The Gothic Missal includes prayers for the celebration of mass on the feast day of *Clement (bishop of Rome and martyr of the Crimea, S00111). Written in Latin in Gaul, perhaps at Luxeuil for the Christian community of Autun, c. 680/710.
E08229
Liturgical texts - Sacramentaries
Late antique original manuscripts - Parchment codex
The Gothic Missal (Missale Gothicum)
MISSA IN NATALE SANCTAE CLEMENTIS EPISCOPI
117. <PRAEFATIO.> Diem hunc gloriosae passionis sancti ac uenerabilis Clementis episcopi, per quem superstitiosa gentilitas conruit Iudaeorum et fides catholica in corda hominum radiauit, fratres karissimi, reuoluto anni circulo, debito ueneremur obsequio, domini misericordiam exorantes ut qui eum lumen teterrimo gentilitatis errore praebuit, nos suo lumine oriens ex alto clarificet. Qui illum sacrae praeposuit aecclesiae, nos sub mundialium fasce curarum gementes, ipso exorante subleuare dignetur. Per dominum nostrum Iesum Christum filium suum secum uiuentem.
118. COLLECTIO SEQVITVR. Christe omnipotens deus, qui beatum Clementem antistem propter nomen tuum in altitudine maris paganorum tempestate dimersum, ut in certamine probasti bellorum, ita post bellum patefacis arenis educis gloriosum, quaesomus pietatem tuam ut nos a concupiscientiae procellis erutos, paternae gloriae repraesentis innoxios. Saluator mundi, qui cum aeterno patre uiuis et regnas deus in unitate spiritus.
119. COLLECTIO POST NOMINA. Nominum seriem relata defunctorum, fratres karissimi, omnipotentis dei misericordiam supplices exoremus ut interuentu sancti Clementis antestitis et martyris sui defunctis absolutionem, uiuentibus tribuat salutem. Memores etiam simus fidelissimorum suorum Sisennii atque Theodorae, ut quibus per beatum martyrem fidem se credendi inseruit, eis paradysi regna participet. Per dominum nostrum Iesum Christum filium suum secum uiuentem.
120. COLLECTIO AD PACEM. Concordator discodiae et origo societatis aeternae, indiuisa trinitas deus, qui Sisennii infidelitatem ab aeclesiae unitate disiunctam per sanctum Clementum antestitem et subdi catholicae fidei et innectis pepetuae caritati, exaudi praeces nostras illamque nobis pacem tribue, quam quondam aetherem ascensurus apostulis relequisti. Vt qui praesentium labiorum inpraessione inlegati fuerint osculo, tua custodia pacifici permaneant in futuro. Quod ipse praestare digneris, qui cum patre et.
121. IMMOLATIO MISSAE. Dignum et iustum est, uere dignum est nos tibi gratias agere, domine, sancte pater, omnipotens aeterne deus, in sollemnitate sancti martyris tui Clementis, qui cognationem reliquit et patriam et post odorem tui nominis terras mariaque transmeans abnegansque semetipsum crucem peregrinationis adsumpsit, ut te per apostulorum tuorum uestigia sequeretur. Cui tu, domine, secundum promissionem filii tui tam in presenti saeculo quam in futuro centuplicata muneris praemia repensasti. Nam beatissimi Petri mox traditus disciplinis parentes, quos in genitali solo perdiderat, in externa regione restitues. Quos terrenae generationis amiserat, diuinae reddis naturae participes. Deinde magistri sui uicarium per ordinem subrogando, Romanae urbis, cuius propter te dispexerat dignitatem, tenere constituis principatum, pro quo transituria claritate caelesti facis honore conspicuum. Postremo martyrii gloria sublimatum pro temporalibus gestis aeternam prouehis coronam. Per Christum dominum nostrum, per quem maiestatem tuam laudant angeli atque archangeli non cessant clamare dicentes: SANCTVS, SANCTVS, SANCTVS.
122. BENEDICTIO POPVLI. Custos sacerdotii, decator martyrii, palma triumphi, deu, benedic famulos et famulas tuas. AMEN. Donas eis martyris huius obtentu recte uiuere, subrie agere, salubriter conseruarsi. AMEN. Vt illa agant suo arbitrio, quae digna habeantur tuo iudicio et indigna inueniantur subiacere supplicio. AMEN. Quod ipse praestare digneris, qui in trinitate perfecta uiuis et regnas.
'Mass for the Feast of the Holy Bishop Clement
117. [Preface.] Let us venerate with due service, most beloved brothers, this day of the glorious passion of the holy and venerable Clement, through whom the superstitious heathenism of the Jews collapsed and the catholic faith has shone in the hearts of the people, now that the circle of the year has passed round, while we pray for the mercy of the Lord, that he, who gave him as a light to the darkest ignorance of heathendom, [he], the dawn from on high, will break upon us (Luc. 1, 78) with his light. That he who placed him at the head of the holy Church deign to to sustain us, who groan under the rod of worldly sorrows, upon Clement's supplications. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives with him [...]
118. Collect follows. Christ, almighty Lord, who led the blessed bishop Clement, by reason of your name immersed in the storm of the heathen [and] in the depth of the sea, out in glory after the wars, when the arena was opened up just as you had tested him in the combat of war: we ask your goodness, that, plucked from the storm of desire, you present us, innocent, before the glory of the Father. Saviour of the world who lives and reigns with the eternal Father, God in the unity of the Spirit.
