The Ars Brevis instructs the reader to perform votive masses as part of the magical experiment(s). There are two versions of the Ars Brevis, which describe what and how the magical experiment(s) are conducted. In one version, there is an understanding that there may only be a single magical experiment which is related to a single magical figure which takes place over the course of one week. The second version indicates that there may be up to four magical experiments and that the text presents the basic template of any one of these experiments which occurs over the course of four days. The number and frequency of votive masses depends upon which version is followed. The ritual procedures of the Ars Brevis is detailed in my book, Ars Notoria: The Notory Art of Solomon (Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2023).
Here I have translated the votive Mass of All the Most Holy Apostles from the 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal for those interested in experimenting with the Ars Brevis. According to one version, the votive Mass of All the Most Holy Apostles is to be offered on Thursday. The Roman Missal, of course, was originally composed in Latin. Keep in mind that this is a Latin-to-English translation. Such translation work is another step away from the original biblical Hebrew and koine Greek. That is to say, this is not a Hebrew-to-English or a Greek-to-English translation. A NRSV or NRSV updated version will suffice to ensure accuracy and reliability of the following votive mass to meet modern day standards. For the general practitioner who is not concerned with the minutiae of language translation, the following English translation will suffice.
This blog entry is intended to supplement the work published in my book, and so the reader is directed to it for a proper introduction and English translation of the Ars Brevis.
Mass of All the Most Holy Apostles
(Outside the time of Passover)
<B>Introductory Rites
<C>Antiphon for the Entrance
But to me, O God, your friends are honored too much; their sovereignty is strengthened too much. (Psalms 139:17)
O Lord, you have commended me and you have known me, you have known my sitting and my standing [1] (Psalms 139:1-2).
Versicle. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, and now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (The Minor Doxology)
Prayer
O God, you who bestowed us to come to the recognition of your name through your blessed Apostles, give us, our everlasting glory and contributing to celebrate, and celebrating to contribute. Through the Lord our Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in unity.
The Reading of the Epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4:7-13)
Brothers, each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. On account of that it said, ‘Ascending on high [as] a captive he led captivity, he gave the gift to humanity.’ But because he ascended, what does it [say], unless he descended first into the infernal parts of the earth? He who descended is he, and he who ascended above all the heavens, so that he might fulfill all things. And he gave himself certain apostles, and certain prophets, in particular some evangelists, and some pastors and doctors, to the consummation of the saints in the work of ministry, in the edification of the body of Christ, while all of us come in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, in the perfected man, in the measure of the age of Christ’s fullness.
Gradual
You will make them princes over all the earth; they will remember your name, O Lord. (Psalms 45:17-18)
Versicle. For your fathers, sons are born to you; therefore, the people will give thanks to you. Alleluia, alleluia.
Versicle. But to me, O God, your friends are honored too much; their sovereignty is strengthened too much. (Psalms 139:17)
Tract
They who sow in tears, will reap in joy. (Psalms 126:5-6)
Versicle. But coming, they come with exultation, bringing their maniple of soldiers.
The Following Holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matt. 19:27-29)
In that time, Peter said to Jesus, “Behold, we have renounced everything, and we followed you. Therefore, what will we become?” And Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, because you who followed me are [passing] into renewal, when the Son of Man will sit in the seat of his majesty, you will sit above the twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who will leave the home, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or sons, or fields, on account of my name, he will receive a hundred-fold, and he will possess eternal life.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Antiphon at the Offertory
Their sound has gone forth into all the earth, and their words into the ends of the world. (Psalms 19:4)
The Secret
O Lord, we seek your holy Apostles, worshipping the perpetual glory, so that we celebrate more worthily the expiated sacred mysteries. Through the Lord our Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in unity.
Preface of the Apostles
Priest: The Lord be with you.
The people’s response: And also with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
The people’s response: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
The people’s response: It is right and just.
It is right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks,
O Lord, holy Father, the all-powerful eternal God.
O eternal Pastor, you who does not abandon your flock,
But guards with continuous protection through the blessed Apostles,
Just as the flock is to be governed by the righteous ones,
That your Son conferred the same [apostolic] proxies to preside over the pastors.
And with the Angels and Archangels,
With the Thrones and Dominions,
And with all the host of the heavenly army,
We chant a hymn to your glory,
Without end, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord God Sabaoth!
The heavens and the earth are full of your glory!
Hosanna to the highest!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna to the highest!”
Antiphon to the Communion
You who followed me will sit upon the seats above, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matt. 19:28)
After Communion
O Lord, we entreat [you] suppliantly, having observed the sacraments, just like your blessed Apostles interceding, who we carry on for their worshipping with passion, may they bring us closer to healing. Through the Lord our Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in unity.
(In the time of Passover; the mass as above, except the following)
Antiphon for the Entrance
O God, you defended me from the assembled ones of wicked things, alleluia, from the inquity of the working multitudes, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalms 64:2) O God, listen when I deprecate my prayer, deliver my soul from the fear of enemies. (Psalms 64:1)
Versicle. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, and now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (The Minor Doxology)
After the Epistle: Alleluia, alleluia.
Versicle. O Lord, your wonders of heaven will be confessed, because of your truth in the church of the holy ones. Alleluia. (Psalms 89:6)
Versicle. I chose you from the world, as you carry on and bear fruit, and your fruit must last. Alleluia. (John 15:16)
Antiphon at the Offertory
You will make them princes over all the earth; they will be mindful of your name, O Lord, in every progeny and generation, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalms 45:17-18)
Antiphon to the Communion
Their sound has gone forth into all the earth, and their words into the ends of the world. (Psalms 19:4)
The preceding masses, therefore, are able to be chosen for the votive offering of other holy Apostles both within and without the time of Passover, of which the special Mass is to not to be had in the Missal, but the prayers, by chance, are to be said as below:
Prayer
O Lord, we entreat your majesty, suppliantly, just as the blessed N. Apostle became the proclaimer and rector of your Church, thus, without you he must be the perpetual intercessor for us. Through the Lord our Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in unity.
The Secret
O Lord, we ask [that] the blessed N. Apostle may unite the holy prayer of our sacrifice to you, as it is to be presented in his honor solemnly, his merit is to be accomplished, having been received. Through the Lord our Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in unity.
After Communion
O Lord, we chose the divine mystery, the memory of the blessed Apostle N. rejoicing, which just as your Holy Ones chose [him] for glory, thus we ask you to help bring about mercy for us. Through the Lord our Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in unity.
[1] The sense can also be expressed as “you have known when I sit and when I stand”.
[This article is an expansion upon a passage from my Ars Notoria: The Notory Art of Solomon (Inner Traditions, 2023).]
This blog entry's image of the apostles comes from the Holkham Bible Picture Book, England, c. 1327-1335, which is held at the British Library, Additional MS 47682, f. 28r.
This digital edition by Matthias Castle, Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Please do not copy this text to your website, or for any purpose other than private use.
Ars Notoria: The Notory Art of Solomon translated by Matthias Castle, published by Inner Traditions International and Bear & Company, © 2023. All rights reserved. http://www.Innertraditions.com Reprinted with permission of publisher.