Page:The religious life of King Henry VI.djvu/157

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TO SAINTLY KING HENRY
129

Suscipe pro merito Henrici martiris almi
Qui pro salute Gens anglica munera laudis.

Versiculus. Alme Dei martir Henrice, tu memoriam agentibus auxiliare.

Oratio.

Oremus. Deus cuius posse maximum, scire verissimum, et peroptimum velle in splendoribus sanctorum relucet; presta quesumus,ut qui nostrorum acluum leuitate grauiter premimur, tui vigoris brachiu, splendoris radio, amoris pondere, subleuemur.

The exigence of a commemoration of the saintly King in so many manuscripts and printed Horae is a proof of the widespread devotion of the English people to him. His name, it is true, is not found entered in the Calendars of Saints, nor in the Missals of the period. This is what would be expected, since his canonization had not been decreed by the Church, and in no wise militates against the popular cultus of the servant of God.

William Maskell, in his Monumenta Litualia[1] prints an officium " de beato rege Henrico."

Ant. Rex Henricus sis amicus, etc.
. Ora pro nobis devote rex Henricus.
. Ut per te, etc.

Oratio.

Praesta quaesimus Omnipotens et Misericors dominus ut qui devotissimi Regis Henrici, etc.


  1. Ed. 1882, iii, 369.