Cathedræ S. Petri.

In quo exsultábitis, módicum nunc si opórtet contristári in váriis tentatiónibus: ut probátio vestræ fídei multo pretiósior auro (quod per ignem probátur) inveniátur in laudem, et glóriam, et honórem in revelatióne Jesu Christi: quem cum non vidéritis dilígitis: in quem nunc quoque non vidéntes créditis: credéntes autem exsultábitis lætítia inenarrábili, et glorificáta: reportántes finem fídei vestræ salútem animárum.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

Wherein you shall greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in diverse temptations: That the trial of your faith much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, you love: in whom also now, though you see him not, you believe: and believing shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified; Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

De qua salúte exquisiérunt, atque scrutáti sunt prophétæ, qui de futúra in vobis grátia prophetavérunt: scrutántes in quod, vel quale tempus significáret in eis Spíritus Christi: prænúntians eas quæ in Christo sunt passiónes, et posterióres glórias: quibus revelátum est quia non sibimetípsis, vobis autem ministrábant ea, quæ nunc nuntiáta sunt vobis per eos, qui evangelizavérunt vobis, Spíritu sancto misso de cœlo, in quem desíderant Angeli prospícere.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and diligently searched, who prophesied of the grace to come in you. Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did signify: when it foretold those sufferings that are in Christ, and the glories that should follow: To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you they ministered those things which are now declared to you by them that have preached the gospel to you, the Holy Ghost being sent down from heaven, on whom the angels desire to look.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Hic conculcándæ philosophíæ opiniónes, hic dissolvéndæ erant terrénæ sapiéntiæ vanitátes, hic confutándi dǽmonum cultus, hic ómnium sacrilegiórum impíetas destruénda, ubi diligentíssima superstitióne habebátur colléctum, quidquid usquam fúerat vanis erróribus institútum. Ad hanc ergo urbem tu beatíssime Petre Apóstole veníre non métuis; et consórte glóriæ tuæ Paulo Apóstolo, aliárum adhuc ecclesiárum ordinatiónibus occupáto, silvam istam freméntium bestiárum, et turbulentíssimæ profunditátis océanum constántior, quam cum supra mare graderéris, ingréderis.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

In Rome were the dreams of an unbelieving philosophy to be destroyed, in Rome were the empty utterances of earthly wisdom to be confuted, in Rome was idolatry to be overcome, in Rome profanity to be put down, even in Rome, where the activity of superstition had gathered together from the whole earth every error which it could find. O most blessed Apostle Peter! this was the city to which thou didst not shrink to come. The Apostle Paul, thy comrade in glory, was yet occupied in founding the Churches, and thou didst enter alone into that forest of wild beasts roaring furiously; thou didst commit thyself to that stormy ocean, more boldly than when thou walkest upon the waters to come to Jesus.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Jam pópulos, qui ex circumcisióne credíderant, erudíeras: jam Antiochénam ecclésiam, ubi primum christiáni nóminis dígnitas est orta, fundáveras: jam Pontum, Galátiam, Cappadóciam, Asiam, atque Bithýniam légibus evangélicæ prædicatiónis impléveras: nec aut dúbius de provéctu óperis, aut de spátio tuæ ignárus ætátis, trophǽum crucis Christi Románis árcibus inferébas, quo te divínis præordinatiónibus anteíbant, et honor potestátis, et glória passiónis.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

Thou hadst already taught them of the circumcision who were converted; thou hadst founded the Church of Antioch, the first that bore the noble name of Christian; thou hadst published the law of the Gospel throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia; and thou didst not fear for the hardness of thy work, nor turn back because of thine old age, but didst boldly set up the trophy of the cross of Christ upon those Roman walls, where the Providence of God had appointed the throne of thine honour, and the glorious -scene of thy passion.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Et dignum plane conféssio Petri prǽmium consecúta est: quia Dei Fílium in hómine vidísset. Beátus hic est, qui ultra humánum óculos intendísse, et vidísse laudátus est: non id quod ex carne et sánguine erat cóntuens, sed Dei Fílium cœléstis Patris revelatióne conspíciens: dignúsque judicátus, qui quod in Christo Dei esset, primus agnósceret. ¶ O in nuncupatióne novi nóminis felix Ecclésiæ fundaméntum: dígnaque ædificatióne illíus petra, quæ inférnas leges, et tártari portas, et ómnia mortis claustra dissólveret! O beátus cœli jánitor, cujus arbítrio claves ætérni áditus tradúntur, cujus terréstre judícium præjudicáta auctóritas sit in cœlo! ut quæ in terris aut ligáta sint aut solúta, statúti ejúsdem conditiónem obtíneant et in cœlo.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

What other, then, is that man travelling into a far country but our Redeemer, Who is gone up from us into heaven in that Flesh Which He had taken into Himself? For the earth is the home of the Flesh, Which travelleth into a far country - when our Redeemer giveth It a place in heaven. But that man travelling into a far country delivered unto his servants his goods; and so doth our Redeemer give spiritual gifts unto His faithful people. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. There are five bodily senses; that is, sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. By the five talents therefore are signified the five senses, that is, outward knowledge. By the two, wit and work. And by the figure of the one talent, understanding, which is alone. ¶ And so he that had received five talents, gained other five talents - for some there be who, while yet they are not able to go on unto things inward and mystic, do yet so desire our Fatherland which is above, that they teach well all whom they can, and of those very outward things which they have received make gain double. These are they which keep themselves clean from the unruly motions of the flesh, and from the lust of the world, and from the delight of things which are seen, and, by their preaching, keep other men also clean from all these things. And some there are who receive, as their two talents, the power to think and the power to work. These are they which inwardly understand dark things, and outwardly work wonders. And these, since they preach unto others, both through their understanding and their works, gain, as it were, double, for the talents which they have received.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Beáta Agnes, paréntibus ad ejus sepúlchrum assídue vigilántibus, quadam nocte choro vírginum comitáta cum apparuísset, sic ad eos locúta dícitur: Ne me paréntes mórtuam lugeátis: nam una cum his virgínibus vivo apud illum in cœlis, quem in terris tota mente diléxi. Cum áliquot post annos Constántia, Constantíni imperatóris fília, insanábili úlceri medicínam quærens, nondum Christiána ad idem sepúlchrum accessísset; obdormíscens sibi audíre visa est vocem hanc Agnétis: Constánter age Constántia: crede in Jesum Christum Fílium Dei, qui te sanam fáciet. Quæ sanáta, paulo post una cum multis ex família imperatóris baptísmum suscípiens, ibi ecclésiam nómine beátæ Agnétis ædificávit.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

The night when the parents of the blessed Agnes were watching at her grave, she appeared to them in company with a band of virgins, and said to them Father and Mother, weep not for me as though I were dead; for now these virgins and I live together in Him Whose love was my whole life upon earth. Some years afterwards, Constance, the daughter of the Emperor Constantine, being sick of an incurable ulcer, betook herself to the said grave, although she was not yet a Christian, and as she lay by it and slept, she seemed to hear the voice of Agnes, saying to her Constance, be of good courage believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God, and He will make thee whole. The Princess, being healed, was baptized, along with many others of the Emperor's family and household, and afterwards built over the grave of the blessed Agnes a Church named in her honour.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.