S. Nicolai Episcopi et Confessoris

Lætábitur justus in Dómino, et sperábit in eo: et laudabúntur omnes recti corde. (Allelúja, allelúja.) Exáudi, Deus, oratiónem meam cum déprecor: a timóre inimíci éripe ánimam meam. Lætábitur justus in Dómino, et sperábit in eo: et laudabúntur omnes recti corde. (Allelúja, allelúja.)

The just man is glad in the Lord and takes refuge in Him; all the upright of heart shall be praised. Hear, O God, my voice in my lament; from the dread enemy preserve my life. The just man is glad in the Lord and takes refuge in Him; all the upright of heart shall be praised.

Deus, qui beátum Nicoláum Pontíficem innúmeris decorásti miráculis: tríbue, quǽsumus; ut ejus méritis et précibus a gehénnæ incéndiis liberémur.

O God, You who made the holy Bishop Nicholas renowned for countless miracles, grant, we beseech You, that by his merits and prayers we may be saved from the fires of hell.

Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Hebrǽos Fratres: Mementóte præpositórum vestrórum, qui vobis locúti sunt verbum Dei: quorum intuéntes éxitum conversatiónis, imitámini fidem. Jesus Christus heri et hódie: ipse et in sǽcula. Doctrínis váriis et peregrínis nolíte abdúci. Optimum est enim grátia stabilíre cor, non escis, quæ non profuérunt ambulántibus in eis. Habémus altáre, de quo édere non habent potestátem, qui tabernáculo deserviunt. Quorum enim animálium infértur sanguis pro peccáto in Sancta per pontíficem, horum córpora cremántur extra castra. Propter quod et Jesus, ut sanctificáret per suum sánguinem pópulum, extra portam passus est. Exeámus ígitur ad eum extra castra, impropérium ejus portántes. Non enim habémus hic manéntem civitátem, sed futúram inquírimus. Per ipsum ergo offerámus hóstiam laudis semper Deo, id est fructum labiórum confiténtium nómini ejus. Beneficéntiæ autem et communiónis nolíte oblivísci: tálibus enim hóstiis promerétur Deus. Obœdíte præpósitis vestris et subjacéte eis. Ipsi enim pervígilant, quasi ratiónem pro animábus vestris redditúri.

Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews Brethren: Remember your superiors, who spoke to you the word of God. Consider how they ended their lives, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday and today, yes, and forever. Do not be led away by various and strange doctrines. For it is good to make steadfast the heart by grace, not by foods, in which those who walked found no profit. We have an altar, from which they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holies by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp; and so Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people by His Blood, suffered outside the gate. Let us therefore go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach; for here we have no permanent city, but we seek for the city that is to come. Through Him, therefore, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise always to God, that is, fruit of lips praising His name. And do not forget kindness and charity, for by such sacrifices God’s favor is obtained. Obey your superiors and be subject to them, for they keep watch as having to render an account of your souls.

Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum: manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei, et bráchium meum confortábit eum. ℣. Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei. Allelúja, allelúja. Justus ut palma florébit: sicut cedrus Líbani multiplicábitur. Allelúja.

I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him, that My hand may be always with him, and that My arm may make him strong. V. No enemy shall deceive him, nor shall the wicked afflict him. Alleluia, alleluia. The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. Alleluia.

Sequéntia † sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis suis parábolam hanc: Homo péregre proficíscens vocávit servos suos, et trádidit illis bona sua. Et uni dedit quinque talénta, álii autem duo, álii vero unum, unicuíque secúndum própriam virtútem, et proféctus est statim. Abiit autem, qui quinque talénta accéperat, et operátus est in eis, et lucrátus est ália quinque. Simíliter et, qui duo accéperat, lucrátus est ália duo. Qui autem unum accéperat, ábiens fodit in terram, et abscóndit pecúniam dómini sui. Post multum vero témporis venit dóminus servórum illórum, et pósuit ratiónem cum eis. Et accédens qui quinque talénta accéperat, óbtulit ália quinque talénta, dicens: Dómine, quinque talénta tradidísti mihi, ecce, ália quinque superlucrátus sum. Ait illi dóminus ejus: Euge, serve bone et fidélis, quia super pauca fuísti fidélis, super multa te constítuam: intra in gáudium dómini tui. Accéssit autem et qui duo talénta accéperat, et ait: Dómine, duo talénta tradidísti mihi, ecce, ália duo lucrátus sum. Ait illi dóminus ejus: Euge, serve bone et fidélis, quia super pauca fuísti fidélis, super multa te constítuam: intra in gáudium dómini tui.

Continuation + of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: A man going abroad, called his servants and handed over his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his particular ability, and then he went on his journey. And he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more. In like manner, he who had received the two gained two more. But he who had received the one went away and dug in the earth and hid his master’s money. Then after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; behold, I have gained five others in addition.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; because you have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had received the two talents came, and said, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; behold, I have gained two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; because you have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many; enter into the joy of your master.’

Véritas mea et misericórdia mea cum ipso: et in nómine meo exaltábitur cornu ejus. (Allelúja.)

Sanctífica, quǽsumus, Dómine Deus, hæc múnera, quæ in sollemnitáte sancti Antístitis tui Nicolái offérimus: ut per ea vita nostra inter advérsa et próspera úbique dirigátur.

Sanctify, we beseech You, O Lord God, the gifts we offer on the feast of Your holy Bishop, Nicholas, that through them our life, whether in fortune or misfortune, may be directed aright.

Qui vult veníre post me, ábneget semetípsum, et tollat crucem suam, et sequátur me.

Once, by My holiness, have I sworn; his posterity shall continue forever, and his throne shall be like the sun before Me; like the moon, which remains forever - a faithful witness in the sky.

Sacrifícia, quæ súmpsimus, Dómine, pro sollemnitáte sancti Pontíficis tui Nicolái, sempitérna nos protectióne consérvent.

May the sacrifice in which we have shared on the feast of Your holy Bishop Nicholas guard us with its lasting protection.