Common of the Dedication of Churches

Terribilis

Holiness becometh thine house, * O Lord, for ever.;;109 My house * shall be called the house of prayer.;;110 This is the Lord's house * stoutly builded, well founded upon a sure rock.;;111 The Lord's house is well founded * upon a sure rock.;;112 All thy walls are of stones most precious, * and the towers of Jerusalem shall be built up with jewels.;;147

v. Thou heavenly, new Jerusalem, Vision of peace in prophet's dream! With living stones built up on high, And rising to yon starry sky; In bridal pomp thy form is crowned, With thousand thousand angels round!

O bride, betrothed in happy hour, The Father's glory is thy dower; The bridegroom's grace is shed on thee Thou queen all fair eternally; To Christ allied, thy Prince adored, Bright shining city of the Lord!

Behold with pearls they glittering stand thy peaceful gates to all expand; By grace and strength divinely shed Each mortal thither may be led; Who, kindled by Christ's love, will dare All earthly sufferings now to bear.

By many a salutary stroke, By many a weary blow that broke, Or polished with a workman's skill, The stones that form that glorious pile, They all are fitly framed to lie In their appointed place on high.

Fair and well pleasing in thy sight, Parent most high, enthroned in light, And for thine only Son most meet, And thee, all-glorious Paraclete, To whom praise, power, and glory rise Forever through the eternal skies. Amen.

v. Blessed city, heavenly Salem, vision dear of peace and love, who of living stones art builded in the height of heaven above, and, with angel hosts encircled, as a bride dost earthward move;

from celestial realms descending, bridal glory round thee shed, meet for him whose love espoused thee, to thy Lord shalt thou be led; all thy streets and all thy bulwarks of pure gold are fashioned.

Bright thy gates of pearl are shining; they are open evermore; and by virtue of his merits thither faithful souls do soar, who for Christ's dear Name in this world pain and tribulation bore.

Many a blow and biting sculpture polished well those stones elect, in their places now compacted by the heavenly Architect, who therewith hath willed for ever that his palace should be decked.

Laud and honor to the Father, laud and honor to the Son, laud and honor to the Spirit, ever Three, and ever One, consubstantial, coeternal, while unending ages run. Amen.

V. This is the house of God, stoutly builded. R. Well founded upon a sure rock.

The Most High hath hallowed His Tabernacle. * For this is the House of God, whereon His Name shall be called, whereof it is written My Name shall be there, saith the Lord.

Prayer on the anniversary of the dedication:

v. O God, Who for us bring each year the recurrence of the consecration day of this Your holy temple, and always bring us back safely to the sacred rites, hear the prayers of Your people and grant that whoever enters this temple to pray for blessings, may rejoice in having obtained whatever he sought. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

Prayer on the day of dedication:

v. O God, Who invisibly sustain all thing, and yet, for the salvation of mankind, show visibly the signs of Your power, enlighten this temple by the power of Your indwelling presence, and grant that all who gather here to pray, may obtain the blessings of Your support in whatever trials they may call upon You. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

In the Mass of Dedication in the act of the Consecration of the Church there is added, under a single conclusion, the prayer of the Mystery or Saint in whose honor the Church or the Oratory is consecrated, and no other commemoration is added, not even a privileged one. After the Solemn Blessing of a Church or Oratory, and after the consecration of the altar, there is said, as a Votive Mass of the Second Class, a Mass of the Mystery or Saint in whose honor the Church or Oratory is blessed or the altar consecrated.

Holiness becometh the house of God. * In her let us worship her Bridegroom, even Christ.

v. Thou heavenly, new Jerusalem, Vision of peace in prophet's dream! With living stones built up on high, And rising to yon starry sky; In bridal pomp thy form is crowned, With thousand thousand angels round!

O bride, betrothed in happy hour, The Father's glory is thy dower; The bridegroom's grace is shed on thee Thou queen all fair eternally; To Christ allied, thy Prince adored, Bright shining city of the Lord!

Behold with pearls they glittering stand thy peaceful gates to all expand; By grace and strength divinely shed Each mortal thither may be led; Who, kindled by Christ's love, will dare All earthly sufferings now to bear.

By many a salutary stroke, By many a weary blow that broke, Or polished with a workman's skill, The stones that form that glorious pile, They all are fitly framed to lie In their appointed place on high.

Fair and well pleasing in thy sight, Parent most high, enthroned in light, And for thine only Son most meet, And thee, all-glorious Paraclete, To whom praise, power, and glory rise Forever through the eternal skies. Amen.

v. Blessed city, heavenly Salem, vision dear of peace and love, who of living stones art builded in the height of heaven above, and, with angel hosts encircled, as a bride dost earthward move;

from celestial realms descending, bridal glory round thee shed, meet for him whose love espoused thee, to thy Lord shalt thou be led; all thy streets and all thy bulwarks of pure gold are fashioned.

Bright thy gates of pearl are shining; they are open evermore; and by virtue of his merits thither faithful souls do soar, who for Christ's dear Name in this world pain and tribulation bore.

Many a blow and biting sculpture polished well those stones elect, in their places now compacted by the heavenly Architect, who therewith hath willed for ever that his palace should be decked.

Laud and honor to the Father, laud and honor to the Son, laud and honor to the Spirit, ever Three, and ever One, consubstantial, coeternal, while unending ages run. Amen.

Lift up your gates, O ye princes, * and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors.;;23 The Lord shall be my God, * and this stone shall be called God's house.;;45 Moses built an altar * to the Lord God.;;47 This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.;;83 Jacob beheld a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven, and the angels of God descending on it. And he said: Surely this place is holy.;;86 Jacob set up the stone for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.;;87 He that dwelleth in the help of the Most High * shall abide under the shadow of the God of heaven.;;90 The Temple of the Lord is holy. * The same is God's workmanship and God's building.;;95 Blessed be the glory of the Lord * from His holy place. Alleluia.;;98

V. Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord. R. For ever.

