S. Hilarionis AbbatisSt. Hilarion, Abbot

Simplex

Commemoratio: Ss. Ursulæ et Sociarum Virg. et Mart.

Commemoration: Ss. Ursula and Companions, Virg. and Mart.

Lectio I

Lesson I

De libro primo Machabæórum

Lesson from the first book of Machabees

1 Mac 12:39-43

Et, cum cogitásset Tryphon regnáre Asiæ, et assúmere diadéma, et exténdere manum in Antíochum regem: Timens ne forte non permítteret eum Jónathas, sed pugnáret advérsus eum, quærébat comprehéndere eum, et occídere, et exsúrgens ábiit in Bethsan. Et exívit Jónathas óbviam illi cum quadragínta míllibus virórum electórum in prǽlium, et venit Bethsan. Et vidit Tryphon quia venit Jónathas cum exércitu multo, ut exténderet in eum manus: tímuit; Et excépit eum cum honóre, et commendávit eum ómnibus amícis suis, et dedit ei múnera: et præcépit exercítibus suis ut obedírent ei, sicut sibi.

Now when Tryphon had conceived a design to make himself king of Asia, and to take the crown, and to stretch out his hand against king Antiochus: Fearing lest Jonathan would not suffer him, but would fight against him: he sought to seize upon him, and to kill him. So he rose up and came to Bethsan. And Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen for battle, and came to Bethsan. Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great army, he durst not stretch forth his hand against him, But received him with honour, and commended him to all his friends, and gave him presents: and he commanded his troops to obey him, as himself.

℟. Refúlsit sol in clípeos áureos, et resplenduérunt montes ab eis: * Et fortitúdo géntium dissipáta est.

℟. The sun shone upon the shields of gold, and the mountains glistered therewith; * And the army of the heathens was spread abroad.

℣. Erat enim exércitus magnus valde et fortis: et appropiávit Judas et exércitus ejus in prǽlio.

℣. For the army was very great and mighty then Judas and his host drew near and entered into battle.

℟. Et fortitúdo géntium dissipáta est.

℟. And the army of the heathens was spread abroad.

Lectio II

Lesson II

1 Mac 12:44-47

Et dixit Jónathæ: Ut quid vexásti univérsum pópulum, cum bellum nobis non sit? Et nunc remítte eos in domos suas; élige autem tibi viros paucos, qui tecum sint, et veni mecum Ptolemáidam, et tradam eam tibi, et réliqua præsídia, et exércitum, et univérsos præpósitos negótii: et convérsus abíbo; proptérea enim veni. Et crédidit ei, et fecit sicut dixit: et dimísit exércitum, et abiérunt in terram Juda. Retínuit autem secum tria míllia virórum: ex quibus remísit in Galilǽam duo míllia; mille autem venérunt cum eo.

And he said to Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all the people, whereas we have no war? Now therefore send them back to their own houses: and choose thee a few men that may be with thee, and come with me to Ptolemais, and I will deliver it to thee, and the rest of the strongholds, and the army, and all that have any charge, and I will return and go away: for this is the cause of my coming. And Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and sent away his army, and they departed into the land of Juda: But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him.

℟. Ornavérunt fáciem templi corónis áureis, et dedicavérunt altáre Dómino: * Et facta est lætítia magna in pópulo.

℟. They decked the fore-front of the Temple with crowns of gold, and dedicated the Altar unto the Lord. * And there was very great gladness among the people.

℣. In hymnis et confessiónibus benedicébant Dóminum.

℣. They praised the Lord with Psalms and thanksgiving.

℟. Et facta est lætítia magna in pópulo.

℟. And there was very great gladness among the people.

℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

℟. Et facta est lætítia magna in pópulo.

℟. And there was very great gladness among the people.

Lectio III

Lesson III

Hilarion, ortus Tabáthæ in Palæstina ex paréntibus infidelibus, Alexandríam missus studiórum causa, ibi morum et ingenii laude flóruit; ac, Jesu Christi suscepta religióne, in fide et caritate mirabíliter profecit. Frequens enim erat in ecclésia, assiduus in jejúnio et oratióne; omnes voluptátum illécebras et terrenárum rerum cupiditates contemnebat. Cum autem Antonii nomen in Ægypto celeberrimum esset, ejus vidéndi studio in solitúdinem conténdit; apud quem duobus mensibus omnem ejus vitæ ratiónem didicit. Domum reversus, mórtuis paréntibus, facultates suas paupéribus dilargitus est; necdum quintum décimum annum egréssus, rediit in solitúdinem, ubi, exstructa exígua casa, quæ vix ipsum cáperet, humi cubábat. Nec vero saccum, quo semel amíctus est, umquam aut lavit aut mutávit, cum supervacáneum esse diceret, mundítias in cilício quærere. In sanctárum Litterárum lectióne et meditatióne multus erat. Paucas ficus et succum herbárum ad victum adhibebat; nec illis ante solis occásum vescebátur. Continéntia et humilitate fuit incredibili. Quibus aliisque virtútibus varias horribilesque tentatiónes diaboli superávit, et innumerábiles dæmones in multis orbis terræ partibus ex hóminum corpóribus ejécit. Qui, octogesimum annum agens, multis ædificátis monastériis, et clarus miraculis, in morbum incidit; cujus vi cum extremo pene spíritu conflictarétur, dicebat: Egredere, quid times? egredere, ánima mea, quid dubitas? septuagínta prope annis servísti Christo, et mortem times? Quibus in verbis spíritum exhalávit.

Hilarion was born of heathens at Tabatha in Palestine, (about the year of our Lord 291.) He was sent to study at Alexandria, where he bore a fair name for life and wit. There he embraced the religion of Jesus Christ, and made wonderful head-way in faith and love. He went oftentimes to Church, was careful in fasting and prayer, and set no price upon the pleasures and lusts of the world. When the name of Antony became famous in Egypt, Hilarion made a journey into the desert on purpose to see him. There he dwelt with him two months, to the end that he might learn all his way of life, and then returned home. After the death of his father and mother, he gave all that he had to the poor. Before he had completed the fifteenth year of his age, he went into the desert, and built there a little house, scarcely big enough to hold him, and wherein he was used to sleep on the ground. The piece of sackcloth wherewith alone he clad himself he never washed and never changed, saying that hair-cloth was a thing not worth the trouble of cleanliness. He took great interest in reading and meditating on the Holy Scriptures. His food was a few figs and some porridge of vegetables, and this he ate not before set of sun. His self-control and lowliness were beyond belief. By these and other arms he overcame diverse and fearful attacks of the devil, and drave out countless evil spirits from the bodies of men in many parts of the world. He had built many monasteries, and was famous for miracles, when, in the eightieth year of his age, he fell sick. When he was gasping for his last breath, he said Go out what art thou afraid of? Go out, my soul! wherefore shrinkest thou? Thou hast served Christ hard on seventy years and art thou afraid of death? And so with these words he gave up the Ghost.

Te Deum