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December 4

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St Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church

3rd class

Friday of the First Week of Advent

Commemoration of the Advent feria


Today is the feast of St Peter Chrysologus, honored by the Church as Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. Born at Imola in northern Italy in the late 4th or early 5th century, Peter was elected Bishop of Ravenna around 433 and served with great zeal and wisdom during a period marked by the final days of the Western Roman Empire. Renowned for his eloquent and concise sermons—hence the title "Chrysologus," meaning "Golden-worded"—he was a preacher who brought clarity and theological depth to key mysteries of the faith, including the Incarnation and the role of the Virgin Mary. His surviving homilies, many still extant, reveal both a gentle pastoral concern and an incisive orthodoxy, qualities that made him beloved in his own time and widely influential in centuries to come.

St Peter Chrysologus demonstrated a profound reverence for doctrine and worked tirelessly against heresies prevalent in his age. His preaching, often delivered to ordinary faithful, explored themes such as the mercy of God, the necessity of conversion, and the dignity of Christian life. This feast, kept at this time of year, celebrates his place among the great teachers of the Church and his deep witness to unwavering truth in changing times. By commemorating him during Advent, the Church invites the faithful to rediscover the importance of sound doctrine and powerful preaching as means of preparing spiritually for the coming of Christ. St Peter Chrysologus was officially declared a Doctor of the Church in the 18th century, yet his spiritual legacy remains perennial.

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The liturgical day

IntroitEccli 15:5

Latin


Eccli 15:5
In médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os eius: et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus: stolam glóriæ índuit eum.
Ps 91:2
Bonum est confitéri Dómino: et psállere nómini tuo, Altíssime.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
In médio Ecclésiæ apéruit os eius: et implévit eum Dóminus spíritu sapiéntiæ et intelléctus: stolam glóriæ índuit eum.

English


Ecclus 15:5
In the midst of the assembly he opened his mouth; and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding; He clothed him with a robe of glory.
Ps 91:2
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to Your name, Most High.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
In the midst of the assembly he opened his mouth; and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding; He clothed him with a robe of glory.
Collect

Latin

Orémus.
Deus, qui beátum Petrum Chrysólogum Doctórem egrégium, divínitus præmonstrátum, ad regéndam et instruéndam Ecclésiam tuam éligi voluísti: præsta, quǽsumus; ut, quem Doctórem vitæ habúimus in terris, intercessórem habére mereámur in cœlis.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.

Orémus.
Commemoratio Feria VI infra Hebdomadam I Adventus
Excita, quǽsumus, Dómine, poténtiam tuam, et veni: ut ab imminéntibus peccatórum nostrórum perículis, te mereámur protegénte éripi, te liberánte salvári:
Commemoratio S. Barbaræ Virginis et Martyris
Deus, qui inter cétera poténtiæ tuæ mirácula étiam in sexu frágili victóriam martýrii contulísti: concéde propítius; ut, qui beátæ Bárbaræ Vírginis et Mártyris tuæ natalícia cólimus, per eius ad te exémpla gradiámur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.

English

Let us pray.
O God, Who willed to foreshow divinely that blessed Peter Chrysologus would be a great Doctor to rule and teach Your Church, grant, we beseech You, that we may be worthy to have him as our intercessor in heaven who on earth was a teacher of life.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
Commemoration Friday in the First Week of Advent
Put forth Your power, O Lord, we beseech You, and come, that with You as our protector we may be rescued from the impending danger of our sins; and with You as our deliverer, may we obtain our salvation.
Commemoration St. Barbara, Virgin and Martyr
O God, Who among the other miracles of thy power have bestowed the victory of martyrdom even upon the weaker sex, graciously grant that we who commemorate the anniversary of the death of blessed Barbara, thy Virgin and Martyr, may come to thee by the path of her example.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Lesson2 Tim 4:1-8

Latin


Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Timótheum
2 Tim 4:1-8
Caríssime: Testíficor coram Deo, et Iesu Christo, qui iudicatúrus est vivos et mórtuos, per advéntum ipsíus et regnum eius: prǽdica verbum, insta opportúne, importune: árgue, óbsecra, íncrepa in omni patiéntia, et doctrína. Erit enim tempus, cum sanam doctrínam non sustinébunt, sed ad sua desidéria, coacervábunt sibi magistros, pruriéntes áuribus, et a veritáte quidem audítum avértent, ad fábulas autem converténtur. Tu vero vígila, in ómnibus labóra, opus fac Evangelístæ, ministérium tuum imple. Sóbrius esto. Ego enim iam delíbor, et tempus resolutiónis meæ instat. Bonum certámen certávi, cursum consummávi, fidem servávi. In réliquo repósita est mihi coróna iustítiæ, quam reddet mihi Dóminus in illa die, iustus iudex: non solum autem mihi, sed et iis, qui díligunt advéntum eius.
℟. Deo grátias.

