From the Breviary according to the use of the Roman Curia, 1529, the continuation of the sermon for the third day in the Octave of All Saints.
Accordingly, let us invite the most sacred orders of blessed spirits to the joy of our solemnity, that today they may work along with us more earnestly than usual, offering the incense of our prayer before the golden altar which stands before the eyes of the Lord. There let them faithfully intercede for us, and here (in this world) vigilantly protect and defend us against the attempts of the ancient enemy. For we urgently ask this of them by a certain right of law, and by that confidence in the privilege (given to us) by which we hope that through God’s grace, we shall be their fellow citizens in heaven. Firmly certain of their beatitude, they are sent as ministering spirits to us, who (rightly) fear the (spiritual) losses we may suffer in the uncleanness of our bodily condition. All the more generously then, must they come to our aid, as they see how much more we need their help.
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| From a manuscript of the Commentary on the Apocalypse by Beatus of Liébana, written and illustrated in 1047 for King Ferdinand I (ca. 1015-1065, crowned 1037) and Queen Sancha of León (ca. 1018-1067). This page illistrates the words of chapter 8, 2-4, “And I saw seven Angels standing in the presence of God; and there were given to them seven trumpets. And another Angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all Saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel.” – (Biblioteca Nacional de España, VITR/14/2, folio 162v, cropped: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) |
