The FEA ST of ST ALBAN PRO TO M ARTYR of B R I T A I N

The Cardiff Oratory 20 Jun e 2021

The Life of Alban aint Alban (L atin , A lban us), th e protom artyr, or "rst m artyr, o f B ritain , w as a R om an citizen w ho lived at Verulam ium (m odern Saint A lban’s in H ertfordshire), S a few m iles northw est of L ondon, during a tim e of persecution. A ccording to trad itio n , h e w as a R o m an so ld ier statio n ed in B ritain . The chief magistrate of the city had orders to arrest all Christian . One of th em , a priest n am ed A m ph ib alu s, /ed to A lb an ’s h o m e in ord er to h id e fro m th e so ld iers who wished to kill him. Alban was impressed by the priest’s constant prayer and vigil, and moved by the Holy Eucharist when the priest celebrated Mass secretly. Alban questioned Am phibalus about his beliefs. As a result, Alban came to believe in Christ and asked to be baptised. Eventually, Am phibalus was forced to move on, and Alban changed clothes with him so that he could get away. The soldiers heard there was a priest hiding in Alban’s house, so they cam e to search it. Seeing Alban dressed in the priest’s clothes, they arrested him and brought him before the judge. The magistrate was o3ering sacri"ce to idols when appeared before him. After questioning him, he discovered how Alban and the priest had switched cloth es. Furious because A lban had allow ed a fugitive to escape, th e m agistrate th reaten ed him with death unless he returned to paganism and revealed where Am phibalus had gone. Saint Alban replied, “I am also a C h ristian, an d I worship the true G od.” After having the saint beaten and tortured, the magistrate threatened him with execution . Saint A lban rejoiced an d glori"ed G od. T h e m agistrate ordered th e soldiers to take Saint A lban to the H olm hurst H ill to be beheaded. W hen they cam e to the R iver Ver, they saw that the bridge was crowded with people who had com e to witness Alban’s martyrdom. Since they could not proceed because of the multitude of people, Saint Alban prayed and m ade the Sign of the C ross over the river. At once, the waters parted so that th ey w ere ab le to cro ss o ver to th e o th er sid e. T h e ex ecu tio n er w as so asto n ish ed b y th e miracle that he threw down his sword and refused to behead the saint. He was arrested, an d another m an was foun d to beh ead them both. There is a tradition that Saint Alban became thirsty while climbing the hill and asked for w ater. A sm all spring gushed forth near the top of the hill, an d he w as able to drink from it. Pilgrim s used to com e and drink from Saint Alban’s well. The date of Saint Alban’s martyrdom is uncertain, but it is believed that it took place during the reign of D ecius (ca. 251), (ca. 257), or D iocletian (ca. 295). The eigh teen th cen tury T urin m an uscript (w h ich m ay be based on a "fth cen tury source) suggests that Saint A lban m ay have been executed as early as 209, w hen the em peror Septim us Severus and his tw o son s w ere in Britain. Th e nam e of the execution er w h o w as con verted has not been preserved. Th e priest A m ph ibalus was ultim ately caugh t an d put to death at a place called , four m iles from Verulam ium , he, too, is venerated as a martyr for Christ. When people began to cry out against the magistrate, he put an end to the persecution. In later years, the King O 3a of M ercia built a on the site of the martyrdom, and the of Saint Alban, the priest and martyr, Saint , and perhaps even the executioner were enshrined within. Saint the Venerable reports tells us that m iracles frequently took place at Saint Alban’s tom b. W hen the D anes invaded in 860, the relics were rem oved for safekeeping, then later returned. In th e ten th cen tu ry, a n u m b er o f larg er relics o f Sain t A lb an w ere g iven to th e Church of Saint Pantaleon in , Germany, which was a Benedictine Church with a dedicated to Saint Alban . A new chapel and shrine were built for the relics in the early fourteenth century. Two hundred years later, during the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII, the marble shrine was destroyed, and the Church was lost to Catholic communion. Much later, th e fragm en ts of th e sh rin e w ere reassem bled on its form er site. In th e 1950s, th e auth orities at Sain t Pan taleon , w h ich h ad preserved th e sain ts' relics intact since the Tenth Century, gave the thigh of the protomartyr – the largest remaining intact still known – to the Benedictine Monks at St. Michael’s Abbey, in Farnborough, Ham pshire. In 2021, the R t. R ev. A bbot of Farnborough loaned this relic to the O ratory Church of Saint Alban-on-the-Moors, in Cardi3, Wales, where it is venerated by the Christian faithful in the beautiful Shrine of Saint Alban constructed to receive it. The Shorter Litany of Saint Alban ord have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Protector of persecuted Christians, * Christ have mercy. Christ, have Sure support of those /eeing persecution , * m er cy . Devout presence at Holy Mass, * L Silen t adorer of the Blessed Sacram en t, * Lord have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear ⇠. Unfeigned in the face of the mob, * God the Father of Heaven, Defender of the Catholic Priesthood, * h a v e m er cy o n ⇠. Soldier of C h rist, * God the Son, Redeemer of the word, Lamb of God You take away the sins of the have mercy on ⇠. world, Spare ⇠ O Lord. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on ⇠. Lamb of God You take away the sins of the Holy Mary, *Pray for ⇠. world, Graciously hear ⇠ O Lord. Holy Michael the Archangel, * Lamb of God You take away the sins of the Saint Alban , * world, First Martyr of these shores, * Have mercy on ⇠. Friend of Travellers, * Pray for us, Saint Alban. That we may be m a d e w o rth y o " th e p ro m is# o" C h r ist. Let us pray. Saint Alban , m y glorious patron, w hose life is a hym n of praise to the M ost Holy and Undivided Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, help me to live this day like you as a true soldier of Jesus C h rist, ready to lay dow n m y life for th e M ass Oan d Catholic Priesthood, we ask this through C h rist O ur Lord. Amen. Plen ary Ind u lgen ce available to d ay P len a r y In d u lg en c e – under the usual conditions of Prayer for the Pope's intentions, w orthy reception of H oly C om m union, and receiving the Sacram ent A of Penance & Reconciliation (Confession) – is conceded to the Christian faith fu l w h o visit a P arish C h u rch o n th e So lem n ity o f its T itle an d th ere p io u sly recite th e O ur Fath er an d th e A postles C reed (Enchiridion Indulgentiarum , n o . 33, § 1, 5).

