In Vigilia S. Andreæ ApostoliVigil of St. Andrew the Apostle

Vigilia

Lectio I

Lesson I

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Joánnem

Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John

Joannes 1:35-51

John 1:35-51

In illo témpore: Stabat Joannes, et ex discipulis ejus duo. Et respiciens Jesum ambulantem, dicit: Ecce Agnus Dei. Et réliqua.

At that time again John stood, and two of his disciples. And beholding Jesus walking, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God. And so on.

Homilia sancti Augustíni Epíscopi

Homily of St. Augustine, bishop of Hippo

Tract. 7 in Joann., post init.

7th Tract on John

Quia talis erat Joannes amicus sponsi, non quærebat gloriam suam, sed testimonium perhibebat veritati: numquid voluit apud se remanere discipulos suos, ut non sequerentur Dominum? Magis ipse ostendit discipulis suis quem sequerentur: habebant enim illum tamquam agnum. Et ille: Quid me attenditis: Ego non sum agnus. Ecce Agnus Dei. De quo et superius dixerat: Ecce Agnus Dei. Et quid nobis prodest Agnus Dei? Ecce, ait, qui tollit peccatum mundi. Secuti sunt illum, hoc audito, duo qui erant cum Joanne.

Since John was the friend of the Bridegroom, (iii. 29,) he sought not his own glory, but bare witness to the truth. Would he that his disciples should remain with him rather than that they should follow the Lord? Nay, he showed his disciples Whom they should follow. They thought that he himself was the Lamb; but he saith Why wait ye on me? I am not the Lamb. Behold the Lamb of God! This was He of Whom he had already said above (29) Behold the Lamb of God! And what use to us is the Lamb of God? Behold the Lamb of God, saith John, Which taketh away the sin of the world. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

℟. Laudábilis pópulus, * Quem Dóminus exercítuum benedíxit dicens: Opus mánuum meárum tu es, heréditas mea Israël.

℟. Blessed is the people * Whom the Lord of hosts hath blessed, saying O Israel thou art the work of Mine own hands, thou art Mine own inheritance.

℣. Beáta gens, cujus est Dóminus Deus, pópulus eléctus in hereditátem.

℣. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.

℟. Quem Dóminus exercítuum benedíxit dicens: Opus mánuum meárum tu es, heréditas mea Israël.

℟. Whom the Lord of hosts hath blessed, saying O Israel thou art the work of Mine own hands, thou art Mine own inheritance.

Lectio II

Lesson II

Videamus sequentia. Ecce Agnus Dei. Hoc Joannes. Et audierunt eum duo discipuli loquentem, et secuti sunt Jesum. Non sic illum sequebantur, quasi jam ut inhærerent illi: nam manifestum est, quando illi inhæserunt, quia de navi eos vocavit. In his enim duobus erat Andreas, sicut modo audistis. Andreas autem frater Petri erat. Et novimus in Evangelio quod Petrum et Andream Dominus de navi vocavit, dicens: Venite post me, et faciam vos piscatores hominum. Et ex illo jam inhæserunt illi, ut non recederent.

Let us see what followed. John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking on Jesus as He walked, he saith Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. They followed Him, not yet to cleave unto Him, for it is manifest that they clave unto Him only after that He had called them out of the ship. (Matth. iv. 18.) One of the two which heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. And we know how it is written in the Gospel of Matthew: Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. And He saith unto them Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets and followed Him.

℟. Angústiæ mihi sunt úndique, et quid éligam ignóro; * Mélius est mihi incídere in manus hóminum, quam derelínquere legem Dei mei.

℟. I am straitened on every side, and know not what to choose. * It is better for me to fall into the hands of men, than to sin against the law of my God.

℣. Si enim hoc égero, mors mihi est; si autem non égero, non effúgiam manus vestras.

℣. For if I do this thing, it is death unto me and if I do it not, I cannot escape your hands.

℟. Mélius est mihi incídere in manus hóminum, quam derelínquere legem Dei mei.

℟. It is better for me to fall into the hands of men, than to sin against the law of my God.

Lectio III

Lesson III

Modo ergo quod illum sequuntur isti duo, non quasi non recessuri sequuntur, sed videre voluerunt ubi habitaret, et facere quod scriptum est: Limen ostiorum ejus exterat pes tuus: surge ad illum venire assidue, et erudire præceptis ejus. Ostendit eis ille ubi maneret: venerunt, et fuerunt cum illo. Quam beatum diem duxerunt, quam beatam noctem! Quis est, qui nobis dicat quæ audierint illi a Domino? Aedificemus et nosmetipsi in corde nostro, et faciamus domum, quo veniat ille, et doceat nos, et colloquatur nobis.

From that time, therefore, was it that they clave unto Him continuously. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them What seek ye? They said unto Him Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest Thou? So they follow Him now, not as to cleave unto Him for ever, but as to know where He dwelt, and to obey that which is written If thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors. (Ecclus. vi. 36.) He saith unto them Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day. O what a blessed day! O what a blessed night! for it was about the tenth hour. Who shall tell what they heard from the Lord? O let us also build an house in our hearts, where He may come, and teach us, and talk with us!

℟. Misit Dóminus Angelum suum et conclúsit ora leónum, * Et non contaminavérunt, quia coram eo injustítia invénta non est in me.

℟. The Lord hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that * They have not hurt me forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me.

℣. Misit Deus misericórdiam suam et veritátem suam: ánimam meam erípuit de médio catulórum leónum.

℣. God hath sent forth His mercy and His truth, (and delivered) my soul from among the lions' whelps.

℟. Et non contaminavérunt, quia coram eo injustítia invénta non est in me.

℟. They have not hurt me forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me.

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

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

℟. Et non contaminavérunt: quia coram eo injustítia invénta non est in me.

℟. They have not hurt me forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me.