V. My house. R. Shall be called the house of prayer.

V. This is the house of God, stoutly builded. R. Well founded upon a sure rock.

Lesson from the book of Paralipomenon

2 Chr 7:1-5

1 And when Solomon had made an end of his prayer, fire came down from heaven, and consumed the holocausts and the victims: and the majesty of the Lord filled the house. 2 Neither could the priests enter into the temple of the Lord, because the majesty of the Lord had filled the temple of the Lord. 3 Moreover all the children of Israel saw the fire coming down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house: and falling down with their faces to the ground, upon the stone pavement, they adored and praised the Lord: because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever. 4 And the king and all the people sacrificed victims before the Lord. 5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand oxen, and one hundred and twenty thousand rams: and the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

R. When the Temple was dedicated the people sang praise; * And sweet in their mouths was the sound. V. The Lord's house is established in the top of the mountains; and all nations shall flow unto it. R. And sweet in their mouths was the sound.

2 Chr 7:6-9

6 And the priests stood in their offices: and the Levites with the instruments of music of the Lord, which king David made to praise the Lord: because his mercy endureth for ever, singing the hymns of David by their ministry: and the priests sounded with trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. 7 Solomon also sanctified the middle of the court before the temple of the Lord: for he offered there the holocausts, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brazen altar, which he had made, could not hold the holocausts and the sacrifices and the fat: 8 And Solomon kept the solemnity at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entrance of Emath to the torrent of Egypt. 9 And he made on the eighth day a solemn assembly, because he had kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and had celebrated the solemnity seven days.

R. The Lord's house is established in the top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills; * And all nations shall flow unto it, and shall say: Glory be to thee, O Lord! V. They shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them. R. And all nations shall flow unto it, and shall say: Glory be to thee, O Lord!

2 Chr 7:11-16

11 And Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all that he had designed in his heart to do, in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, and he prospered. 12 And the Lord appeared to him by night, and said: I have heard thy prayer, and I have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven, and there fall no rain, or if I give orders, and command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people: 14 And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and will heal their land. 15 My eyes also shall be open, and my ears attentive to the prayer of him that shall pray in this place. 16 For I have chosen, and have sanctified this place, that my name may be there for ever, and my eyes and my heart may remain there perpetually.

R. O Lord, bless this house which I have built unto thy name. whosoever shall come unto this place and pray, then * Hear thou from the excellent throne of thy glory. V. O Lord, if thy people turn and pray toward thy sanctuary. R. Hear thou from the excellent throne of thy glory. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. R. Hear Thou from the excellent throne of thy glory.

From the Sermons of St. Augustine, Bishop (of Hippo.)

252nd for the Season.

Dearly beloved brethren, as often as we keep the Dedication-Feast of some Altar or Church, if we think faithfully and carefully, and live holily and righteously, that which is done in temples made with hands, is done in our soul by a spiritual building. He at the Dedication of the Temple. lied not who said: The temple of God is holy; which temple ye are (i Cor. iii. 17,) and again: Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, Which is in you, (vi. 19.) And therefore, dearly beloved brethren, since by the grace of God, without any foregoing deserts of our own, we have been made meet to become the Temple of God, let us work as hard as we can, with His help, that our Lord may not find in His Temple, that is, in us, anything to offend the eyes of His Majesty.

R. If they pray toward this place, * Forgive the sin of thy people, O God, and teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and manifest forth thy glory in this place. V. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock, thou that sittest upon the cherubim. R. Forgive the sin of thy people, O God, and teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and manifest forth thy glory in this place.

Let the Tabernacle of our heart be swept clean of vices and filled with virtues. Let it be locked to the devil, and thrown open to Christ. Yea, let us so work, that we may be able to open the door of the kingdom of heaven with the key of good works. For even as evil works are so many bolts and bars to close against us the entrance into life, so beyond doubt are good works the key thereto. And therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let each one look into his own conscience, and when he findeth the wounds of guilt there, let him first strive by prayers, fasting, or alms deeds to purge his conscience, and so let him dare to take the Eucharist.

R. How dreadful is this place! * Surely this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. V. This is the house of God, stoutly builded, well founded upon a sure rock. R. Surely this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

For if he acknowledge his iniquity, and withdraw himself from the Altar of God, he will soon attain unto the mercy of the pardon of God, for, as he that exalted himself shall be abased, so shall he that humbleth himself be exalted. (Luke xiv. n.) He who, as I have said, acknowledging his iniquity, withdraweth himself through lowliness from the Altar of the Church, till he have mended his life, need have but little fear that he will be excommunicated from the eternal marriage supper in heaven.

R. Jacob rose up early in the morning, and set up the stone for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it, and vowed a vow unto the Lord. * Surely this place is holy, and I knew it not. V. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said R. Surely this place is holy, and I knew it not. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. R. Surely this place is holy, and I knew it not.

From the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 19:1-10

At that time: Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And so on.

Homily by St. Ambrose, Bishop (of Milan.)

Bk. viii. on Luke.

Zacchaeus was little of stature, that is, he was not raised aloft among men by nobility of birth, and, like the most of the world, he possessed few merits. When he heard that the Lord and Saviour, Who had come unto His Own, and Whom His Own had not received, (John i. 11,) was coming, he desired to see Him. But the sight of Jesus is not easy; to any on the earth it is impossible. And since Zacchaeus had neither the Prophets, nor yet the Law, as a gracious help to his nature, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, raising his feet above the vanity of the Jews, and straightening the crooked branches of his former life, and therefore he received Jesus to lodge within his house.

R. My house shall be called the house of prayer, saith the Lord. Therein, he that asketh, receiveth; he that seeketh, findeth; * And to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. V. Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find. R. And to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

He did well to climb up into a tree, that a good tree might bring forth good fruits, (Matth. vii. 17,) and that the slip of the wild olive, grafted, contrary to nature, into the good olive, might bring forth the fruits of the law. (Rom. xi. 17, 24.) For the root is holy, however unprofitable the branches. Their barren beauty hath now been overshadowed by the belief of the Gentiles in the Resurrection, as by a material upgrowth. Zacchaeus, then, was in the sycamore tree, and the blind man by the way-side, (xviii. 35.) For the one, Jesus stood waiting to show mercy, and asked him before He healed him, what he would that He should do for him; being unbidden of the other, He bade Himself to be his Guest, knowing how rich was the reward of receiving Him. Nevertheless, albeit He had heard no words of invitation, yet had He seen how his heart went.

