldly power, but worshipful for the tradition of a sacred succession. Such were the forefathers whom it well became the Forerunner of the Christ to have, that it might manifestly fall to his lot, not as a sudden gift, but as heirloom, to preach belief in the coming of the Lord.

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. What do they make of this text who, to get them some consolation for their own sins, hold that man cannot exist without oftentimes sinning? To this end they are wont to quote what is written in Job to the effect that no one is clean, even though his life on the earth be but one day? To such we must reply by asking them first to tell us what they mean by a man without sin- whether it be one who hath never sinned, or one who hath ceased to sin. If they mean by a man without sin one who hath never sinned, I myself agree in their position, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But if they mean to deny that he who hath reformed his old crooked way, and changed his life for a new one, on purpose to avoid sin, cannot avoid sin, I am not able to subscribe to their opinion while I read that Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it, and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, no having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it would be holy and without blemish.

Collect:

O God, who didst make blessed Elisabeth and Holy Zacharias illustrious by reason of their patient waiting upon thee in prayer, and that they might not be disappointed of their hope, didst give them a son when they were both well stricken in years : be pleased through the intercession of them both, to grant us such faith in thy promises as never to falter in our waiting upon thee, through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Fifth Day in Octave of All Saints

From a Sermon by Saint Bede the Venerable

Beloved: Let us rejoice that we have the opportunity to attain the palm of victory awarded for good works. Let us one and all strive cheerfully and freely in this contest of righteousness. Let us run in the race whereof God and Christ are witnesses. And if any of us hath already begun to advance beyond hankerings after temporal and worldly things, let us not delay our course by any turning back thereto. If the last day find us ready and, without such hindrances, running in the way of good works, we shall have no cause to complain that our Master is a scanty rewarder of our works.

For he that giveth a red diadem for the passion of them that win through persecution, the same will bestow a white one upon them that in peace do prevail in the struggle for righteousness. Neither Abraham nor Isaac nor Jacob were martyrs, and yet for their faith and righteousness they merited the honour of the first place amongst the Patriarchs. And whosever of us is found faithful, righteous, and praiseworthy, shall sit down with them at the banquet. Howbeit, we must be mindful to do God’s will, not our own, for it is he that doeth God’s will that abideth for ever, like as God himself abideth for ever.

Wherefore, beloved, with mind clear, faith firm, courage true, and charity thorough, let us be ready for whatever God willeth ; keeping the Lord’s commandments with boldness: having innocencey in simplicity, peaceableness in love, modesty in lowliness, diligence in service, watchfulness in helping those who toil, mercifulness in succouring the poor, constancy in standing up for the truth, severity in keeping discipline ; wanting to us. For these are the footprints which the Saints have left us, what time they were returning to their fatherland, that we, treading in their steps, might follow them into joy.
　
　
　
A homily by Saint Augustine the Bishop

Blessedness (if by that word we mean the attainment of the highest sort of wisdom) beginneth in holy fear ; for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And contrariwise, pride is rightly entitled the beginning of all sin. Therefore let us leave it to the proud to love, and to seek after, the things of the kingdom of this world. It is not of the proud, but of the humble, that the Lord said : Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Again he said : Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Now, by the earth is here meant(or so I at least suppose) that of which the Psalmist speaketh : Thou art my refuge, and my portion, in the land (literally, in the earth) of the living. By which is meant a certain firmness and stability of everlasting inheritance, whereby the soul of the man that hath a godly disposition maintained itself, as it were, in its own proper spiritual environment, even as the body doth the same in its own proper earthly environment. That is just as the body maintained itself from the earth, wherefrom it is nourished with earthly food, so doth the soul nourish itself with its own proper food, which same is the very maintenance and life of the Saints. Thus the meek are they which do suffer the acts of the wicked, without yielding to evil deeds. For they are such as do resist evil only by overcoming it with good.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Mourning is sorrow over the loss of things which are dear. Now, those who are converted to God, thereby lose many things of this world which they were used to consider very dear. For they may no longer rejoice in all the things wherein they formerly rejoiced. And until love of the things eternal be formed in them, they must needs suffer some measure of grief. But in this mourning they shall be comforted by the Holy Spirit, who in this account is called Paraclete, that is, Comforter. So that, in losing temporal joys, they come to enjoy more and more the joy that is eternal.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. These blessed ones are they that are lovers of the good things which are truly and hence indestructibly, good. Therefore they shall be filled with the food of which the Lord himself speaketh : My meat is to do the will of my Father : which same is righteousness. And they shall be filled with that water, whereof the same our Lord saith that it shall be a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. In these words the Lord saith that those fold that relieve human miseries are blessed, inasmuch as they are repaid by obtaining surcease from their own miseries.