119. Collect after the names. Now that the list of names of the deceased has been recited, let us, most beloved brothers, humbly pray for the mercy of almighty God, that through the mediation of his holy bishop and martyr Clement he grants absolution to the deceased and salvation to the living. Let us also commemorate Clement's most faithful servants Sisenius and Theodora, that God grants them, in whom he sowed faith to believe in him through the blessed martyr, a share of the kingdom of paradise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ his Son, who lives with him [...]
120. Collect at the kiss of peace. God, Harmoniser of discord and Origin of eternal fellowship, undivided Trinity, who through the holy bishop Clement subjected the disbelief of Sisenius, cut off from the unity of the Church, to the catholic faith and wove [it] into eternal love: hear our prayers and grant us peace which you once left to your apostles when you were about to ascend to heaven (cf. Ioh. 14, 27). And let those who through the impression of the lips are now joined by a kiss, remain in peace under your protection in the future. May you deign to grant this, who lives, rules and reigns in the perfect Trinity.
121. Prayer of sacrifice. It is worthy and just, truly worthy that we bring thanks to you, Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, on the solemn celebration of your holy martyr Clement, who left his relatives and his fatherland and, following the fragrance of your name, travelled across lands and seas and in self-renunciation took upon him the cross of foreignness to follow in the footsteps of your apostles. According to the promise of your Son, O Lord, you have requited him, both in the present world and in the future one, the hundredfold reward of what has been given. For your give back in foreign regions the parents he had lost in his fatherland, when he had soon surrendered himself to the teaching of the blessed Peter. Those of this earthly family whom he had lost, you give back as partakers of divine nature. Then you appoint him, by asking him as successor to his teacher, to be the primate of the city of Rome, the honour of which he had despised on your behalf. And in exchange for this transitory renown you make him illustrious in heavenly honour. Finally you bring him, elevated by the glory of his martyrdom and in exchange for his temporal deeds, to the eternal crown. Through Christ our Lord, through whom the angels praise your majesty and the archangels cry out unceasingly, saying: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY.
122. Blessing of the people. Custodian of the priesthood, Consecrator of martyrdom, Palm of triumph, God, bless your manservants and maidservants. AMEN. Grant through this martyr thst they live virtuously, act prudently and behave such that they can be saved. AMEN. So that under his authority they do these things that are considered worthy upon your judgement, and are found unworthy to be subjected to punishment. AMEN. May you deign to grant this, who lives and reigns in the perfect Trinity.'
Text: Rose 2005, 397-9.
Translation: Rose 2017, 164-8.
Service for the saint
Eucharist associated with cult
Liturgical invocation
Chant and religious singing
Other liturgical acts and ceremonies
FestivalsSaint’s feast
Non Liturgical ActivityPrayer/supplication/invocation
Transmission, copying and reading saint-related texts
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - Popes
Jews and Samaritans
Heretics
Pagans
Angels
Relatives of the saint
Source
The Gothic Missal (Missale Gothicum) is the standard editorial name used for Vatican City, Bibliotheca Apostolica Vaticana, Reg. Lat. 317, a liturgical manuscript (sacramentary) compiled in Burgundy at the turn of the eighth century. It provides an exceptionally rare witness to late antique liturgical practice in Gaul. The inclusion of an entry for the late Merovingian political martyr Leudegar of Autun (eastern Gaul) (ob. 677/9) gives both an earliest possible date for the manuscript's compilation, and, since it appears alongside an entry for the earlier Autun martyr Symphorianus, an indication of the community for which the codex might have been made. On palaeographical grounds, E.A. Lowe located the Missal's production to the scriptorium of Luxeuil (c. 130 miles northeast of Autun), at a date no later than c. 710.The full manuscript is now available to view online: https://spotlight.vatlib.it/it/latin-paleography/catalog/Reg_lat_317
Discussion
The codex as it survives includes entries for nine biblical saints and nine from the city of Rome (plus Cyprian of Carthage, commemorated with Pope Cornelius), alongside six Gallic feast days and one from Spain (Saturninus, Eulalia, Ferreolus and Ferrucio, Symphorianus, Maurice and the Theban Legion, Leudegar, and Martin). The Missal covers most feasts in roughly chronological order, beginning after Christmas with the feast of Stephen (usually 26 Dec.). The manuscript does not, however, provide any dates for the celebration of these feasts: presumably, its users would have also had a separate liturgical calendar at hand.For an overview of the contents of the Gothic Missal, see E08222.
This entry for Clement incorporates elements from his Roman Martyrdom (E02488). Els Rose (2005, 279-82) notes that these prayers make no reference to the early medieval legend that Clement had played a role in the conversion of Gaul, and show no influence of any 'specifically Gallic traditions' (For examples of that tradition see: E00581 and E07613).
Bibliography
Edition and study:Missale Gothicum e codice Vaticano Reginensi latino 317 editum, ed. Els Rose (Turnhout, 2005).
Translation:
The Gothic Missal, trans. Els Rose (Turnhout, 2017).
Further reading:
Lowe, E.A., Codices latini antiquiores, 11 vols (Oxford, 1937-71), i. 32.
Benjamin Savill
04/09/2022
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00036 | Peter, the Apostle | Petrus | Certain | S00111 | Clemens/Clement, bishop of Rome, martyr of the Crimea | Clemens | Certain |
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