Breviarium Aberdonense, pars hiemalis — Latin office text, unedited blackletter OCR (13–15 Januarii). Note: this file was originally extracted under the title “Officium Sancti Columbae”; its actual contents are the concluding portion of the office of St Kentigern (containing the episode of his meeting with St Columba), the rubrics of his octave, the office of St Felix of Tibiuca, and the rubric of St Maurus.

Saint Columba the abbot went to meet Kentigern at the place called Magpinuno, desiring greatly both the blessing and the converse of so great and so holy a prelate; and before they met, Saint Columba saw angels descending in a circuit about him, and a bright column descending upon his head, and a golden crown upon his head. Response: When Kentigern the bishop came, a golden light was seen to descend upon his head by the saints. An angel brought him a guardian light with a golden crown upon his head. Third nocturn.

Now when they had met together they returned most sweet thanks to God; but on their departure the companions of Saint Columba plundered the shepherd of holy Kentigern; and a servant was slain, and one walked headless among the sheep. While they wondered and watched, the robber was turned into stone. For so great was the fervour of his devotion that when he celebrated mass a bright cloud was seen over his head. And when “Lift up your hearts” (Sursum corda) was sung, his body was raised in the air from the earth. For rare was the austerity of his life: in a sweat of private habit, a breastplate and a hair-shirt he used, and often he would stand upon a stone in cold water until he had finished the psalter before he would join his brethren at matins in church. Now Saint Kentigern, in holy old age full of days, on the Ides of January [13 January] passed to the Lord in heaven, whom from infancy he had served on earth. He completed a hundred and eighty-five years, and was buried worn out at Glasgow. Verse: The saint sits above the stars and reigns blessed.

At Lauds: the antiphons. “The gracious prelate visits the seven places of Peter [Rome]; for whom, consecrated in heaven, he reigns with God. The pallium of the pontiff now moistens the snows, nor does any dire storm hurt the gentle one.” Psalm: Jubilate. Antiphon: “Of their own accord the swift and various birds of heaven submit themselves to you, Kentigern, noble prelate.” Psalm: Deus misereatur. “A wondrous thing of the flock: the ram accompanies him rejoicing, his head cut off; here he lies hid in the image of the stone.” Psalm: Benedicite. Antiphon: “The dumb one in the holy chapel, by God’s will speaking with his mouth — now greater praise and reverence remains to you.” Psalm: Laudate Dominum. Little chapter: “See a great priest” (Ecce sacerdos magnus). Hymn: “O glorious one of the confessors, salvation of the world, fount of grace: by Kentigern’s merits be you equal on high. This is the palm of the pontificate: the honour of the Scots, the hope of the Britons, the love of the flock, the praise of the fatherland, the lamp of wondrous deeds. Say, dweller of Glasgow, guardian of the bishop: pouring forth unnumbered things, a shepherd shining with miracles: whose whole life was one continual martyrdom; and for baths he oftener used the cold waters. With the Davidic king who sang the psalter, and wore out his body with three-year fasting: a breastplate and a hair-shirt tamed the stiff flesh, and often he was cherished by angelic converse. O Jesus, salvation of the sheep, who have chosen this servant for yourself from heaven: save us by his prayers. To the Father most high with the Son, and to the Holy Paraclete likewise, be everlasting glory in the Trinity on the throne. Amen.”

Verse: The just shall flourish (Justus germinabit). Antiphon: “Happy confessor, you bear the flower of your race, a lamp of praise, a lantern of nourishing light, powerful in protections; be gracious to your subjects and pitiful to the wretched, Kentigern, wondrous teacher.” Psalm: Benedictus Dominus. Prayer as above. Then let a solemn commemoration be made of the Octave of the Epiphany, of Saint Hilary, and of Saint Mary. At Prime the antiphon “Visitat alma”; at Terce and at the other hours the same; the little chapters, hymn and verse of the Common of one confessor and pontiff. The other antiphons of Lauds. At second Vespers the antiphon “Visitat alma”. Little chapter: “The Lord gave him a blessing” (Benedictionem Dominus). Verse: “The compressed abundance of milk is turned to stone; the ancient form and figure yet remains. It holds for ever the clear name through the ages. The ancient form remains.” Glory be to the Father. “The ancient form remains.” Hymn: “The confessor…” [Deus tuorum militum / of the confessors].

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January

Of Saint Felix

Verse: The just shall flourish. Antiphon: “In this church above the bright stars Glasgow rejoices for you, good lowly leader; O renowned rose, bring help to those cast down in darkness and assist your servants.” Psalm: Magnificat. Prayer as above; and let a commemoration be made of Saint Felix the bishop. Antiphon: “This is a martyr indeed, in glory and honour.” Prayer:

“O almighty God, we beseech you, grant that the examples of your holy martyr Felix may stir us to a better life; so that we whose solemn feast we keep may also imitate his deeds and be helped by his intercession.”

Then a commemoration of Saint Mary. If it falls on a Saturday on the feast of Saint Kentigern, the Vespers shall be of the saint, and a solemn commemoration of Saint Felix first, and afterwards of the Lord’s day. Then of Saint Mary. The Compline of the Epiphany is not changed whether it be Saturday or not. And it is to be known that in the octaves with ruling of the choir — such as the octaves of Epiphany, of the Ascension of the Lord, of Corpus Christi, of the Assumption, of the Nativity and of the Visitation of blessed Mary, and of the Dedication of the church — the last Vespers shall always be of the octave, although the next day a new history is to be begun, or a feast of three lessons, or a commemoration of Mary is to be celebrated. Except in the octave…

[Lessons of St Felix]

… by the hands of the bishops and presbyters, then the blessed Felix, bishop of the city of Tibiuca, was arrested and sent to Carthage to Avolinus the proconsul. And when… Lesson 2.

… Avolinus said: “have you the useless scriptures?” Felix the bishop said: “I have scriptures — not useless! Which know you shall by no means be given up by me.” Avolinus therefore sent him to Rome to the prefect Plito. He indeed sent him to Nola; afterwards he was four days and four nights under the deck of the ship beneath the horses’ feet, neither eating nor drinking. “O Lord, have mercy upon us.” Lesson 3.

When he had come to Nola, because he would not give up the divine scriptures to the sacrilegious, he was beheaded by the command of the princes. And his body was laid at Nola, and his relics were afterwards brought by the servants of God to Carthage. At Lauds: only the first antiphon, “O Lord, in such feasts the praises of the blessed…” And the rest as above. The remainder of the Lord’s day; and from this day until the fourth feria at the head of the fast [Ash Wednesday] let a commemoration be made of Saint Mary and of the saint of the place and of all saints at Vespers and at Matins and at feasts of three lessons, and on ferias when they are without ruling of the choir, as …

January

Of Saint Maurus the abbot

On the second feria after “Domine ne in ira”, as noted above. Let there be the same of Saint Maurus the abbot, and nothing of Saint Felix. For no feast of three lessons without ruling of the choir has its own ferias, nor even a commemoration in place of the said ferias. At Matins of Saint Maurus the antiphon and psalm of the feast, and this on…