Fourth Day in Octave of All Saints

Fourth Day of the Octave of All Saints, November 4

New Jerusalem

From a Sermon by St. Bede the Venerable
Beloved, think on the joy wherewith the heavenly city receiveth them that return from the contest! How happily do her citizens meet them that bear the trophies of the conquered enemy! Along with men triumphant, women also come, who rose above the strength of this world and the weakness of their sex, thus doubling the glory of their contest. Young men and maidens also come, whose virtues surpassed their tender years. And not these alone, but all the multitude of them that have proved faithful, shall enter the place of that eternal court ; yea, all the harmonious union of those that have observed the commandments of heaven, and have kept the purity of their Faith.

Therefore, brethren, let us also enter upon the way of life. Let us proceed thereby to the heavenly city, in which we are already enrolled and inscribed as citizens. For we are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God ; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. The gates of this city are set open to us by fortitude ; and faith maketh for us a broad entrance thereto. Wherefore let us consider the felicity of that heavenly habitation, insofar as it is possible for us to do so ; for to speak the truth, no words of man are sufficient to describe it.

Of that city, it is written in a certain place : Grief and sorrow shall flee away. What happier life could there be, than that where there is no fear of poverty nor weakness of disease ; where none can be hurt, none can be angry ; where none can envy, none can be unchaste ; no snare there of evil spirits ; no terror there of hell ; no death there either of soul or of body ; but a life blessed in the gift of a holy immortality.

Saints Vitalis and Agricola, Martyrs

Saints Vitalis and Agricola, Martyrs

According to Saint Ambrose, Vitalis was a slave owned by Agricola. And the latter was a man greatly beloved for his goodness. From this Agricola, the slave Vitalis learned to be a Christian, and live for Christ. And from the slave Vitalis, his master Agricola learned how to die for Christ. Both of them were arrested at Bologna, in the fourth century, during the persecution under Diocletian and Maximian, for preaching Jesus Christ. Vitalis, the more he was implored and threatened, to make him change his mind, so much the more proclaimed himself a worshipper and servant of Christ, and after bravely bearing divers tortures, gave up his soul in prayer to God. The execution of Agricola had been put off, in the hope that the agonies of his servant might scare him into denying Christ. But the sight only hardened him. He was therefore crucified, and so became sharer and fellow in the glorious witness of his slave Vitalis. Their bodies were laid in the Jews’ Burying Place, where they were found by Saint Ambrose, who removed them to an hallowed and honorable sepulchre. 


Saints Vitalis and Agricola, Martyrs

 Antiphon on the Benedictus:

 Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered: * fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Collect:

O God, who vouchsafest unto us to keep the heavenly birthday of blessed Vitalis and Agricola, thy holy Martyrs: grant, we beseech thee, that we may rejoice in the perpetual felicity of their fellowship in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Antiphon on the Magnificat:

In the heavenly kingdom the souls of the Saints are rejoicing, even such as walked in the footsteps of Christ their Master, for love of whom they gave without stint their very life-blood; * therefore with Christ they now do reign for ever and ever.

November 3, Saint Winifred, Virgin and Martyr

Saint Winifred of Wales, Virgin and Martyr

Winifred was born of an important welsh family, and Saint Beuno was her mother’s brother. To whose instruction she listened eagerly, and with the consent of her parents consecrated her virginity to God. Whereupon Caradoc, son of King Alan, who was ready to die for love of her, sought in every way to shake her resolution. Now one day, when she was fleeing from his advances to take sanctuary in the Church which Saint Beuno had built, he overtook her, and as she refused his advances firmly, saying, “I am joined to my spouse Jesu Christ which preserveth and keepeth my virginity. And trust thou verily, that I will not forsake him for all thy menaces and threatenings,” he struck off her head with his sword. * And thereafter, through the ministry of her holy uncle, God wrought the miracle of replacing her head and raising her from the dead. For this reason she was reckoned a martyr. After this she lived fifteen years, and became Abbess of a nunnery in Denbighshire ; but in 1138 her relicks were translated to the Abbey of Shrewsbury. * In 1198, her feast was ordered to be kept throughout the province of Canterbury. And on the spot which is shewn as the place of this Virgin’s martyrdom, there is a spring, namely, Holywell of Welltown, or Tre Efynnon, in Wales. Which same is a place of pilgrimage, where people seek the grace of God through the intercession of holy Winifred.
 

