Page:The liturgical year (IA liturgicalyear02gura).pdf/463
Let us listen, once more, to the sweet praises given to St. John in the various Liturgies, And first, let us open the Roman Breviary, where we shall find the following Responsories :—
RESPONSORIES,
R. This is John, who, at the Supper, reclined his head on the Lord’s Breast : * Blessed Apostle, unto whom the se- erets of heaven were revealed,
¥. He drank in thestreams of the Gospel from the sacred fount itself of our Lord’s Breast. * Blessed.
Rk. Jesus loved him, for the i prerogative of his chastity made him worthy of a special love: * Because, being chosen by Christ as a Virgin, he remained a virgin for ever. '
¥. When, at length, he was about to dic on the Cross, he commended his Virgin Mother to this his virgin disciple.
- Because.
iy. In that day, I will take thee to be my Servant, and I will make thee as a signet in my sight: * For I have chosen thee, saith the Lord.
Ty. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thec the crown of life. or.
RB. Iste est Joannes qui supra pectus Domini in ece- na recubuit : * Beatus Apos- tolus, cui revelata sunt se- ercta ccelestia.
¥. Fluenta Evangelii de ipso sacro Dominici pecto- ris fonte potavit. * Beatus.
Rk. Diligebat autem eum Jesus, quoniam specialis prerogativa castitatis am- pliori dilectione fecerat dig- num: * Qula virgo clectus ab ipso, virgo In e#yvnum permansit.
. In cruce denique mo- riturus, huic Matrem svam virginem virgini commen- davit. * Quia.
R. In illum diem susci- plam te servum meum, et ponam te sicut signaculum in conspectn meo: * Quo- niam ego elegi te, dicit Do- minus.
W. Esto fidelis usque ad mortem, ct dabo tibi coro- nam vite. * Quoniam.
The Mozarabic Breviary, in the Office of St. John the Evangelist, contains the following beautiful prayer :—
CAPITULUM.
Tneffable, O Lord, are the streams of thy Heart, where- with the Disciple, whom thou
Ineffabilia sunt, Domine, fluenta uteri tu, quibus pre casteris dilectus ile a te