R. All thy walls are of stones most precious. * The towers of Jerusalem shall be built up with jewels. V. The gates of Jerusalem shall be built up with the sapphire stone, and the emerald, and all her walls round about with stones most precious. R. The towers of Jerusalem shall be built up with jewels. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. R. The towers of Jerusalem shall be built up with jewels.

But lest we should seem haughtily to pass by the poor blind man, and to hurry on to the rich one, let us stand waiting for him, as the Lord stood and waited; let us ask of him, as Christ asked of him. Let us ask, because we are ignorant; Christ asked, because He knew. Let us ask, that we may know whence he received his cure; Christ asked, that all of us may know from one example where through we are to earn a sight of the Lord. Christ asked, that we might believe that none, save they that confess Him, can be saved. v. We praise thee, O God we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. To thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry,

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Sabaoth;

Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory. The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise thee.

The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee; The Father of an infinite Majesty; Thine honourable, true and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.

Thou art the King of Glory O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.

When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge.

Kneel for the following verse

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy Saints in glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people and bless thine heritage. Govern them and lift them up for ever.

Day by day we magnify thee; And we worship thy Name ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us as our trust is in thee.

O Lord, in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded.

Holiness becometh thine house, * O Lord, for ever. My house * shall be called the house of prayer. This is the Lord's house * stoutly builded, well founded upon a sure rock. The Lord's house is well founded * upon a sure rock. All thy walls are of stones most precious, * and the towers of Jerusalem shall be built up with jewels.

Rev 21:2

v. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband. R. Thanks be to God.

v. From highest heaven, the Father's Son, Descending like that mystic stone Cut from a mountain without hands, Came down below, and filled all lands; Uniting, midway in the sky, His house on earth, and house on high.

That house on high, — it ever rings With praises of the King of kings; Forever there, on harps divine, They hymn th' eternal One and Trine; We, here below, the strain prolong, And faintly echo Sion's song.

O Lord of lords invisible! With thy pure light this temple fill: Hither, oft as invoked, descend; Here to thy people's prayer attend; Here, through all hearts, forevermore, thy Spirit's quick'ning graces pour.

Here may the faithful, day by day, Their hearts' adoring homage pay; And here receive from thy dear love The blessings of that home above; Till loosened from this mortal chain, Its everlasting joys they gain.

To God the Father, glory due Be paid by all the heavenly host; And to his only Son most true; With thee, O mighty Holy Ghost! To whom, praise, power, and blessing be, Through th' ages of eternity, Amen.

v. Christ is made the sure Foundation, Christ the Head and Cornerstone; Chosen of the Lord, and precious, Binding all the Church in one, Holy Zion’s Help forever, And her Confidence alone.

All that dedicated city, Dearly loved of God on high, In exultant jubilation, Pours perpetual melody, God the One in Three adoring In glad hymns eternally.

To this temple, where we call Thee, Come, O Lord of Hosts, today; With Thy wonted lovingkindness Hear Thy servants as they pray. And Thy fullest benediction Shed within its walls alway.

Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants What they ask of Thee to gain; What they gain from Thee forever With the blessèd to retain, And hereafter in Thy glory Evermore with Thee to reign.

Laud and honor to the Father, Laud and honor to the Son, Laud and honor to the Spirit, Ever Three and ever One; Consubstantial, co-eternal, While unending ages run. Amen.

V. This is the house of God, stoutly builded. R. Well founded upon a sure rock.

Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must abide at thy house. * And he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully into his house. This day is salvation come from God to this house. Alleluia.

Rev 21:4-4

v. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And He That sat upon the throne said: Behold, I make all things new.

R.br. Holiness becometh thine house, * O Lord. R. Holiness becometh thine house, * O Lord. V. For ever. R. O Lord. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. R. Holiness becometh thine house, * O Lord.

V. This place is holy, wherein the Priest prayeth. R. For the pardon of the transgressions and offences of the people.

Rev 21:3

v. And I heard a great voice out of the throne, saying Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them. And they shall be His people; and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. R. Thanks be to God.

R.br. This place is holy, * wherein the Priest prayeth. R. This place is holy, * wherein the Priest prayeth V. For the pardon of the transgressions and offences of the people. R. The Priest prayeth. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. R. This place is holy, * wherein the Priest prayeth.

Rev 21:4-4

v. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And He That sat upon the throne said: Behold, I make all things new. R. Thanks be to God.

R.br. This is the Lord's house, * stoutly builded. R. This is the Lord's house, * stoutly builded. V. Well founded upon a sure rock. R. Stoutly builded. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. R. This is the Lord's house, * stoutly builded.

V. The Lord's house is well founded. R. Upon a sure rock.

V. Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord. R. For ever.

How dreadful is this place. * Surely this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Ex Tractatu S. Augustíni Epíscopi super Psalmos

In Psalm. 121

Jerúsalem, quæ ædificátur ut cívitas. Fratres, quando dicébat ista David, perfécta erat illa cívitas, non ædificabatur. Néscio quam ergo civitátem dicit, quæ modo ædificátur, ad quam currunt in fide lápides vivi; de quibus dicit Petrus: Et vos tamquam lápides vivi coædificamini in domum spiritalem, id est, templum Dei sanctum. Quid est, Lápides vivi coædificamini? Vivis, si credis: si autem credis, efficieris templum Dei; quia dicit Apóstolus Paulus: Templum enim Dei sanctum est, quod estis vos.

