Mass and Hymns for Saint Apollinaris
Apollinaris is the first bishop and martyr of Ravenna. Probably born at Antioch in the Roman province of Syria. He was apparently a disciple of Saint Peter, who may have consecrated and commissioned him as the first Bishop Of Ravenna during the reign of the Emperor Claudius. He dedicated himself to the work of evangelization in Emilia-Romagna. During his twenty-six year tenure as bishop of Ravenna, he faced nearly constant persecution.
He is the single saint to whom Peter Damian dedicates the most writing, probably because of his importance to the city where Damian grew up and was educated. In addition Ravenna was one if the most important episcopal sees in the Latin west. During the 6th and 7th centuries the emperors granted Ravenna independence from the Pope in Rome.
In Sancti Apolenaris Hymnus ad Vesperum (40)
A Hymn to St. Apolinaris at Vespers
1.
Consul aeterni trabeate regni,
Mente devota petimus, labora
Curiam caeli reserare plebi,
Apolenaris.
Apollinaris, robed consul of the eternal kingdom,
We ask with devoted mind, work
To open up the meeting house
Of heaven to the common
People.
2.
Ianitor summi pius hoc Olympi
Annuat tanti famulis alumni,
Qui tuas gaudent resonare laudes
Dulcibus hymnis.
May the pius doorkeeper of highest heaven
Grant this to the servants of such a disciple,
Who rejoice to sound your praises with
Sweet hymns.
3.
Intimis pressam tenebris Ravennam
Daemonum vanis inhiando sacris
Clarus Eois veniens ab oris
Lucifer intrans.
A bright morning star coming from the eastern shore,
Entering Ravenna overwhelmed by deepest shadows
Because of being amazed by
The vain sacred rites of demons.
4.
Caesus orbati puer Hirenei
Te probat dextrum rutilare sidus,
Qui patri cordis subolique frontis
Lumina pandis.1
The blind boy of Irenaeus,
Shows right you to shine as a star,
Who spreads out light to the father’s heart,
And to the son’s face.
5.
Nil potest aegrae medicina Teclae,
Nil profanorum numerus deorum.
Tu cor ad caelum facis atque laetum
Tollere vultum.2
No art of medicine of can heal ill Tekla,
No number of profane gods can.
You make her lift her heart and her happy face
To heaven.
6.
Laeta Classensis movet ora civis
Viribus sacrae reserata linguae;
Patris aeternum reparata verbum
Verba fatentur.
The happy mouths of the citizens of Classe3
Having been opened by the strength of your holy tongue;
The restored words proclaim the eternal
Word of the father.
7.
Morte defunctam duplici puellam
Reddis utrique miserando vitae;
Flatus hinc carnem, Deus inde mentem
Protinus implet.
A girl destroyed by two fold death you bring back
To both lives by compassion; then immediately
Breath fills the flesh, then God immediately
Fills the mind.4
8.
Gloriam patri referamus illi,
Tanta qui dignis tribuit ministris;
Sit decus nato flaminique sancto
Omne per aevum.
Amen.
We render glory to that father,
Who distributes such great things to his worthy servants;
Let there be honor to the son and to the holy spirit
Always and forever.
Amen.
1 Damian may refer here to St. Irenaeus, a Greek bishop of the 2nd century who evangelized in southern France and is associated with Lyon. He is known for his theological works in which he emphasized the evangelist John restoration of sight to a man born blind as a demonstration of God’s power (John 9:1-38). He most likely, however, refers to a legend reported in the Orthodox church. This reports that when Apolenaris first came to Ravenna, having been sent by the Apostle Peter, he stayed at the house of a soldier named Irenaeus. Irenaeus had a blind son whom Apolenaris healed with prayer, and then became the first person in Ravenna to believe in Christ. www.oca.org/saints/lives
2 Thekla was the wife of a tribune who was desperately ill. Apolenaris healed her and that family also converted. www.oca.org/saints/lives
3 Classe was a commercial port located 4 km (2.5 mi) east south east from Ravenna, Italy.
4 This refers to an event that occurred during one of the episodes when Apolenaris had to leave Ravenna. He had gone to Aemelia (perhaps the town in Umbria). There he raised the daughter of Rufinus from the dead, again leading to conversions. www.catholicculture.org.
Ad Nocturnum (41)
At Nocturns
1.
Chorus exultet caelitum,
Turba plaudat fidelium;
Apolenaris passio
Mundi sit exultatio.
May the choir of the dwellers in heaven exult,
May the crowd of the faithful applaud;
May the passion of Apollinaris
Be the joy of the world.
2.
Hic in fervore spiritus
Dum praedicat gentilibus,
Quae eius membra perferunt,
Referri lingua nequeunt.
Here in the fever of the spirit
While he preaches to the gentiles,
What his limbs endure,
Cannot be described with the tongue.
3.
Christum in igne positus
Summis testatur vocibus;
Alter nimirum coquitur
Et alter est, qui loquitur.
Having been placed in the fire
He bears witness with a high voice to Christ;
Without doubt the one is cooked
And another is the one who speaks.1
4.
Eculeo suspenditur,
Torta caro divellitur;
Iam poena poenam cruciat,
Et vulnus plaga vulnerat.
He is hung on the rack,
The tortured flesh is torn apart;
Now punishment tortures punishment,
And the blow wounds the wound.
5.
Igne iam membra torrida
Elixat aqua fervida;
Sic duo sacrificia
Ex una fiunt victima.
Hot water boils
The shrivelled limbs with fire;
Thus two punishments
Are made out of one sacrificial victim.
6.
Tanta Ravennae gloria
Fertur ab Antiochia,
Haec mittit, illa recipit;
Haec gignit, illa perimit.
Such great glory is brought to
Ravenna from Antioch,
The latter sends, the former receives;
The latter gives birth, the former destroys.
7.
Sic trinitati gloria,
Quae sic disponit condita,
Ut antiquorum scelera
Nova lucrentur saecula.
Amen
Thus the glory to the trinity,
Which arranges the creatures,
In order that sins of the past
Are saving the new generation.
Amen.
1 One part of the person suffers, while another is enlightened. Thus there are two persons in the one being tortured. While bearing witness to the power of Christ, he is not suffering.
In laudibus (42)
At lauds
1.
Dum caeli sphaera volvitur,
Praeclara dies oritur,
Quam martyr apostolicus
Luce perfundit obitus.
While the sphere of heaven is turned,
The splendid day arises,
Which the apostolic martyr
Imbues with the light of his death.
2.
Quam gloriose moritur,
Qui moriendo oritur!
Tunc vere vitam invenit,
Cum morte carnis interit.
How gloriously he dies,
Who by dying rises!
Then truly he finds life,
When he perishes with the death of the flesh.
4.
Exulta iam, metropolis,
is Ravenna vere nobilis;
Quod Roma in clavigero,
Tu habes in discipulo.
Rejoice now, O Chief city,
Ravenna truly noble;
That which Rome whas in the pope,
You have in this disciple.
5.
Te, summe praesul, poscimus
Cordis orisque vocibus,
Ut nos venturo iudici
Commendes prece supplici.
We ask you, most high protector,
With the voices of our hearts and our mouths,
So that you may recommend us with your suppliant prayer
To the judge who is about to come.
6.
Gloria sit ingenito
Patri et unigenito,
Sancto simul Spiritui,
Deo indivisibili.
Amen.
Let there be glory to the unbegotten
Father and to the only begotten (son),
And at the same time to the holy spirit,
To God indivisible.
Amen.