Collect:

St. Winifred

Almighty and everlasting God, who didst bestow on thy blessed Winifred the crown of virginity : grant, we pray thee, that by her intercession, we may be enabled to put behind us the delight of all things earthly, and to attain with her to the place of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lessons for November 3 in the Octave of All Saints

The Venerabel Bede

From a Sermon by the Venerable Saint Bede the Priest

Never shall there be discord anywhere there, but all things in harmony. For everywhere there, things are in such concord that all the Saints are at unity with each other in one peace and joy. Everywhere there, all things are tranquil and quiet. Perpetual is the splendour there ; not like unto the sunlight which we know here, but a light which is the brighter, as it is the more blessed. For that city, as saith Scripture, needeth not the light of the sun, because the Lord Almighty doth enlighten it by the Lamb which is the Light thereof. There the Saints shall shine like as the brightness of the firmament, and they that have turned many to righteousness, as the stars, for ever and ever.

And so there is no night there, no darkness, no gathering of clouds, no asperity of heat or cold. But such is the nature of things there as no eye hath seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, except of those only who have been found worthy to enjoy it, whose names are written in the book of life ; and who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and are before the throne of God, serving him day and night. There is no old age anywhere there, nor misery of old age, for all are come to perfect manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

But far above all these things is the fellowship there. That is, to enjoy the companionship of the heavenly citizens : to look upon the choirs of Angels and Archangels, of Thrones and Dominions, Principalities, Powers, and all the heavenly Virtues on high : and to behold the army of the Saints shining more gloriously than the stars ; of the Patriarchs glowing with faith; of the Prophets rejoicing in hope ; of the Apostles judging the world reformed into twelve tribes of the new Israel ; of the Martyrs resplendent in their ruddy crowns of victory ; and of Virgins wearing garlands of the purest white.
　
　
　

St. Augustine the Bishop

A homily by St. Augustine the Bishop

Blessed are the poor in spirit. Thus do the Beatitudes begin with humility, whereby the soul doth submit itself to God, and that through the Gift of Holy Fear. Thereafter the soul goeth on in blessedness to grasp things divine, such as are set forth in the Scriptures ; wherefore the soul cometh to be meek as it is said : Blessed are the meek : and that by reason of the Gift of Piety (or True Godliness, as it is also called). Then it beginneth to know what are the entanglements of this world, whereby we are held back in the customs of the world and in fleshly desires ; and so in this third stage is the Gift of Knowledge, whereby the loss of the highest good is mourned for, from knowing how the soul is fain to cleave to the lowest ; and hence : Blessed are those that mourn. Next, in the fourth state, is the Gift of Ghostly Strength (or Might, or Fortitude, as it is variously called) ; for in this stage of blessedness there is much labour, and the soul must exert itself greatly, to wrench itself away from those things wherewith, by reason of their pestilential sweetness, it was entangled. Hence : Blessed are they, which do hunger and thirst after righteousness. To which end such Fortitude is very necessary, for what is retained with delight is not abandoned without pain.

Then for all such as have shown Fortitude in this labour, at the fifth stage is the Gift of Counsel, that is, perception as to how to escape from these entanglements. For unless one hath assistance in the matter from some one higher, he cannot fit himself to get out of his so many miserable entanglements. And it is only just that he who would have assistance of another’s strength should assist one weaker than himself. For which reason Counsel is indicated in the fifth stage, thus: Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. The sixth benediction: Blessed are the pure in heart : sheweth that at the sixth state there is purity which is the Gift of Understanding, springing from a good conscience, obtained by all these good works, wherein the soul is able to contemplate the Highest Good, which can be discerned only by a mind pure and tranquil.

Lastly, there is, as the seventh, the Gift of Wisdom, that is, such a grace of contemplation of the Truth as doth completely tranquilize the whole man, and give to him the likeness of God, thus bringing us to the conclusion : Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. The eighth, as it were, returneth to the beginning, because it sheweth forth and commandeth what is complete and perfect. Therefore in the first and in the eighth is named the kingdom of heaven, thus: Blessed are the poor in spirit : Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.