Ipsa ergo modo cívitas ædificátur. Præcidúntur de móntibus lápides per manus prædicantium veritátem, conquadrantur, ut intrent in structuram sempitérnam. Adhuc multi lápides in mánibus artíficis sunt: non cadant de mánibus artíficis, ut possint perfecti coædificari in structuram templi. Est ergo ista Jerúsalem, quæ ædificátur ut cívitas: fundaméntum ipsíus Christus est. Dicit Apóstolus Paulus: Fundaméntum áliud nemo potest pónere præter id, quod pósitum est, quod est Christus Jesus.

Fundaméntum quando pónitur in terra, désuper ædificantur paríetes, et pondus paríetum ad ima tendit, quia in impositum est fundaméntum. Si autem fundaméntum nostrum in cœlo est, ad cœlum ædificemur. Córpora ædificaverunt istam structúram, quam videtis amplam surrexisse hujus basílicæ: et quia córpora ædificaverunt, fundaméntum in imo posuérunt. Quia vero spiritaliter ædificamur, fundaméntum nostrum in summo pósitum est. Illuc ergo curramus, ibi ædificemur, quia de ipsa Jerúsalem dictum est: Stantes erant pedes nostri in átriis tuis Jerúsalem.

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam

Luc 19:1-10

In illo témpore: Ingréssus Jesus perambulábat Jéricho. Et ecce vir nómine Zachǽus: et hic princeps erat publicanórum, et ipse dives. Et réliqua.

De Homilía sancti Ambrósii Epíscopi

Lib. 8 in Luc., in fine

Et conféstim, inquit, vidit, et sequebatur illum, magníficans Dóminum. Áliter enim non vidéret, nisi sequeretur Christum, nisi Dóminum prædicáret, nisi sǽculum præteriret. Cum divítibus quoque in grátiam revertamur. Nólumus enim offendere dívites, qui volumus, si fíeri potest, sanare omnes: ne in cameli comparatione præstricti, et in Zachǽo cítius quam oportuit, derelicti, justæ habeant commotionis offensam.

Discant dívites non in facultátibus crimen hærere, sed in iis, qui uti nesciant facultátibus. Nam divítiæ ut impedimenta improbis, ita bonis sunt adjumenta virtútis. Dives certe Zachǽus, et eléctus a Christo: sed dimidium bonórum suórum paupéribus largiendo, reddendo étiam in quadruplum, quæ fraude sustúlerat, (álterum enim non sat est, nec habet grátiam liberalitas, si injúria persevérat, quia non spólia, sed dona quærúntur) uberiorem mercédem quam conferebat, accépit.

Et bene princeps indúcitur publicanorum. Quis jam de se desperet, quando et iste, cui census ex fraude, ad salútem pervénit? Et ipse, inquit, dives. Ut scias non omnes dívites, avaros. Quia statúra pusíllus erat. Quid sibi vult, quod nullius altérius staturam Scriptúra, nisi hujus expressit? Vide ne forte malítia pusíllus, aut adhuc pusíllus fide. Nondum enim reddere promiserat: nondum viderat Christum: mérito adhuc pusíllus. Joánnes autem magnus, quia et Christum vidit, et Spíritum sicut columbam super Christum manentem, sicut ipse ait: Vidi Spíritum descendentem sicut colúmbam, et manentem super eum.

Sermo sancti Augustíni Epíscopi.

Serm. 256. de Tempore.

Celebritas hujus congregatiónis, dedicatio est domus oratiónis. Domus ergo nostrárum oratiónum ista, domus autem Dei nos ipsi. Si domus Dei nos ipsi, nos in hoc sǽculo ædificamur, ut in fine sǽculi dedicemur. ædificium, imo ædificatio habet labórem; dedicatio exsultationem. Quod hic fiebat, quando ista surgebant, hoc fit modo, cum congregantur credéntes in Christum. Credéndo enim, quasi de silvis et móntibus ligna et lápides præciduntur: cum vero catechizantur, baptizantur, formantur, tamquam inter manus fabrorum et opificum dolantur, collineentur, complanantur. Verúmtamen domum Dómini non fáciunt, nisi quando caritáte compaginantur.

Ligna ista et lápides si non sibi certo órdine cohærerent, si non se pacífice innecterent, si non se invicem, cohærendo sibi, quodámmodo amarent, nemo huc intraret. Dénique quando vides in áliqua fabrica lápides et ligna bene sibi cohærere, secúrus intras, ruinam non times. Volens ergo Dóminus Christus intrare, et in nobis habitáre, tamquam ædificando dicébat: Mandátum novum do vobis: Ut vos invicem diligatis. Mandátum, inquit, novum do vobis. Veteres enim eratis, domum mihi nondum faciebatis, in vestra ruína jacebatis. Ergo ut eruamini a vestræ ruinæ vetustáte,vos invicem amate.

Consideret ergo cáritas vestra, ædificari adhuc istam domum toto, sicut prædictum est et promíssum, orbe terrárum. Cum enim ædificátur domus post captivitátem, sicut habet álius Psalmus, dícitur: Cantáte Dómino cánticum novum: cantáte Dómino omnis terra. Quod ibi dixit, Cánticum novum; hoc Dóminus dixit, Mandátum novum. Quid enim habet cánticum novum, nisi amórem novum? Cantare amantis est. Vox hujus cantoris, fervor est sancti amóris. Amémus, gratis amémus: D(3minum enim amámus, quo nihil mélius invenimus: ipsum amémus propter ipsum, et nos in ipso, tamen propter ipsum.

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam

Luc 19:1-10

In illo témpore: Ingréssus Jesus perambulábat Jéricho. Et ecce vir nómine Zachǽus: et hic princeps erat publicanórum, et ipse dives. Et réliqua.

De Homilía sancti Ambrósii Epíscopi

Ex Lib. 8 in Luc., prope finem

Quæ autem turba, nisi imperitæ confúsio multitúdinis, quæ vérticem nequit vidére sapiéntiæ? Ergo Zachǽus quámdiu in turba est, non videt Christum: supra turbam ascéndit, et vidit: hoc est, plebis jam transgressus inscítiam, méruit quem desiderabat, aspicere. Pulchre autem addidit: Quia illa parte erat transiturus Dóminus: vel ubi sycomorus, vel ubi creditúrus: ut et mystérium serváret, et grátiam seminaret Sic enim venerat, ut per Judǽos transiret ad Gentes.

