In Vigilia Ss. Simonis et Judæ Ap.Vigil of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles

Vigilia

Lectio I

Lesson I

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Joánnem

From the holy Gospel according to John

Joannes 15:1-7

John 15:1-7

In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis suis: Ego sum vitis vera: et Pater meus agrícola est. Et réliqua.

In that time Jesus said to his disciples: I an the true vine; and my Father is the husbandman. And so on.

Homilía sancti Augustíni Epíscopi

Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop (of Hippo.)

Tract. 80 in Joannem

Tract 80 on John

Iste locus evangélicus, fratres, ubi se dicit Dóminus vitem, et discípulos suos pálmites, secúndum hoc dicit, quod est caput Ecclésiæ, nosque membra ejus, mediátor Dei et hóminum, homo Christus Jesus. Uníus quippe natúræ sunt vitis et pálmites. Propter quod cum esset Deus, cujus natúræ non sumus, factus est homo, ut in illo esset vitis humána natúra, cujus et nos hómines pálmites esse possémus.

Dearly beloved brethren, this passage of the Gospel, wherein the Lord saith that He is the vine, and that His disciples are the branches, is to be taken in that sense wherein it is also said, that He is the Head of the Church, (Eph. v. 23,) and that we are the members of Him (30) Who is the Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. ii. 5.) The vine and his branches are of one and the same nature. Therefore, seeing that He was God, of which nature we are not, He was made man, to the end that He might have in Himself this vine, that is, the manhood, whereof we men can be made branches.

℟. Hic est fratrum amátor et pópuli Israël: * Hic est, qui multum orat pro pópulo et univérsa sancta civitáte Jerúsalem.

℟. This is a lover of the brethren, and of the people of Israel * This is one who prayeth much for the people, and for all the Holy City, Jerusalem.

℣. Vir iste in pópulo suo mitíssimus appáruit.

℣. There appeared a man most gentle toward all his people.

℟. Hic est, qui multum orat pro pópulo et univérsa sancta civitáte Jerúsalem.

℟. This is one who prayeth much for the people, and for all the Holy City, Jerusalem.

Lectio II

Lesson II

Quid ergo est, Ego sum vitis vera? Numquid ut ádderet, vera, hoc ad eam vitem rétulit, unde ista similitúdo transláta est? Sic enim dícitur vitis per similitúdinem, non per proprietátem: quemádmodum dícitur ovis, agnus, leo, petra, lapis anguláris, et cétera hujúsmodi, quæ magis ipsa sunt vera, ex quibus ducúntur istæ similitúdines, non proprietátes. Sed cum dicit, Ego sum vitis vera: ab illa se útique discérnit, cui dícitur: Quómodo convérsa es in amaritúdinem vitis aliéna? Nam quo pacto est vitis vera, quæ exspectáta est ut fáceret uvam, fecit autem spinas?

Why saith He: I am the true vine? As touching this word true, hath He not here regard to that other parable of a vine, the like figure whereto He doth here apply to Himself? (Jer. ii. 21.) Here is He called a vine, not plainly, but in parable, as also He is called elsewhere a sheep, (Isa. liii. 7, Acts viii. 32,) a lamb, (John i. 36,) a lion, (Apoc. v. 5,) a rock, (1 Cor. x. 4,) a corner-stone, ~(Eph. ii. 20,) and other things of the like kind. But these things are in themselves that which they seem to be, albeit He is called by their names, not plainly, but in a parable, and herein are they different from that vine, whereof in this place He taketh on Him the name. For when He saith: I am the true vine, doth He not make distinction between Himself, and that which indeed seemed to be a vine, but to which it is said: How art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me? (Jer. ii. 21.) For by what title shall that plant be called other than a false vine, whereto they looked that she should bring forth grapes, and she brought forth thorns?

℟. Tu, Dómine universórum, qui nullam habes indigéntiam, voluísti templum tuum fíeri in nobis; * Consérva domum istam immaculátam in ætérnum, Dómine.

℟. Thou, O Lord of all things, Who hast need of nothing, wast pleased that the Temple of thine habitation should be among us. * Therefore now, O Lord, keep this house ever undefiled

℣. Tu elegísti, Dómine, domum istam ad invocándum nomen tuum in ea, ut esset domus oratiónis et obsecratiónis pópulo tuo.

℣. Thou, O Lord, didst choose this house, that thy Name should be called on therein, and to be an house of prayer and petition for thy people.

℟. Consérva domum istam immaculátam in ætérnum, Dómine.

℟. Therefore now, O Lord, keep this house ever undefiled.

Lectio III

Lesson III

Ego sum, inquit, vitis vera: et Pater meus agrícola est. Numquid unum sunt agrícola et vitis? Secúndum hoc ergo vitis Christus, secúndum quod ait: Pater major me est. Secúndum autem id, quod ait: Ego, et Pater unum sumus; et ipse agrícola est: nec talis, quales sunt, qui extrínsecus operándo éxhibent ministérium: sed talis, ut det étiam intrínsecus increméntum. Nam neque qui plantat est áliquid, neque qui rigat: sed, qui increméntum dat, Deus. Sed útique Deus est Christus, quia Deus erat Verbum: unde ipse, et Pater unum sunt. Et, si Verbum caro factum est, quod non erat, manet quod erat.

He saith: I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Is the vine one with the husbandman? These words then are to be taken in that sense wherein He also saith: My Father is greater than I. (John xiv. 28.) In this sense is He the vine, and the Father is the husbandman. But again, in regard to those words: I and the Father are one, and again and: My Father is the husbandman, we understand that They are not the vine and the husbandman, after the manner of a vine, and the husbandman that from without doth care for and keep it, but after the manner of a vine and Him That from within doth make it to bring forth fruit. For neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. (1 Cor. iii. 7.) But Christ is God, for the Word was God. (John i. 1.) Therefore He and the Father are one: and, albeit the Word was made flesh, (John i. 14,) which, before, He was not, He ceased not to be still That Which He was.

℟. Aperi óculos tuos, Dómine, et vide afflictiónem nostram: circumdedérunt nos gentes ad puniéndum nos: * Sed tu, Dómine, exténde brácchium tuum, et líbera ánimas nostras.

℟. Open thine eyes, O Lord, and behold our affliction for the heathen are come round about us to punish us. * But Thou, O Lord, stretch forth thine arm, and deliver our souls.

℣. Afflíge oppriméntes nos et contuméliam faciéntes in supérbiam; et custódi partem tuam.

℣. Punish them that oppress us and with pride do us wrong, and keep thine own portion.

℟. Sed tu, Dómine, exténde brácchium tuum, et líbera ánimas nostras.

℟. But Thou, O Lord, stretch forth thine arm, and deliver our souls.

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

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

℟. Sed tu, Dómine, exténde brácchium tuum, et líbera ánimas nostras.

℟. But Thou, O Lord, stretch forth thine arm, and deliver our souls.