October 13
St Edward, King and Confessor
Tuesday after the 20th Sunday after Pentecost
Today, according to the traditional 1962 Roman calendar, the Church observes the feast of St Edward, King and Confessor, also known as St Edward the Confessor, one of England’s most beloved monarchs and a model of Christian kingship. Born around the beginning of the eleventh century, Edward was the son of King Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy. After long years of exile during Danish rule, he ascended the English throne in 1042. Edward is renowned for his deep piety, sense of justice, and devotion to peace and charity. He played a significant role in strengthening the Christian faith in his kingdom, supporting monastic reform and the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey, which he endowed and where he himself was later buried.
Edward earned the title 'Confessor' as someone who openly lived his Christian faith with virtue but did not suffer martyrdom. While historical accounts regarding his personal sanctity and miracles vary and sometimes include legendary embellishments, his reputation for holiness and wise, gentle leadership took root quickly after his death in 1066. Within a century, he was canonized by Pope Alexander III in 1161, becoming one of England's principal patron saints. The traditional feast is kept on October 13, marking the translation of his relics to a new shrine in Westminster Abbey in 1163, and the liturgy honors his memory as a model for Christian rulers and the faithful alike. St Edward’s steadfast fidelity to the Church and political prudence at a time of great challenge have ensured his remembrance as a Confessor of Christ and as an emblem of English sanctity. This is the feast as observed in the traditional (1962) Roman calendar.
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Questions about St Edward, King and Confessor (Vetus Ordo Missae)
The liturgical day
IntroitPs 36:30-31
Latin
Ps 36:30-31
Os iusti meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua eius loquétur iudícium: lex Dei eius in corde ipsíus.
Ps 36:1
Noli æmulári in malignántibus: neque zeláveris faciéntes iniquitátem.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Os iusti meditábitur sapiéntiam, et lingua eius loquétur iudícium: lex Dei eius in corde ipsíus.
English
Ps 36:30-31
The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom, and his tongue utters what is right. The law of his God is in his heart.
Ps 36:1
Be not vexed over evildoers, nor jealous of those who do wrong.
℣. 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.
The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom, and his tongue utters what is right. The law of his God is in his heart.
Collect
Latin
Deus, qui beátum regem Eduárdum Confessórem tuum æternitátis glória coronásti: fac nos, quǽsumus; ita eum venerári in terris, ut cum eo regnáre possímus in cœlis.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
O God, Who crowned blessed King Edward with the glory of eternity, grant us, we beseech You, so to venerate him on earth that we may be worthy to reign with him in heaven.
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.
LessonEccli 31:8-11
Latin
Léctio libri Sapiéntiæ
Eccli 31:8-11
Beátus vir, qui invéntus est sine mácula, et qui post aurum non ábiit, nec sperávit in pecúnia et thesáuris. Quis est hic, et laudábimus eum? fecit enim mirabília in vita sua. Qui probátus est in illo, et perféctus est, erit illi glória ætérna: qui potuit tránsgredi, et non est transgréssus: fácere mala, et non fecit: ídeo stabilíta sunt bona illíus in Dómino, et eleemósynas illíus enarrábit omnis ecclésia sanctórum.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the book of Ecclesiasticus
Sir 31:8-11
Happy the man found without fault, who turns not aside after gain, nor puts his trust in money nor in treasures! Who is he, that we may praise him? For he has done wonders in his life. He has been tested by gold and come off safe, and this remains his glory forever; he could have sinned but did not, could have done evil but would not, so that his possessions are secure in the Lord, and the assembly of the Saints shall recount his alms.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualPs 91:3
Latin
Ps 91:13; 91:14
Iustus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur in domo Dómini.
Ps 91:3
Ad annuntiándum mane misericórdiam tuam, et veritátem tuam per noctem. Allelúia, allelúia
Ia 1:12
Beátus vir, qui suffert tentatiónem: quóniam, cum probátus fúerit, accípiet corónam vitæ. Allelúia.
English
Ps 91:13; 91:14
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow in the house of the Lord.
Ps 91:3
℣. To proclaim Your kindness at dawn and Your faithfulness throughout the night. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jas 1:12
℣. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life. Alleluia.
GospelLuc 12:35-40
Latin
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Luc 12:35-40
In illo témpore: Dixit Iesus discípulis suis: Sint lumbi vestri præcíncti, et lucernæ ardéntes in mánibus vestris, et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis: ut, cum vénerit et pulsáverit, conféstim apériant ei. Beáti servi illi, quos, cum vénerit dóminus, invénerit vigilántes: amen, dico vobis, quod præcínget se, et fáciet illos discúmbere, et tránsiens ministrábit illis. Et si vénerit in secúnda vigília, et si in tértia vigília vénerit, et ita invénerit, beáti sunt servi illi. Hoc autem scitóte, quóniam, si sciret paterfamílias, qua hora fur veníret, vigiláret útique, et non síneret pérfodi domum suam. Et vos estóte paráti, quia, qua hora non putátis, Fílius hóminis véniet.
English
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 12:35-40
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, Let your loins be girt about and your lamps burning, and you yourselves like men waiting for their master’s return from the wedding; so that when he comes and knocks, they may straight-way open to him. Blessed are those servants whom the master, on his return, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, he will gird himself, and will make them recline at table, and will come and serve them. And if he comes in the second watch, and if in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants! But of this be assured, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would certainly have watched, and not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because at an hour that you do not expect, the Son of Man is coming.
OffertoryPs 88:25
Latin
Ps 88:25
Véritas mea et misericórdia mea cum ipso: et in nómine meo exaltábitur cornu eius.
English
Ps 88:25
My faithfulness and My kindness shall be with him, and through My name shall his horn be exalted.
Secret
Latin
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
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 24:46-47
Latin
Matt 24:46-47
Beátus servus, quem, cum vénerit dóminus, invénerit vigilántem: amen, dico vobis, super ómnia bona sua constítuet eum.
English
Matt 24:46-47
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, he will set him over all his goods.
Post Communion
Latin
Refécti cibo potúque cœlésti, Deus noster, te súpplices exorámus: ut, in cuius hæc commemoratióne percépimus, eius muniámur et précibus.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Refreshed with heavenly food and drink, we humbly pray You, our God, that we also may be helped by his prayers in memory of whom we have partaken of these gifts.
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