Vidit ítaque Zachǽum sursum. Jam enim sublimitáte fídei inter fructus novarum óperum, velut fœcúndæ altitúdine árboris eminebat Et quóniam de typo ad moralia defleximus, inter tot credéntium voluptates Domínica die relaxare ánimum, festivitátem admiscere deléctat. Zachǽus in sycomoro, novum vidélicet novi témporis pomum, ut in hoc quoque compleretur illud: Arbor fici prodúxit grossos suos.

Ad hoc enim Christus advenit, ut ex lignis non poma, sed hómines nascerentur. Legimus álibi: Cum esses sub árbore fici, vidi te. Ergo Nathánæl sub árbore, hoc est, supra radícem, quia justus. Radix enim sancta. Sub árbore tamen Nathanæl, quia sub lege: Zachǽus supra árborem, quia supra legem. Ille Dómini occúltus defensor, hic públicus prædicator. Ille adhuc Christum ex lege quærebat: iste jam supra legem relinquebat sua, et Ddminum sequebatur.

De Sermóne sancti Augustíni Epíscopi.

Ex Serm. 256. de Tempore.

Atténdite in psalmo dedicationis, quem modo cantavimus, ex ruína ædificiorum. Conscidísti saccum meum: hoc pértinet ad ruinam. Quid ergo ad ædificium? Et accinxisti me lætítia. Vox dedicationis: Ut cantet tibi glória mea, et non compúngar. Quis est, qui lóquitur? In verbis ejus agnoscite. Si expono, obscúrum est. Ergo verba ejus dicam, contínuo agnoscitis loquéntem, ut ametis alloquentem. Quis est, qui dícere pótuit: Eruísti Dómine ab inferis ánimam meam?

Cujus ánima jam ab inferis eruta est, nisi de qua dictum est álio loco: Non derelínques ánimam meam in inférno? Proponitur dedicatio, et cantatur liberátio, cánticum dedicationis domus, et dícitur: Exaltábo te Dómine, quóniam suscepísti me: et non jucundasti inimícos meos super me. Atténdite Judǽos inimícos, qui se putabant occidisse Christum, vicisse tamquam inimícum, perdidisse quasi hóminem céteris similem atque mortalem.

Resurréxit tértia die, et ejus vox est: Exaltábo te Dómine, quóniam suscepísti me. Atténdite Apóstolum dicéntem: Propter quod eum exaltávit. Et non jucundasti inimícos meos super me. Ipsi quidem in Christi morte jucundabantur, sed in ejus resurrectióne, ascensione, prædicatióne aliqui compungebantur, In ejus ergo prædicatióne, et per Apostolórum constantiæ diffamatiónem aliqui compungebantur, et convertebantur: aliqui obdurabantur, et confundebantur, nulli tamen jucundabantur.

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam

Luc 19:1-10

In illo témpore: Ingréssus Jesus perambulábat Jéricho. Et ecce vir nómine Zachǽus: et hic princeps erat publicanórum, et ipse dives. Et réliqua.

Homilía sancti Gregórii Papæ

Lib. 27 in Moralium, cap. 27 post medium

Si veraciter sapiéntes esse, atque ipsam sapiéntiam contemplári appetimus, stultos nos humíliter cognoscámus. Relinquamus noxiam sapiéntiam, discamus laudabilem fatuitatem. Hinc quippe scriptum est: Stulta mundi elégit Deus, ut confúndat sapiéntes. Hinc rursum dícitur: Si quis vidétur inter vos sápiens esse in hoc sǽculo, stultus fiat, ut sit sápiens. Hinc evangelicæ historiæ verba testantur: quia Zachǽus cum vidére præ turba nihil posset, sycomori árborem ascéndit, ut transeúntem Dóminum cerneret. Sycómorus quippe ficus fatua dícitur.

Pusíllus ítaque Zachǽus sycomorum súbiit, et Dóminum vidit: quia qui mundi stultítiam humíliter eligunt, ipsi Dei sapiéntiam subtíliter contemplantur. Pusillitatem namque nostram ad vidéndum Dóminum turba præpedit: quia infirmitátem humánæ mentis, ne lucem veritátis intendat, curarum sæculárium tumúltus premit. Sed prudénter sycomorum ascendimus, si provide eam quæ divínitus præcipitur, stultítiam mente tenemus. Quid enim in hoc mundo stúltius quam amíssa non quærére, possessa rapientibus relaxare, nullam pro accéptis injúriis injúriam reddere, imo adjúnctis áliis patientiam præbere?

Quasi enim sycómorum nos ascéndere Dóminus præcipit, cum dicit: Qui aufert quæ tua sunt, ne repetas. Et rursum: Si quis te percússerit in déxteram maxillam, præbe illi et álteram. Per sycomorum Dóminus transiens cérnitur: quia per hanc sapientem stultítiam, etsi necdum, ut est, solide, jam tamen per contemplatiónis lumen Dei sapiéntia quasi in transitu vidétur, quam vidére nequeunt qui sibi sapiéntes esse vidéntur: quia ad conspiciéndum Dóminum, in elata cogitatiónum suárum turba deprehensi, adhuc sycomori árborem non invenérunt.

De Sermóne sancti Augustíni Epíscopi.

Ex Serm. 256. de Tempore.

Modo, quando implentur ecclésiæ, putamus jucundari Judǽos? Ecclésiæ ædificantur, dedicantur, implentur: quómodo illi jucundantur? Non solum non jucundantur, sed étiam confundúntur, et implétur vox exsultantis: Exaltábo te Dómine, quóniam suscepísti me: et non jucundasti inimícos meos super me. Non jucundasti super me: si mihi credant, jucundabis in me. Ne multa dicamus, ad illa, quæ cantavimus, aliquándo veniamus. Quómodo dicit Christus: Conscidísti saccum meum, et accinxisti me lætítia? Saccus ejus erat similitúdo carnis peccáti.