———————————————————— The ORDER of the SOLEMN PROCESSION of the RELICS of SAINT ALBAN

Before the Mass, the Relics are brought into the Church in Solemn Procession.

Meanwhile, the Choir sing

THE ANTIPHON

This is a saint who, for the law of his God, strove even unto death and feared nothing from the words of the impious, for he was founded on a sure Rock.

THE LITANY OF THE

Fili Redemptor Mundi, Deus, * miserere nobis. Etc. Sancta Maria, * ora pro nobis. Etc. (Plural: orate pro nobis). Omnes Sancti et Sanctæ Dei, * intercedite pro nobis.

Ab omni peccato, * libera nos, Domine. Etc.

Ut nobis parcas, * te rogamus, audi nos. Etc. The Abbot intones the Pater Noster and the Choir join him for THE VERSICLES & RESPONSES

Confundantur, et revereantur, * qui quaerunt animam meam. Avertantur retrorsum, et erubescant, * qui volunt mihi mala. Avertantur statim erubescentes, * qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge! Exsultent et laetentur in te omnes qui quærunt te; * et dicant semper: Magnificetur Dominus, qui diligunt salutare tuum. Ego vero egenus et pauper sum; * Deus, adjuva me. Adjutor meus et liberator meus es tu; * Domine, ne moreris. Gloria Patri, et Filio, * Et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen. V. Salvos fac servos tuos. R. Deus meus, sperantes in te. V. Esto nobis, Domine, turris fortitudinis. R. A facie inimici. V. Nihil proficiat inimicus in nobis. R. Et filius iniquitatis non apponat nocere nobis. V. Domine, non secundum peccata nostra facias nobis. R. Neque secundum iniquitates nostras retribuas nobis. V. Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Francisco. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, † et beatum faciat eum in terra, * et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius. V. Oremus pro benefactoribus nostris. Retribuere dignare, Domine, † omnibus nobis bona facientibus propter nomen tuum, * vitam aeternam. Amen. V. Oremus pro fidelibus defunctis. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, * et lux perpetua luceat eis. V. Requiescant in pace. R. Amen. V. Pro fratribus nostris absentibus. Salvos fac servos tuos, Deus meus, * sperantes in te. V. Mitte eis, Domine, auxilium de sancto. R. Et de Sion tuere eos. V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Then the Abbot sings THE COLLECT LMIGHTY and merciful God, who brought your Martyr blessed Alban to overcome the torments of his passion, grant Athat we, who celebrate his triumph, may remain invincible under your protection against the snares of the enemy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit: God forever and ever. R. Amen. V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. V. Exaudiat nos omnipotents et misericors Dominus. R. Amen. V. Et fidelium animæ per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace. R. Amen. Then the Abbot, with the Sacred Ministers, withdraw to vest for Holy Mass. Meanwhile, the Organist plays the Prelude.