English


Lesson from the second letter of St. Paul the Apostle to Timothy
2 Tim. 4:1-8
Beloved: I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus, Who will judge the living and the dead by His coming and by His kingdom, preach the word, be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, entreat, rebuke with all patience and teaching. For there will come a time when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but having itching ears, will heap up to themselves teachers according to their lusts, and they will turn away their hearing from the truth and turn aside rather to fables. But be watchful in all things, bear with tribulation patiently, work as a preacher of the Gospel, fulfill your ministry. As for me, I am already being poured out in sacrifice, and the time of my deliverance is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. For the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just Judge, will give to me in that day; yet not to me only, but also to those who love His coming.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualEccli 44:16

Latin


Eccli 44:16
Ecce sacérdos magnus, qui in diébus suis plácuit Deo.
Eccli 44:20
Non est invéntus símilis illi, qui conserváret legem Excélsi. Allelúia, allelúia.
Ps 109:4
Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum, secúndum órdinem Melchísedech. Allelúia.

English


Sir 44:16
Behold, a great priest, who in his days pleased God.
Sir 44:20
℣. There was not found the like to him, who kept the law of the Most High. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 109:4
You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedec. Alleluia.
GospelMatt 5:13-19

Latin

Sequéntia + sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Matt 5:13-19
In illo témpore: Dixit Iesus discípulis suis: Vos estis sal terræ. Quod si sal evanúerit, in quo saliétur? Ad níhilum valet ultra, nisi ut mittátur foras, et conculcétur ab homínibus. Vos estis lux mundi. Non potest cívitas abscóndi supra montem pósita. Neque accéndunt lucérnam, et ponunt eam sub módio, sed super candelábrum, ut lúceat ómnibus, qui in domo sunt. Sic luceat lux vestra coram homínibus, ut vídeant ópera vestra bona, et gloríficent Patrem vestrum, qui in cœlis est. Nolíte putáre, quóniam veni sólvere legem aut prophétas: non veni sólvere, sed adimplére. Amen, quippe dico vobis, donec tránseat cœlum et terra, iota unum aut unus apex non præteríbit a lege, donec ómnia fiant. Qui ergo sólverit unum de mandátis istis mínimis, et docúerit sic hómines, mínimus vocábitur in regno cœlórum: qui autem fécerit et docúerit, hic magnus vocábitur in regno cœlórum.

English

Continuation ✠ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 5:13-19
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its strength, what shall it be salted with? It is no longer of any use but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under the measure, but upon the lampstand, so as to give light to all in the house. Even so let your light shine before men, in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall be lost from the Law till all things have been accomplished. Therefore whoever does away with one of these least commandments, and so teaches men, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever carries them out and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
OffertoryPs 91:13

Latin

Orémus.
Ps 91:13
Iustus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus, quæ in Líbano est, multiplicábitur.

English

Let us pray.
Ps 91:13
The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.
Secret

Latin

Sancti Petri Chrysólogi Pontíficis tui atque Doctóris nobis, Dómine, pia non desit orátio: quæ et múnera nostra concíliet; et tuam nobis indulgéntiam semper obtíneat.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Commemoratio Feria VI infra Hebdomadam I Adventus
Hæc sacra nos, Dómine, poténti virtúte mundátos ad suum fáciant purióres veníre princípium.
Commemoratio S. Barbaræ Virginis et Martyris
Súscipe, Dómine, múnera, quæ in beátæ Bárbaræ Vírginis et Mártyris tuæ sollemnitáte deférimus: cuius nos confídimus patrocínio liberári.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.

English

May the pious prayer of holy Peter Chrysologus thy Bishop and illustrious Doctor be not wanting to us, O Lord, but make our offerings acceptable to thee and ever win for us thy mercy.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Commemoration Friday in the First Week of Advent
May these offerings, O Lord, cleanse us by their mighty power and thus make us come purer before You Who are their author.
Commemoration St. Barbara, Virgin and Martyr
Accept, O Lord, the gifts we bring on the festival of blessed Barbara, Your Virgin and Martyr, through whose patronage we hope to be delivered.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
CommunionMatt 25:20

Latin


Matt 25:20; 20:21
Dómine, quinque talénta tradidísti mihi, ecce, ália quinque superlucrátus sum. Euge, serve bone et fidélis, quia in pauca fuísti fidélis, supra multa te constítuam, intra in gáudium Dómini tui.

English


Matt 25:20-21
Master, you handed over to me five talents; behold, I have gained five others in addition. Well done, good and faithful servant; because you have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many, enter into the joy of your master.
Post Communion

Latin

Orémus.
Ut nobis, Dómine, tua sacrifícia dent salútem: beátus Petrus Chrysólogus Póntifex tuus et Doctor egrégius, quǽsumus, precátor accédat.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.

Orémus.
Commemoratio Feria VI infra Hebdomadam I Adventus
Suscipiámus, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam in médio templi tui: ut reparatiónis nostræ ventúra sollémnia cóngruis honóribus præcedámus.
Commemoratio S. Barbaræ Virginis et Martyris
Auxiliéntur nobis, Dómine, sumpta mystéria: et, intercedénte beáta Bárbara Vírgine et Mártyre tua, sempitérna fáciant protectióne gaudére.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.

English

Let us pray.
May blessed Peter Chrysologus thy Bishop and illustrious Doctor intercede for us, O Lord, that this thy sacrifice may obtain for us salvation.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
Commemoration Friday in the First Week of Advent
May we receive Your mercy, O Lord, in the midst of Your temple, and thus prepare with due observance for the coming festal season of our redemption.
Commemoration St. Barbara, Virgin and Martyr
May the sacrament we have received, aid us, O Lord, and by the intercession of blessed Barbara, Your Virgin and Martyr, may it keep us forevermore under Your everlasting protection.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium

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