Non tibi vilescat, quod ait, Saccum meum: ibi erat inclúsum prétium tuum. Conscidísti saccum meum. Evasimus ad saccum istum. Conscidísti saccum meum. In passióne conscissus est. Quómodo ergo Deo Patri dícitur: Conscidísti saccum meum? Quómodo Patri dicatur, vis audíre: Conscidísti saccum meum? Quia próprio Fílio non pepércit, sed pro nobis ómnibus trádidit illum. Fecit enim per Judǽos nescientes, unde redimerentur sciéntes, et confunderentur negantes. Nesciunt enim quid boni nobis operati sunt malo suo. Suspensus est saccus, et quasi lætátus est ímpius. Conscidit saccum láncea persecútor, et fudit prétium nostrum Redémptor.

Cantet Christus Redémptor, gemat Judas venditor, erubescat Judæus emptor. Ecce Judas véndidit, Judæus emit, malum negotium egérunt, ambo damnáti sunt, seípsos perdiderunt venditor et emptor. Dicat ergo caput nostrum, dicat pro córpore occiso, pro córpore dedicato. Dicat, audiamus: Conscidísti saccum meum, et accinxisti me lætítia: id est, conscidísti mortalitatem meam, et accinxisti me immortalitate et incorruptióne. Ut cantet tibi glória mea, et non compúngar. Quid est, Non compúngar? Jam contra me non ferat lanceam persecútor, Ut non compúngar. Christus enim surgens a mórtuis, jam non móritur, et mors illi ultra non dominábitur.

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam

Luc 19:1-10

In illo témpore: Ingréssus Jesus perambulábat Jéricho. Et ecce vir nómine Zachǽus: et hic princeps erat publicanórum, et ipse dives. Et réliqua.

Homilía venerábilis Bedæ Presbyteri.

Lib. 5. Cap. 77. in Luc. 19

Quæ impossibilia sunt apud hómines, possibilia sunt apud Deum. Ecce enim camélus, deposita gibbi sárcina, per forámen acus transit, hoc est, dives et publicanus, relícto ónere divitiárum, contempto censu fraudum, angústam portam, arctamque viam, quæ ad vitam ducit, ascéndit. Qui mira devotióne fídei ad vidéndum Salvatórem, quod natúra minus habúerat, ascensu supplet árboris: atque ídeo juste, quamvis ipse rogare non aúdeat, benedictiónem Domínicæ susceptionis, quam desiderabat, accépit.

Mystice autem Zachǽus, qui interpretátur justificatus, credentem ex Géntibus pópulum significat. Qui quanto curis sæculáribus occupatior, tanto flagítiis deprimentibus erat factus humilior. Sed ablútus est, sed sanctificátus, sed justificatus in nómine Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, et in spíritu Dei nostri. Qui intrántem Jericho Salvatórem vidére quærebat, sed præ turba non póterat: quia grátiæ fídei, quam mundo Salvátor áttulit, participare cupiebat: sed inolita vitiórum consuetúdo, ne ad votum perveniret, obstiterat.

Eádem namque turba noxiæ consuetúdinis, quæ supra cæcum clamántem, ne lumen peteret, increpabat; étiam suspicientem publicanum, ne Jesum vídeat, tardat. Sed sicut cæcus turbarum voces magis ac magis clamando devícit: ita pusíllus necésse est turbæ nocentis obstaculum altióra petendo transcendat, terréna relinquat, árborem crucis ascendat. Sycomorus namque (quæ est arbor fóliis moro símilis, sed altitúdine præstans, unde et a Latinis celsa nuncupátur), ficus fatua dícitur. Et eádem domínica crux, quæ credéntes alit ut ficus, ab incredulis irridetur ut fatua.

De Sermóne sancti Augustíni Epíscopi.

Ex Serm. 256. de Tempore.

Ergo, dum novam constructionem sanctæ hujus ecclésiæ libénter attendimus, quam divíno nómini hódie dedicamus, invenimus a nobis deberi et Deo nostro máximam laudem, et sanctitati vestræ congruum de divínæ domus ædificatione sermónem. Tunc autem sermo noster congruus erit, si in se áliquid ædificationis hábeat, quod utilitati animárum vestrarum, Deo vos interius ædíficánte, proficiat. Quod hic factum corporaliter videmus in parietibus, spiritaliter fiat in mentibus: et quod hic perféctum cernimus in lapídibus et lignis, hoc ædíficánte grátia Dei, perficiatur in corpóribus vestris.

Principaliter ergo grátias agamus Dómino Deo nostro, a quo est omne datum optimum, et omne donum perféctum; et ejus bonitátem tota cordis alacritate laudémus, quóniam ad construendam istam domum oratiónis, fidélium suórum visitávit ánimum, excitávit afféctum, surrogavit auxílium, inspiravit necdum volentibus ut vellent, adjúvit bonæ voluntátis conátus ut fácerent: ac per hoc Deus, qui operátur in suis et velle et perfícere pro bona voluntáte, hæc ómnia ipse coépit, ipse perfécit.

Et quia ópera bona in conspéctu suo numquam esse permittit inánia, fidélibus suis, quibus operántibus præbuit virtútis suæ favórem, tríbuet condignam pro tanta operatióne mercédem. Adhuc ámplius agendæ sunt grátiæ Deo nostro. Hanc enim ecclésiam, quam fecit nómini suo construi, fecit étiam sanctórum Mártyrum relíquiis ámplius honorari.

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam

Luc 19:1-10

In illo témpore: Ingréssus Jesus perambulábat Jéricho. Et ecce vir nómine Zachǽus: et hic princeps erat publicanórum, et ipse dives. Et réliqua.

De Homilía Venerábilis Bedæ Presbyteri.