———————————————————— The ORDER of PONTIFICAL HIGH MASS

His Lordship, The Right Reverend Dom Brogan,O.S.B., Abbot of Farnborough, Celebrant

All stand for the Procession of the Clergy, and the Choir sings THE INTROIT Well may the Just Man rejoice, Lord, in thy protection, well may he tri- umph in thy saving power! Never a wish in his heart hast thou disappoin- ted, never a prayer on his lips denied. With happy auguries thou dost meet him on his way, dost set a crown of pure gold upon his head. Glo- ry be. As it was. Well may the Just Man. THE KYRIE From Messa a Quatro Voci da Cappella, by Claudio Monteverdi (156 7 —16 4 3) Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The Abbot begins, and the Choir continues THE GLORIA Monteverdi, Messa a Quatro Voci da Cappella Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. The Abbot prays THE COLLECT GOD, who has consecrated this day to the martyrdom of blessed Alban, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be O constantly defended by his assistance, in whose annual commemoration we rejoice. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. R. Amen. All sit, as the Subdeacon sings THE EPISTLE Wisdom 10 : 10 -14 When the faithful servant was in flight from his brother’s anger, the Lord guided him straight to his goal, and on the way shewed him the heavenly kingdom, gave him knowledge of holy things. He enriched him by his toil, and gave all his labours a happy issue. Knavery went about to get the better of him, but He stood by him and prospered him; kept him safe from his enemies, protected him from their scheming. He would have him wrestle manfully, and prove that there is no strength like the strength of wisdom. When the faithful servant, in his innocence, was sold for a slave, the Lord did not desert him, did not leave him among the guilty, but went down with him into his dungeon. Fast he was bound, but He had not finished with him till He gave him dominion over a whole kingdom, and power to do what he would with his persecutors. So He brought home the lie to those who had traduced him, and won him everlasting fame, the Lord our God. The Choir sings THE GRADUAL Psalm 111 : 1-2 A blessed man is he, who fears the Lord, bearing great love to his commandments. Children of his shall win renown in their country; do right, and thy sons shall find a blessing. THE ALLELUIA Psalm 38 : 4 Alleluia, alleluia. With happy auguries Thou dost meet him on his way, dost set a crown of pure gold his head. Alleluia. All stand, as the Deacon sings THE HOLY GOSPEL St. Luke 12 : 35-4 0 In those days, Jesus said to the multitudes: If any man comes to me, without hating his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yes, and his own life too, he can be no disciple of mine. A man cannot be my disciple unless he takes up his own cross, and follows after me. Consider, if one of you has a mind to build a tower, does he not first sit down and count the cost that must be paid, if he is to have enough to finish it? Is he to lay the foundation, and then find himself unable to complete the work, so that all who see it will fall to mocking him and saying, Here is a man who began to build, and could not finish his building? Or if a king is setting out to join battle with another king, does he not first sit down and deliberate, whether with his army of ten thousand he can meet the onset of one who has twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still at a distance, he despatches envoys to ask for conditions of peace. And so it is with you; none of you can be my disciple if he does not take leave of all that he possesses. All sit for THE HOMILY The Right Reverend, The Lord Abbot of Farnborough