Lib. 5. Cap. 77. in Luc. 19

Et cum venísset ad locum, suspiciens Jesus vidit illum. Perambulans Jericho Salvátor, venit ad locum, ubi præcúrrens Zachǽus sycomorum conscenderat: quia missis per mundum sui verbi præconibus, in quibus ipse nimírum et loquebátur et ibat, venit ad pópulum natiónum, qui passiónis ejus fide jam sublimis exsistens, étiam divinitátis ejus ardébat agnita fácie beari. Suspiciens vidit illum, quia per grátiam fídei a terrenis cupiditatibus elevátum, turbisque infidélibus præeminentem elégit. Vidére enim Dei, elígere vel amáre est. Unde est illud: Óculi Dómini super justos. Nam et nos quæ amámus, vidére; ab his, quæ exsecramur, intúitum festinamus avértere.

Vidit ergo Jesus videntem se, quia elégit eligentem se, et amávit amántem. Hunc sane órdinem proficiendi, hoc est, per fidem domínicæ Incarnationis ad cognitionem divinitátis perveniendi, quasi per sycomorumJesu fáciem speculandi Doctor egrégius osténdit. cum ait: Non enim judicavi scire me áliquid inter vos, nisi Christum Jesum, et hunc crucifíxum. Itémque áliis exprobrans: Facti estis, inquit, quibus lacte opus sit, non solido cibo. Lac infirma temporariæ dispensatiónis, solidum cibum árdua perpetuæ majestátis appellans.

Et dixit ad eum: Zachǽe, festinans descénde, quia hódie in domo tua opórtet me manére. Et festinans descéndit, et excépit illum gaudens. Manébat aliquándo Dóminus in domo príncipis pharisæorum, hoc est, in Judæórum synagóga docebat: sed quia non baptizátum ante prandium, sábbato curantem, publicanos et peccatóres recipientem, contra avarítiam disputantem, et cétera digna Deo gerentem, lingua venenata carpebant: pertæsus eórum facinora, discéssit et aufugit, dicens: Relinquetur vobis domus vestra desérta. Hódie autem in domo pusilli Zachæi opórtet illum manére: hoc est, novæ lucis grátia coruscante, in húmili credéntium natiónum corde quiéscere.

Sermo sancti Joánnis Chrysóstomi

Ex Hom. 33 in c. 9., Matth.

Commúnis ómnium domus est Ecclésia, in quam, vobis prius ingressis, nos intramus, discipulórum formam retinentes: ideóque commúniter ómnibus statim atque ingressi fuerimus, ut illis datam legem sequámur, pacem offerimus. Nemo ígitur socórdia torpeat: nemo sæculáribus rebus suspénsum ánimum hábeat, cum jam ad prædicándum sacerdótes intraverint Non enim parva huic rei imminet pœna. Equidem millies pótius malim in domum alicújus vestrum ingréssus destitui, quam hic prǽdicans non audiri. Hoc mihi molestius esset, quam illud, quando quidem magis própria hæc est, quam illa.

Nam hic magnæ illæ nostræ opes pósitæ sunt, hic spes nostra omnis. Quid enim hoc loco non magnum est et admirándum? Nam hæc mensa longe pretiosior est atque jucúndior: et lucérna hæc, quam illa, ut norunt qui cum fide óleo perúncti, a morbis liberáti sunt. Arca étiam hæc multo mélior, magísque necessaria. Non enim vestes, sed misericórdiam inclúsam cóntinet: quamvis pauci sint, qui eam possideant. Hic et lectulus est valde illo præstantior: divinárum enim Scripturárum réquies quovis lecto suavior est.

Et quidem si concórdia perfecte servarétur a nobis, nullam áliam domum præter hanc haberemus. Hoc autem quod dixi, non esse durum, testantur illa tria míllia, et quinque míllia hóminum, quibus et domus una, et mensa una, et ánima una erat. Multitúdinis enim credéntium, inquit, unum erat cor, et ánima una. Sed quia longe ab illórum virtúte absumus, et per domos disjúncti sumus, saltem quando huc convenimus, id omni stúdio faciámus. Nam etsi in áliis rebus páuperes, et ínopes sumus, hoc loco saltem, cum huc ad vos intramus, cum caritáte nos suscipite: cumque, Pax vobis, dico: Et cum spíritu tuo, non voce solum, sed ánimo quoque respondete.

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam

Luc 19:1-10

In illo témpore: Ingréssus Jesus perambulábat Jéricho. Et ecce vir nómine Zachǽus: et hic princeps erat publicanórum, et ipse dives. Et réliqua.

De Homilía Venerábilis Bedæ Presbyteri.

Paulo post prædicta

Et cum vidérent omnes, murmurabant, dicéntes, quod ad hóminem peccatórem divertisset. Maniféstum est, Judǽos semper Géntium odisse salútem. Scriptum est enim: Sequénti vero sábbato pene univérsa cívitas convénit audíre verbum Dei. Vidéntes autem turbas Judǽi repléti sunt zelo, et contradicebant iis, quæ a Paulo dicebántur. Et álibi, fidéles étiam fratres advérsus Apostolórum príncipem disceptabant, dicéntes: Quare introisti ad viros præpútium habéntes, et manducasti cum illis?

Stans autem Zachæus, dixit ad Dóminum: Ecce dimidium bonórum meórum Dómine do paupéribus: et si quid áliquem defraudavi, reddo quadruplum. Áliis calumniántibus hóminem peccatórem, ipse Zachǽus stans, id est, in ea quam coéperat fídei veritáte persistens, non solum se ex peccatore conversum, sed étiam inter perfectos probat esse conversatum. Dicénte enim Dómino: Si vis perféctus esse, vade, vende ómnia quæ habes, et da paupéribus: quisquis ante convérsiónem innocenter vixit, ómnia convérsus potest dare paupéribus.

At qui áliqua fraude sústulit, primo hæc juxta legem reddere, deínde quod sibi remanserit, debet dare paupéribus. Ac sic et ipse, quia sibi nil retinet, ómnia sua dispergit, dat paupéribus, justítia ejus manet in sǽculum sǽculi. Et hæc est sápiens illa stultitia quam de sycomoro publicanus quasi fructum vitæ legerat: rapta vidélicet reddere, própria relínquere, visibilia contemnere, pro invisibilibus étiam mori desideráre, seípsum abnegare, et ejus, qui necdum videátur, Dómini vestígia sequi concupíscere.