All stand, as the Abbot begins, and the Choir continues THE CREDO I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, At the words that follow up to and including “and became man,” all kneel: and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. All stand. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Sit. The Choir sings THE OFFERTORY Psalm 8 : 6-7 Thou hast placed him only a little below the angels, crowning him with glory and honour, and bidding him rule over the works of thy hands. Then, the Choir sings Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, Et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus Christus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, Nunc et in ora mortis nostræ. Amen. Jacob Handl (154 8 —16 11); attr. Tomás Luis de Victoria (154 8 —16 11) The Abbot silently prays THE SECRET E BESEECH THY MERCY, O Lord, that like as in venerating thy blessed martyr Alban, we proclaim thy W miraculous power, so in this holy office of reconciliation he may ever himself be a devout intercessor on our behalf. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit: God, forever and ever. Amen. R. Amen. All stand, as the Abbot and Choir sing THE PREFACE V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. Lift up your hearts. R. We lift them up unto the Lord. V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is right and just. T IS TRULY RIGHT and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give Thee thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty Iand eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For the blood of thy blessed Martyr Alban, poured out like Christ’s to glorify Thy name, sheweth forth Thy marvelous works, by which in our weakness Thou dost perfect Thy power and on the feeble bestow strength to bear Thee witness, through Christ our Lord. And so, with the Powers of heaven, we worship Thee constantly on earth, and before Thy majesty without end we acclaim: All kneel, as the Choir sing THE SANCTUS Monteverdi, Messa a Quatro Voci da Cappella Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. All stand, as the Abbot and Choir sing THE GREAT AMEN & LORD'S PRAYER For ever and ever. R. Amen. V. At the Saviour's command, and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. V. And lead us not into temptation. R. But deliver us from evil. The Abbot and Choir exchange THE PEACE The Peace of the Lord be with you always. R. And with thy spirit. All kneel, as the Choir sings THE AGNUS DEI Monteverdi, Messa a Quatro Voci da Cappella Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace. The Choir sings THE COMMUNION St. Matthew 16 : 2 4 If any man has a mind to come My way, let him renounce self, and take up his cross, and follow Me. All stand, as the Abbot prays THE POSTCOMMUNION E BESEECH THEE, O Lord, that the blessed martyr Alban may ever implore thy sacred majesty, that thy sacrament W may cleanse us from sin. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit: God, forever and ever. R. Amen. The Deacon intones THE DISMISSAL Let us bless the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.

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The ORDER of the BLESSING of the SHRINE

All stand for the Procession of the Clergy, and the Choir sings THE LITANY OF SAINT ALBAN

Fili Redemptor Mundi, Deus, * miserere nobis. Etc. Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis. Sancte Michael, Ora pro nobis. Sancte Albane, Ora pro nobis, Etc. V. Desidérium cordis eius ei dedit, R. Et eum cum coróna lápidum pretiosórum coronávit. The Abbot sings THE PRAYERS GOD, by whose grace Saint Alban gave himself up for his friend and received the martyr’s crown as the first in this land Oto shed his blood for Christ; grant, we pray, that following his example and supported by his prayers, we may worship you, the living God, and give true witness to Christ our Lord. LMIGHTY and merciful God, who brought your Martyr blessed Alban to overcome the torments of his passion, grant Athat we, who celebrate his triumph, may remain invincible under your protection against the snares of the enemy. GOD, who were pleased to give light to your Church by adorning blessed Alban with the victory of martyrdom, Ograciously grant that, as he imitated the Lord’s Passion, so we may, by following in his footsteps, be worthy to attain eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. R. Amen. The Abbot begins and the Choir replies DJUTORIUM nostrum in Nomine Domini. A R. Qui fecit cælum et terram. After the Prayer, the Abbot says ER omnia sæcula sæculorum. P R. Amen. V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. Lift up your hearts. R. We lift them up unto the Lord. V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is right and just. […] After the Prayer, the Abbot again says ER omnia sæcula sæculorum. P R. Amen. OMINUS vobiscum. D R. Et cum spiritu tuo. After the Final Prayer, all reply R. Amen. The Abbot sprinkles the Reliquary and Shrine with Holy Water; he then venerates the Relics and imposes Incense. The Clergy depart, while Victoria's Te Deum, the Hymn of Thanksgiving, is sung.

The Martyrdom of Saint Alban, from the 13 th century illuminated manuscript by Dom , an English Benedictine monk at the Abbey of St. Alban, in St. Alban's .