Ex Epístola prima sancti Felícis Papæ quarti.

De Consecr. dist. 1. cap. 2

Tabernáculum Móysen, Dómino præcipiente, fecísse et sacrasse, cum mensa et altári ejus, et céteris vasis et utensilibus ad divínum cultum explendum, legimus: et non solum divínis précibus ea sacrasse, sed étiam sancti ólei unctióne, Dómino jubente, perlinisse novimus. Qualiter autem hæc facta sint, et quómodo ipsa sacra non álii, quam sacerdótes sacra unctióne delibuti, Dominoque cum véstibus sanctis sacrati, et Levitæ tractabant, ferebant, erigebant et deponebant: in ipsis institutionibus, quæ jubente Dómino conscriptæ sunt per Móysen, in lege Dómini reperitur.

Qualiter ergo David, regum piíssimus, amplificaverit cultum Dei, et templumDomino ædificare volúerit, sed propter multum sánguinem quem effuderat, prohibitus est, et ipse collegerat expensas: Salomon quoque, fílius ejus idípsum, quod ipse fácere optaverat, jubente et auxiliante Deo perfécit, et templum cum altári, et réliqua ad divínum cultum peragéndum consecrávit: in libro Regum légitur. Fecit ergo Salomon in témpore illo festivitátem celebrem, et omnis Israël cum eo, multitúdo magna ab introitu Emath usque ad rivum Ægýpti, coram Dómino Deo nostro septem diébus, et septem diébus, id est, quatuórdecim diébus, et in die octáva dimísit pópulos.

De Consec. dist. 1., c. 17

Solemnitates dedicationum ecclesiárum et sacerdótum, per síngulos annos solémniter sunt celebrandæ, ipso Dómino exémplum dante, qui ad festum dedicationis templi, ómnibus id faciéndi dans formam, cum réliquis pópulis eámdem festivitátem celebratúrus venit, sicut scriptum est: Facta sunt encænia in Jerosólymis, et hiems erat, et ambulabat Jesus in templo in pórticu Salomonis. Quod autem octo diébus encænia sint celebranda, in libro Regum, perácta dedicatione templi, reperietis.

Gen. 28:17

v. How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven; and it shall be called the court of God. (Alleluia, alleluia.)

Ps 83:2-3

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. v. How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven; and it shall be called the court of God. (Alleluia, alleluia.)

Orationes sequentes: quibus similiter, si agatur de Altari fixo, additur sub unica

conclusione Oratio de Mysterio vel Sancto, in cujus honorem Altare dedicatur. v. Deus, qui ex omni coaptatióne Sanctórum ætérnum tibi condis habitáculum: da ædificatióni tuæ increménta cœléstia; ut, quorum hic relíquias pio amóre compléctimur, eórum semper méritis adjuvémur. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

Lesson from the book of Revelation

Rev 21:2-5

In those days, I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold the dwelling of God with men, and He will dwell with them. And they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away. And He Who was sitting on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new!

This place was made by God, a priceless mystery; it is without reproof. V. O God, before Whom stands the choir of angels, give ear to the prayers of Your servants. Alleluia, alleluia.

Ps 137:2

I will worship at Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name. Alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia. Ps 137:2 V. I will worship at Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name. Alleluia. V. The house of the Lord is well founded upon a firm rock. Alleluia.

This place was made by God, a priceless mystery; it is without reproof. V. O God, before Whom stands the choir of angels, give ear to the prayers of Your servants.

Ps. 124:1-2.

They who trust in the Lord are like Mount Sinai, which is immovable; which forever stands. V. Mountains are round about Jerusalem; so the Lord is round about His people, both now and forever.

Continuation ++ of the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus entered and was passing through Jericho. And behold there was a man named Zacchaeus; and he was a leading publican, and he was rich. And he was trying to see Jesus, Who He was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay in your house today. And he made haste and came down, and welcomed Him joyfully. And upon seeing it all began to murmur, saying, He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, I give one-half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

1 Par 29:17-18

O Lord God, in the simplicity of my heart I have joyfully offered all these things; and I have seen with great joy Your people which are here present: O God of Israel, keep this will, alleluia.

Outside the dedicated church

v. Look with favor upon our prayers, we beseech You, O Lord, that as we offer our prayers before You, we may, with Your help attain eternal rewards. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

On the day of dedication

v. O God, the creator of things fitting for sacrifice unto You, pour forth Your blessing upon this house of prayer, so that all who herein call upon Your name may enjoy the support of Your protection. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

Secret on the anniversary of the dedication in the church dedicated

v. Look with favor upon our prayers, we beseech You, O Lord, that we who are gathered together within the confines of this temple to keep the anniversary day of its dedication, may please You with full and perfect devotion, may please You with full and perfect devotion of body and soul, that as we now offer these prayers, we may, by Your assistance, be found worthy to attain everlasting rewards. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

Descéndat, quǽsumus, Dómine, Deus noster, Spíritus tuus Sanctus super hoc altare: qui et pópuli tui dona sanctíficet, et suméntium corda dignánter emúndet. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

Matt 21:13

My house shall be called a house of prayer, says the Lord; in it everyone who asks receives: and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.

On the day of dedication

v. We beseech You, almighty God, that in this place which we, all unworthy, have dedicated to Your name, You will give a favorable hearing to all who petition You. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

In ipsa die Dedicationis Ecclesiæ et per Octavam

v. Quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut in hoc loco, quem nómini tuo indígni dedicávimus, cunctis peténtibus aures tuæ pietátis accómmodes. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, altare hoc, nómini tuo dedicátum, cæléstis virtútis benedictióne sanctífica: et ómnibus in te sperántibus auxílii tui munus osténde; ut et hic sacramentórum virtus et votórum obtineátur efféctus. r. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.